--- title: "How to Leave a Google Review: Step-by-Step Guide for 2026" date: "2026-05-13" canonical_id: how-to-leave-a-google-review author: "Marija Azhderska" category: - review-reply - google-business-profile tags: - google-reviews - google-business-profile - review-management - multi-location - customer-reviews summary: "Learn how to leave a Google review on desktop and mobile, edit or delete reviews, share reviews, and manage Google reviews across locations." draft: false template: blog image: "blog/how-to-leave-a-google-review/leave-google-reviews-guide.jpg" faq: - question: "Can I leave a Google review anonymously?" answer: "No. Google reviews are tied to your Google account, and your public profile name may appear with the review. You can adjust some profile details in your Google account, but Google reviews are not designed to be anonymous." - question: "Can I leave a Google review without a Gmail account?" answer: "You need a Google account, but it does not have to be a Gmail address. You can create a Google account using another email address and use that account to write a Google review." - question: "Do I need a Google account to leave a Google review?" answer: "Yes. You need to be signed in to a Google account before posting a review. This helps Google connect reviews to real user profiles and reduce spam." - question: "Can businesses delete Google reviews?" answer: "Businesses cannot directly delete customer reviews just because they dislike them. They can report reviews that violate Google's policies, and Google may remove reviews that break those rules. Reviewers can also delete their own reviews." - question: "How do I get a Google review link for my business?" answer: "In Google Business Profile, businesses can use Google's review request tools to copy a review link or create a QR code. Make sure the link points to the correct location profile before sending it to customers." - question: "Can I leave a review for a specific location of a multi-location business?" answer: "Yes. Search for the exact location, check the address, and leave the review on that specific Google Business Profile. This helps the right local team receive the feedback." - question: "Why can't I leave a Google review?" answer: "Common reasons include not being signed in, reviewing the wrong type of listing, temporary Google interface issues, browser or app problems, or Google restrictions on the profile. Try signing in, updating the Google Maps app, using another browser, or opening the business profile from Google Maps." - question: "Can I edit or remove a Google review after posting it?" answer: "Yes. Open Google Maps, go to your contributions or profile reviews, find the review, and use the three-dot menu to edit or delete it." seo: title: "How to Leave a Google Review: Step-by-Step Guide" description: "Learn how to leave a Google review on desktop and mobile, edit or delete reviews, share reviews, and manage Google reviews across locations." og_image: "blog/how-to-leave-a-google-review/leave-google-reviews-guide.jpg" structured_data: article --- Leaving a Google review is one of the simplest ways to support a local business. A few sentences can help another customer choose a restaurant, clinic, repair shop, agency, or store with more confidence. It also gives the business useful feedback that can improve the customer experience. In this guide, I will show you exactly how to leave a Google review on desktop and mobile, how to edit or delete a review you already posted, and how to share your review afterward. I will also cover why Google reviews matter for businesses and how multi-location teams can use Localith to collect, monitor, and act on reviews from one dashboard. If you manage more than one business location, this post is useful from the other side too. You can use the customer steps below to make your review request process clearer, then connect that process to centralized [Google reviews management across locations](/blog/google-reviews-multiple-locations-how-to-manage/) and the [AI Review Reply Agent](/ai-reviews-reply-agent/). {{product-cta:multi-location-reviews}} ## What you need to know before you leave a review on Google Before you leave a review on Google, there are a few things worth knowing. First, you need to be signed in to a Google account. You do not need a Gmail address specifically, but you do need a Google account identity because Google reviews are tied to public profiles. Your name and profile photo may appear next to the review, so do not treat Google reviews as anonymous feedback. Second, write from real experience. Google reviews are meant to reflect actual interactions with a business, location, product, or service. A review that explains what happened, what you liked, and what could be improved is more useful than a rating with no context. Third, keep the review policy-safe. Google's [Business Profile review guidance](https://support.google.com/business/answer/3474122?hl=en) and [Maps user-generated content policy](https://support.google.com/contributionpolicy/answer/7400114) cover fake engagement, spam, harassment, offensive content, conflicts of interest, and other review abuse. If you are reviewing a business, avoid exaggeration, personal attacks, private information, or anything you cannot stand behind. Finally, remember that a Google review can usually be edited, deleted, and shared later. If your experience changes or you notice a typo, you are not locked into your first version forever. ## How to leave a Google review for a business via desktop If you are on a computer, the two easiest ways to write a Google review are through Google Search or Google Maps. Both methods take you to the same kind of business profile, but the path is slightly different. ### Google Search Use this method when you already know the business name. 1. Go to Google Search. 2. Search for the business name and city, such as `coffee shop name Chicago` or `dentist name Austin`. 3. Look for the business profile panel in the search results. 4. Click the review rating or the **'Google reviews'** link. ![Desktop screenshot showing where to click the Google reviews link from Google Search](/images/blog/how-to-leave-a-google-review/leave-google-review-desktop.jpg) 5. Click **'Write a review'**. ![Desktop screenshot showing the Google review form after clicking Write a review](/images/blog/how-to-leave-a-google-review/leave-google-review-desktop-form.jpg) 6. Choose your star rating. 