A business you like has asked you for a review, and you’re not sure where the button is. Fair enough. It moves about, and it looks different on a phone.
Here’s how to leave a Google review on a computer, an Android phone and an iPhone, in the words Google’s own buttons use. It takes about a minute. You’ll also find how to post under a nickname, add photos, change a review later, and what to do when the button won’t appear.
What you need before you start
A Google Account, and to be signed in to it. That’s all.
It doesn’t have to be Gmail. Google says any email address can be used to create a Google Account, so a work or Outlook address is fine. If you use YouTube, Android or Google Photos, you already have one.
How to leave a Google review on a computer
- Open Google Maps and make sure you’re signed in (your initial or photo shows in the top right).
- Search for the business by name and click it.
- Scroll down the panel on the left until you see Write a review, and click it.
- Click the stars to give your score, from one to five.
- Add a few words about what you bought or what happened, if you want to, and click Post.
The words are optional. A star rating on its own counts.
The same Write a review button often shows in the business’s panel on the right of a Google search too. If you can’t find it there, go through Maps: that’s the route Google’s own instructions use, and it always has the button.
How to leave a Google review on a phone
On Android and iPhone the steps are the same, in the Google Maps app.
- Open the Google Maps app. On Android, check you’re signed in; your photo shows in the search bar.
- Search for the business and tap it to open its details.
- Tap the Reviews tab.
- Tap one of the five empty stars to choose your score.
- Write about your experience under “Share more about your experience” if you want, then tap Post.
Maps may ask a few extra questions, such as what you paid or which service you had. Skip them if you like. They only add detail.
Want to review several places at once? Tap Contribute at the bottom of the app, then Write review. Maps suggests places to review.
Leaving a review from a link or QR code a business sent you
Many businesses now send a link by text, WhatsApp or email, or put a QR code on a receipt or the counter. Tap the link or scan the code and it should open that business’s review form, ready for your stars.
If it asks you to sign in first, do. If it opens the business but not the form, look for Write a review or the Reviews tab and carry on from step 3 above.
How do I hide my name on Google reviews?
You can’t post a truly anonymous review. Google’s help page is plain about it: “You’re unable to add an anonymous review.”
What you can do, since November 2025, is post under a nickname and a picture of your choosing. In the Maps app, tap Contribute, then View your profile, then Edit profile, and tick “Use a custom display name & picture for posting”.
Two things to know. The review is still tied to your Google Account, so it’s anonymous to the public, not to Google. And your other reviews and photos can still be seen on your profile, along with any location details your photos carry.
How to add photos to a Google review
Add them while you write it, or come back afterwards. On a computer, open Maps, click the menu, then Your contributions and Reviews, and use More on the review to add a photo.
Photos help the next customer more than almost anything you can write. A picture of the finished job, the meal or the room says what a paragraph can’t. Videos up to 30 seconds work too.
How to edit or delete your Google review
Changed your mind, or the business put things right? You can update the review at any time.
- On a computer: in Maps, open the menu, then Your contributions, then Reviews. Click More beside the review, then Edit review or Delete review.
- On a phone: tap Contribute, then View your profile, then See all reviews, and tap More on the one you want.
An edited review shows the date you edited it. And a review stays up until you remove it; they don’t expire.
Why can’t I leave reviews on Google?
Usually one of these.
- You’re not signed in. The button only appears when you are.
- You’re in Google Search, not Maps. Open the business in Maps instead.
- Your Maps app is out of date. Google says to update it if reviews misbehave.
- The business is marked permanently closed. Closed places can’t get new reviews. Temporarily closed ones still can.
- Reviews are switched off for that place. Google pauses new reviews after a burst of spam, around some real-world events, and for good at some places, such as schools and prisons.
Why hasn’t my review appeared?
Give it a few days. Google checks new reviews against its policies, and that can hold one back.
The business’s star average can take up to two weeks to catch up, even after your review shows.
If it never appears, it was probably caught by Google’s filters. Reviews with links, phone numbers or email addresses in them are against the rules, and so are reviews from people with a connection to the business, like staff or family. Our guide to why Google reviews disappear goes through every reason.
Writing a review the business will be glad of
You don’t need to write much. Two or three sentences that someone deciding whether to call would find useful: what you had done, how it went, and whether you’d go back.
Name the service, and the town if it’s a local trade. “Rewired our kitchen in Navan, turned up when they said, left it spotless” helps the next person far more than “Great service!!”
And be honest, even when it’s good. A fair four stars with a reason reads as more believable than five with none.
Other questions people ask about leaving a Google review
How do I leave a Google review for a company?
Search for the company in Google Maps, open it, and click Write a review on a computer, or tap the Reviews tab and then a star in the app. You need to be signed in to a Google Account.
Can I leave a review on Google if I don’t have a Google account?
No. Google only takes reviews from signed-in accounts. You can make one free with any email address you already use, not just Gmail.
How do I leave a Google review in the UK?
Exactly as anywhere else. The steps are the same in the UK and Ireland: sign in, find the business in Google Maps, and use Write a review.
Where is the leave a review button on Google?
On a computer, in the business’s panel in Google Maps, below the photos and details: scroll down to Write a review. In the Maps app, it’s under the business’s Reviews tab, as five empty stars.
Can I leave a Google review with just stars?
Yes. The text is optional, and a star-only rating counts towards the business’s average.
Can the business see who left the review?
They see the name and picture on your Google profile, the same as everyone else. If you post under a custom display name, that’s what they see.
Running a business and sending this to customers?
You’re welcome to. Better still, send them your own review link, so they skip the searching. Our guide on how to get more Google reviews shows where to find it, what to say when you ask, and what Google won’t allow. And the Google Business Profile guide covers the rest of your listing.
