To leave a Google review, search the business name on Google or Google Maps, scroll to the reviews section, click "Write a review," pick a star rating (1 to 5), type your comment, and tap Post. You must be signed in to a free Google account because every review is tied to a verified profile, so anonymous reviews are not possible. On desktop you can do it from Google Search or Google Maps. On mobile, the Google Maps app is the fastest route. Your review usually appears within a few minutes and you can edit or delete it any time.
Reviewed by Nicolas Provost, founder of Reviewz.ai. Insights based on auditing 500+ Shopify review setups and analyzing public pricing, schema, and conversion data across the leading review platforms. LinkedIn
Leaving a Google review takes under a minute once you know where the button is. The hard part for most people is finding the "Write a review" option, which moves around depending on whether you are on a phone, a laptop, signed in, or signed out. This guide walks through every path, including the one obstacle nobody warns you about: you cannot post a review without a Google account.
If you run a Shopify store and you want customers to leave these reviews for you, the mechanics below are exactly what your buyers go through, so it pays to understand the flow before you ask for it. Reviews matter: a BrightLocal Local Consumer Review Survey found the overwhelming majority of consumers read online reviews before choosing a local business, and Google is the platform they trust most. In that same survey, 81% of consumers said they used Google to evaluate local businesses, far ahead of any other review site, which is why a single well-placed Google review link tends to outperform asking for reviews on smaller platforms.
Store owner shortcut: the single biggest thing you can do to get more reviews is hand customers a link that drops them straight onto the star-rating screen. Our free Google review link generator builds that short link from your Place ID in seconds. No more "search the business name, scroll, find the button."
How to leave a Google review on desktop
You have two starting points on a computer: Google Search and Google Maps. Both end in the same place, so use whichever loads first.
Method 1: Google Search
- Go to google.com and make sure you are signed in to your Google account (check the top-right avatar).
- Search for the business by name, for example "Blue Bottle Coffee Oakland."
- The business profile panel appears on the right side of the results (or at the top on a single-location match).
- Scroll down inside that panel to the Reviews section and click the blue Write a review button.
- A pop-up window opens. Click the star rating you want to give, from 1 to 5 stars.
- Type your written comment in the text box. You can also add photos with the camera icon.
- Click Post.
That is it. Your review is published to that business's Google Business Profile and becomes visible on Google Search and Maps within a few minutes.
Method 2: Google Maps
- Open maps.google.com and confirm you are signed in.
- Search the business name in the left-hand search bar.
- Click the correct result to open its full profile.
- Click the Reviews tab, then scroll to Write a review (or click the star rating prompt near the top).
- Select your stars, write your comment, optionally attach photos, and click Post.
Maps is the better option when several businesses share a similar name, because the map pin confirms you are reviewing the right location.
How to leave a Google review on mobile
The Google Maps app is the cleanest path on a phone, and it is where most reviews are written. According to Google's official support documentation, the app flow is the recommended method.
Using the Google Maps app (iPhone and Android)
- Open the Google Maps app and tap your profile picture to confirm you are signed in.
- Search the business name in the top search bar.
- Tap the business to open its profile.
- Scroll down to the Reviews section and tap Write a review, or tap the row of empty stars near the top.
- Tap the number of stars you want to give.
- Write your comment and, if you like, tap the photo icon to add images.
- Tap Post in the top-right corner.
Using a mobile browser
If you do not have the Maps app installed, you can still review from your phone's browser. Search the business on google.com, open the profile, tap Reviews, then Write a review. The mobile web flow mirrors desktop but on a smaller screen. The app is faster, though, because it keeps you signed in and remembers places you have visited.
Can you leave a Google review without a Gmail account?
Short answer: no, and here is why.
Every Google review is permanently attached to a Google account profile, including the display name and profile photo on that account. Google built the system this way to reduce spam and fake reviews, and it states in its Google Business Profile review policies that contributions must reflect genuine experiences. If anonymous posting were allowed, businesses would be flooded with fabricated 1-star and 5-star reviews with no accountability. Tying each review to a real, verified account is Google's main defense against manipulation, a topic we cover in depth in our guide to why customer reviews matter for trust and revenue.
A few clarifications people often get wrong:
- You do not need a Gmail inbox specifically. A Google account can be created with any existing email address (a work address, an Outlook address, anything). You just need a Google account, which is free.
- You cannot hide your name entirely. Google removed the old "anonymous review" option years ago. Your display name shows on the review. You can change that display name in your Google account settings, but it cannot be blank.