7. Add a clear written review. 8. Add photos if they help explain the experience. 9. Click **'Post'**. That is the basic desktop process for anyone searching `how to leave a google review`. The main thing is to make sure you are reviewing the correct business location. Many companies have similar names, and multi-location brands may have separate profiles for each branch. If the business has several locations, double-check the address before posting. A review meant for the downtown location should not land on the suburban location's profile. ### Google Maps Google Maps is usually better when you are reviewing a specific location. 1. Open Google Maps in your browser. 2. Search for the business name or category. 3. Select the correct business listing from the map or side panel. 4. Scroll to the reviews section. 5. Click **'Write a review'**. 6. Select a star rating. 7. Write your review. 8. Add photos if relevant. 9. Click **'Post'**. The Google Maps route is especially useful for restaurants, hotels, retail stores, home services, medical offices, and other location-based businesses. It makes the address and map pin visible, which reduces the chance of reviewing the wrong company or branch. ## How to leave a review on Google for a company via mobile On mobile, you can leave a review through the Google Maps app, the Google app, or a mobile browser. For most people, Google Maps is the cleanest option. Here is how to leave a review on Google from a phone: 1. Open the Google Maps app. 2. Search for the business name. 3. Tap the correct business profile. 4. Tap the **'Reviews'** tab or scroll to the rating section. 5. Tap the stars to start your review. 6. Choose your rating. 7. Write your review in the text box. 8. Add photos if you want to include proof or context. 9. Tap **'Post'**. You can also search for the business in a mobile browser, open the profile from the search results, and tap **'Write a review'**. The interface may change slightly depending on device and Google app version, but the flow is the same: find the business, open reviews, choose a star rating, write, and post. For local businesses, mobile reviews are common because customers often write them right after a visit. That timing can make the review more specific: what they ordered, which location they visited, who helped them, how long they waited, and whether the experience matched expectations. ## How to edit a Google review you left You can edit a Google review if you made a typo, chose the wrong rating, forgot to add context, or want to update your review after a later experience. On desktop: 1. Open Google Maps. 2. Click the menu icon. 3. Go to **'Your contributions'**. ![Desktop screenshot showing the Your contributions area before opening your Google reviews](/images/blog/how-to-leave-a-google-review/edit-my-google-review-step1-contributions.jpg) 4. Open **'Reviews'**. 5. Find the review you want to change. 6. Click the three-dot menu. 7. Select **'Edit review'**. ![Desktop screenshot showing the Google Maps review-edit flow after opening your review](/images/blog/how-to-leave-a-google-review/edit-google-review-maps-step-2.jpg) 8. Update the rating, text, or photos. 9. Save the changes. On mobile: 1. Open Google Maps. 2. Tap your profile photo. 3. Tap **'Your profile'** or **'Your contributions'**. 4. Go to **'Reviews'**. 5. Find the review. 6. Tap the three-dot menu. 7. Tap **'Edit review'**. 8. Make your changes and save. Editing is better than deleting when your overall opinion has changed but the original experience still matters. For example, you might update a negative review if the business resolved the issue quickly and professionally. ## How to delete a Google review you left You can delete a Google review you posted. Businesses cannot directly delete customer reviews from their profiles, but reviewers can remove their own reviews. On desktop: 1. Open Google Maps. 2. Open the menu. 3. Click **'Your contributions'**. 4. Go to **'Reviews'**. 5. Find the review. 6. Click the three-dot menu. 7. Select **'Delete review'**. ![Desktop screenshot showing where to delete a Google review](/images/blog/how-to-leave-a-google-review/delete-google-reviews.jpg) 8. Confirm the deletion. On mobile: 1. Open Google Maps. 2. Tap your profile photo. 3. Tap **'Your profile'** or **'Your contributions'**. 4. Open **'Reviews'**. 5. Find the review you want to remove. 6. Tap the three-dot menu. 7. Tap **'Delete review'**. 8. Confirm. Delete a review when it no longer reflects your experience, when you posted it on the wrong business profile, or when you no longer want your feedback to appear publicly. ## How to share your Google review After you write a Google review, you can share it with a friend, colleague, or the business itself. The easiest way is to: 1. Open your review in Google Maps. 2. Click or tap the three-dot menu. 3. Use the share option if it appears. ![Desktop screenshot showing the share option for a Google review](/images/blog/how-to-leave-a-google-review/share-google-review-v2.jpg) You can also share the business profile link and tell the other person to open the reviews section. If you are a business owner, do not ask customers to copy and paste the same review across multiple profiles. It is better to send customers directly to the correct review link for the exact location they visited. The [Google Business Profile dashboard](/blog/google-business-profile-dashboard/) includes a review link and QR code flow that helps businesses ask for reviews more cleanly. For customers, sharing a review can be helpful when: - you want to recommend a specific location; - you want to show a business that you posted feedback; - you want to help someone compare local options; - you want to document a service experience for a group or team. ## Why write Google reviews? A good Google review helps people make faster local decisions. When someone searches for a nearby business, they often compare ratings, review count, recent review quality, photos, and business responses before calling or visiting. Reviews are especially