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How to leave a Google review on a computer, Android or iPhone

Leave a Google review in two minutes on desktop, Android or iPhone, with or without Gmail. Plus how to edit, delete, or change the name on your review.

By Oz IlyasFounder of Revys

Published October 19, 2026

Contents

A business asked you for a review, or you just want to share how things went. Here's exactly how to do it on any device. It takes about two minutes.

What do you need to leave a Google review?

Just one thing: you have to be signed in to a Google Account. You don't need Gmail. Google's own help for business owners says customers must be signed in to a Google Account to leave a review, and that they can set one up with a non-Gmail email address.

Your situation	What to do
You have Gmail or an Android phone	You already have a Google Account. Just make sure you're signed in.
You use another email (Outlook, Yahoo, iCloud, your work address)	Create a Google Account with that address: on the sign-up page, choose to use your existing email instead of a new Gmail address.
You don't want any Google Account	You can't leave a Google review. You can still review the business on other sites where it's listed.

One more thing: your review has to be about a real experience. Google's content policy bans reviews written in exchange for a perk (a discount, a freebie) and reviews with a conflict of interest, such as reviewing your employer or a relative's business.

How do you leave a Google review on a computer?

On desktop, everything happens in Google Maps. The business panel on the right side of regular Google search results leads to the same review form.

Sign in and open Google Maps
Go to maps.google.com and check that your profile picture or initial shows at the top right. If not, click Sign in.
Search for the business
Type its name and city, then click the right result. Double-check the address, since many businesses share a name.
Click Write a review
In the left panel, scroll down the listing until you see Write a review.
Rate it and write your review
Click the stars (1 is terrible, 5 is excellent). The text is optional, but it's what actually helps other customers. You can add photos too.
Post
Click Post. Google checks reviews against its policies, so it can take a little while before everyone sees it.

How do you leave a Google review on an Android phone?

Android phones come with Google Maps, usually already signed in to your Google Account.

Open the Google Maps app
Tap your profile picture at the top right to confirm which account you're using.
Find the place
Search for the business or tap it on the map. If you get several results, pick the right location.
Open the listing, then the Reviews tab
At the bottom of the screen, tap the place's name or address. At the top of the listing, tap Reviews.
Tap the five empty stars
Pick your rating, then type under "Share more about your experience." Google may ask a few quick questions (price, atmosphere and so on); they're optional.
Post
Tap Post.

How do you leave a Google review on an iPhone?

Same steps, with one catch: you need the Google Maps app (free on the App Store). Apple Maps has its own ratings system and doesn't post reviews to Google.

Install and open Google Maps, then sign in to your Google Account.
Search for the place and tap its name at the bottom of the screen.
Tap the Reviews tab, then the five empty stars.
Pick a rating, write under "Share more about your experience," and add photos if you want.
Tap Post.

Don't want another app? Open google.com in Safari, sign in, and search for the business. Its listing has a button to write a review too.

Did the business send you a link or a QR code?

That's the easiest route. Google lets businesses create a review link or QR code that opens the review window for their listing directly. Tap the link (or scan the code with your camera), sign in if asked, then rate and post. You can't end up on the wrong listing.

What makes a helpful Google review?

A good review answers the question the next customer is asking: "Is this worth it for me?" A few pointers:

Say what you bought or had done: "brake pads replaced," "lunch special," "cut and color."
Add one or two specifics: how long it took, how you were treated, whether the price matched the quote.
Be fair. A low rating is fine, but explain what went wrong instead of name-calling.
Leave out personal details (yours and the staff's), phone numbers and links.
Write in the language you're comfortable with. Google can translate reviews for other readers.

Example of a helpful review (made up for illustration): "Walked in Saturday morning without an appointment and had two new tires on in 40 minutes. Price matched what they quoted over the phone, and the tech showed me the wear on the old ones. Coming back for my oil change."

Can you leave an anonymous Google review?

No. Google's Maps help is explicit: all reviews are public, and you can't add an anonymous review. Alongside your review, other people can see:

your name as it appears on your About me page;
other photos and videos you've added to Google Maps;
other reviews you've written.

What you can do is change your Google Account name. In your Google Account, open Personal info and edit your name; Google says you can change it as often as you like. The new name will show on your reviews, but also in Gmail and other Google services, and it can take a few days to update everywhere. Don't use someone else's name: impersonation is against Google's policy.

How do you edit or delete your Google review?

Your review stays up until you take it down. You can change the text, rating or photos, or remove it entirely, whenever you want.

Device	Where to go
Computer	Google Maps, menu at the top left, Your contributions, then Reviews. Next to the review: More, then Edit review or Delete review.
Android and iPhone	Google Maps app, Contribute, View your profile, scroll and tap See all reviews. Next to the review: More, then Edit review or Delete review.

Two details from Google's help:

if you edit a review, its date changes to the date of your last edit;
if the business replies, you get a notification, and you're still free to update your review after reading it.

Why isn't my Google review showing up?

Google moderates reviews. The check can take a few days, and a review that looks like it breaks the rules (spam, links, off-topic content, a conflict of interest) won't be published. You'll still see it on your own Maps profile with a status such as "Not posted." You can fix it and repost, or appeal once.

There's also a recent change: since late September 2026, Google Maps asks people to sign in before they can read all of a listing's reviews or sort them, according to Search Engine Roundtable. If a friend says they "can't see" your review, ask them to sign in first.

Every cause and fix is covered in our guide to Google reviews not showing. To pull up everything you've written, see how to find your Google reviews.

Own a business? Send this page to your customers

Plenty of happy customers never leave a review because they don't know how, or assume they need Gmail. This page is written to be shared as-is, by text or email.

To make it even easier for them:

create a direct review link with our Google review link generator; it opens your listing's review window in one tap;
print it as a QR code for your counter or receipts with the Google review QR code generator;
use our review request text and email templates, written to stay within Google's rules;
for the full playbook (when to ask, who to ask, how often), read how to get more Google reviews.

Google's rule of thumb: you can ask every customer for a review, but you can't offer anything in return, and you can't ask only the happy ones.

FAQ

Can I write a Google review without an account?

No. You need to be signed in to a Google Account. It doesn't have to be a Gmail address, though: Google says customers can create a Google Account with any existing email address, like Outlook, Yahoo or iCloud.

How do I hide my name on Google reviews?

You can't post an anonymous review; Google shows the name on your Google Account with every review. What you can do is change that name in your Google Account under Personal info. The new name then shows on all your reviews and across Google.

Can I edit a review I leave on Google?

Yes. In Google Maps, go to Your contributions, then Reviews (on mobile: Contribute, View your profile, See all reviews). Tap More next to the review and choose Edit review. The review's date changes to the date of your edit.

How can I see my Google review history?

On a computer, open Google Maps, click the menu at the top left, then Your contributions and Reviews. In the mobile app, tap Contribute, then View your profile. Reviews that weren't published show a status such as Not posted.

How long does a Google review take to show up?

Usually quickly, but Google checks reviews against its policies first, and Google's help says this can take a few days. A review that breaks the rules isn't published, and you can edit it or appeal once.

Can the business see who left the review?

They see the same name and profile photo everyone else sees. They can't see your email address and can't delete your review; they can only reply publicly or report it to Google.