- Business accounts can review too. A Google Workspace account works the same way as a personal one.
To create a free account, go to accounts.google.com/signup, and you can use a non-Gmail email if you prefer. Once signed in, the "Write a review" button appears everywhere it should.
How to edit or delete a review you left
You are always in control of your own reviews. You can change the wording, adjust the star rating, or remove it completely at any time.
To edit your review
- Open Google Maps (app or web) and tap or click your profile picture.
- Select Your contributions, then Reviews.
- Find the review, tap the three-dot menu next to it, and choose Edit review.
- Update the stars or text, then post the change.
To delete your review
- Follow the same path to Your contributions then Reviews.
- Tap the three-dot menu next to the review.
- Choose Delete review and confirm.
Deletion is immediate and permanent, so there is no undo. This is different from getting a review you did not write removed from a business you own, which follows a separate flagging process. If you are a business owner trying to remove an unfair or fake review, see our walkthrough on how to delete a Google review you didn't write.
Why you can't find the "Write a review" button
This is the single most common frustration, and it almost always comes down to one of these causes.
- You are not signed in. The button only appears for signed-in Google accounts. Sign in and refresh the page.
- The business has no Google Business Profile. If a business has never claimed or been listed on Google, there is nothing to review. Search the exact name plus the city to confirm a profile exists.
- You already reviewed this business. Google shows your existing review instead of a fresh "Write a review" button. Look for an Edit option instead.
- You are looking at a Knowledge Panel for a brand, not a location. Large brands sometimes show a corporate panel with no review button. Search for the specific local branch instead.
- Location services or region settings. Occasionally the profile loads in a way that hides the reviews module. Switching from Search to the Maps app usually fixes it.
If you have checked all of these and the button is still missing, the business genuinely may not be set up to receive Google reviews yet.
A note for business owners collecting reviews
If you are reading this because you want more of these reviews on your own profile, the process above is exactly what you should make as frictionless as possible for customers. The biggest drop-off point is sign-in: every extra tap costs you reviews. The most effective approach is a direct review link that drops the customer straight onto the star-rating screen, skipping the search step entirely. You can build one for free with our Google review link generator, then paste it into post-purchase review request emails, SMS, packaging inserts, or a QR code.
Google reviews also feed directly into local SEO and your Google Business Profile ranking, which is why they are worth chasing. We break down the mechanics in how customer reviews affect SEO. And once reviews start arriving, you will need a plan for replies, since response rate and speed are ranking signals in their own right: our guide to responding to Google reviews has templates for every scenario.
If you are weighing Google against other platforms for your store, Trustpilot vs Google reviews compares trust, reach, and SEO impact side by side.
FAQ
How long does it take for a Google review to appear?
Most reviews show up within a few minutes. Occasionally Google's automated spam filters hold a review for review, which can take a few hours or, rarely, a few days. Reviews with links, all-caps text, or repeated postings are more likely to be filtered.
Can I leave a Google review anonymously?
No. Every review is tied to your Google account and displays your account's name and photo. You can change your display name in account settings, but you cannot post with no name at all. This is intentional and is Google's main anti-spam measure.
Do I need the Google Maps app to leave a review?
No. You can review from Google Search or a mobile browser. The Maps app is simply the fastest route because it keeps you signed in and confirms the exact location with a map pin.
Can I leave a review without buying from the business?
Google's policies expect reviews to reflect a genuine experience with the business, as outlined in Google's prohibited and restricted content policy. Reviews that are fabricated, paid for, or posted by people with a conflict of interest violate the rules and can be removed.
Why was my Google review removed?
Google removes reviews that break its content policies, including reviews with offensive language, personal attacks, advertising, links, off-topic content, or signs of being fake. If you believe a genuine review was removed in error, you can contact Google support through the help center.
Can a business pay to delete my honest review?
No. A business cannot delete a customer review directly, and Google does not remove honest, policy-compliant reviews on request. Owners can only flag reviews that violate the rules, after which Google decides. Your honest review stays up.
How do I change the star rating on a review I already left?
Open Google Maps, go to your profile picture, then Your contributions then Reviews, find the review, tap the three-dot menu, choose Edit review, adjust the stars, and post. The change is instant.
About the author
Nicolas Provost · Founder of Reviewz.ai
Nicolas built Reviewz.ai after auditing 500+ Shopify review setups while running Kanal (WhatsApp marketing for Shopify). He has spent four years inside the Shopify ecosystem and writes about review collection, brand trust SEO, and the actual economics of running customer-feedback flows on ecommerce sites.