useful when they include details that a star rating cannot show. A five-star review that says "great service" is nice. A five-star review that says "the technician arrived within the two-hour window, explained the repair, and charged the quoted price" is much more useful. Google reviews can help other customers understand: - whether the business is reliable; - what the service or product is actually like; - whether staff are helpful; - whether wait times are reasonable; - whether a specific location is better than another; - how the business handles problems. For the reviewer, writing a review is also a way to reward good service. Local businesses often depend on trust, and a thoughtful review can support the teams that actually made the experience work. ## Why Google reviews matter for businesses Google reviews matter because they influence trust, local visibility, and customer action. A strong review profile can help a business stand out in Google Search and Google Maps when people compare nearby options. That is a core part of [Google reputation management](/blog/google-reputation-management/) for any business that depends on local trust. Reviews also create operational feedback. For a single-location business, that feedback can show what customers praise or complain about most often. For a multi-location business, the value is even bigger because reviews reveal patterns across regions, teams, services, and managers. For example, a restaurant group might notice that one location keeps earning praise for staff friendliness while another keeps getting complaints about wait times. A healthcare group might see that one clinic has strong provider feedback but weak front desk feedback. A retail chain might spot that certain stores receive repeated mentions of inventory problems. The review itself is only one part of the system. The business also needs to [respond to Google reviews](/blog/how-to-respond-to-google-reviews/), track sentiment, route complaints, identify trends, and keep every location accountable. ## How businesses can collect and use Google reviews with Localith For a business, the customer steps above answer the practical question: how does someone leave a review? The bigger operational question is: how do you make that process easy across every location without losing control? That is where Localith fits. Localith helps multi-location businesses collect, monitor, and use Google reviews from one dashboard. Instead of switching between separate Google Business Profiles, teams can see review activity across locations, search reviews, analyze patterns, and manage response workflows in one place. ![Localith review analytics dashboard screenshot](/images/blog/how-to-leave-a-google-review/reviews-analytics-dashboard.jpg) For review collection, the workflow should start with the correct location. A customer should receive a review request that points to the branch, office, store, or service location they actually visited. This matters because Google reviews are tied to specific profiles, and profile-level feedback is what local customers see in Search and Maps. With Localith, teams can use review workflows alongside the rest of their local operations: - monitor new reviews across connected locations; - [search Google reviews](/blog/google-reviews-search/) and filter them from one workspace; - identify negative reviews that need quick follow-up; - compare review volume and sentiment by location; - export review and performance data for reporting; - connect review response workflows to the AI Review Reply Agent. ![Localith interface for searching Google reviews](/images/blog/how-to-leave-a-google-review/search-google-reviews-localith.jpg) For businesses that manage many locations, the main advantage is not just speed. It is consistency. A single-location owner can check reviews manually. A franchise, agency, healthcare group, retail chain, or service brand needs a shared system so reviews do not sit unnoticed inside separate profiles. When those teams also need tone guidance, [Google review response examples](/blog/google-review-response-examples/) help them keep replies specific instead of generic. Localith also helps businesses turn reviews into decisions. If several locations mention the same issue, that is not just reputation data. It is an operations signal. If a team runs into access or moderation problems while replying, this guide on [why you can't reply to a Google review](/blog/why-cant-i-reply-to-google-review/) covers the most common causes. If positive reviews repeatedly mention one service, product, or staff behavior, that is messaging you can reuse in posts, landing pages, and local SEO campaigns. The best review programs do not stop at "please leave us a Google review." They build a full loop: 1. Ask the right customer at the right time. 2. Send the correct Google review link or QR code. 3. Monitor new reviews across every location. 4. Respond quickly and professionally. 5. Track patterns by location, rating, and topic. 6. Use the feedback to improve local operations. ![Six-step Google review management workflow for multi-location teams](/images/blog/how-to-leave-a-google-review/review-workflow-loop-v6.svg) If you are managing Google reviews for many locations, Localith gives your team one place to keep that loop moving. ## Conclusion Learning how to leave a Google review is simple once you know where to click: find the business in Google Search or Google Maps, choose the right location, click **'Write a review'**, add your rating and feedback, then post it. The more important part is writing a review that is honest, specific, and useful. Good reviews help other customers make better decisions, and they help businesses understand what is working. For businesses, Google reviews are more than public feedback. They are a visibility signal, a trust signal, and an operations signal. Localith helps teams collect, monitor, search, respond to, and report on reviews across multiple locations from one dashboard, so review management does not become another scattered manual task. If you want to turn review collection and replies into a repeatable workflow, start with Localith's [AI Review Reply Agent](/ai-reviews-reply-agent/) or [start a free Localith trial](/pricing/).