How to Leave a Google Review in 2026

Google reviews are among the strongest signals customers use when deciding where to spend their money. The entire consumer decision-making journey depends on them!

It’s not hard to imagine how a single review can influence whether someone visits a restaurant, hires a contractor, or buys from a local shop. It does for me, and I believe you.

Still, many people don’t actually know how to leave a Google review on Google Search and Google Maps. Even loyal customers ask: how do I write a Google review?

That’s exactly what I show you how to do below. You’ll learn how to leave a Google review for a business step by step, whether you’re using desktop, mobile, or Google Maps.

By the end, you’ll know how to write a review on Google quickly and correctly, and businesses can even share this guide with customers who ask how to do it.

TL;DR: Here’s a brief video covering the process:

Things to know before you leave a Google Review

Before reviewing a brand or business on Google, take stock of the following rules:

1. You can’t submit an anonymous review.
   • Google asks every user to sign in to leave a review.
2. Businesses can’t delete bad Google reviews themselves.
   • They can still report fake or inappropriate reviews.
3. Your Google reviews will appear publicly next to your profile image.
4. Your Google reviews will appear on all Google services across the web.
   • This includes third-party sites and apps that use Google services
5. Your Google reviews must comply with Google’s policies.

That said, you can leave a Google review both on desktop and mobile and via Google Search and Google Maps. Below, I cover all these eventualities.

How to leave a Google review for a business via desktop?

As mentioned, you can add a Google review either by finding the business via Google Search or by locating it via the Google Maps service. Here’s how to do both:

1. How do I leave a Google review for a business via Google Search?

Just follow a few simple steps:

1. Open Google and search with the name of the business.

2. Scroll down until you find the ‘Write a review’ button in the knowledge panel:

3. Fill out the necessary details, add your ratings and media, and tap ‘Post’.

That’s all you had to do! Your review is now live. Remember: Your honest reviews help others make informed decisions and support local businesses.

2. How do I leave a Google review via Google Maps?

You can do more or less the same thing via the Google Maps service on a desktop:

1. Open Google Maps and search for the business:

2. Scroll down the left-hand panel and click the ‘Write a review’ button:

3. A pop-up will appear where you can write the review and click ‘Post’:

Refresh the page, and your review will appear under the location’s ‘Reviews’ section.

How to leave a review on Google for a company via mobile?

It’s very straightforward to leave a Google review on your mobile phone, as you only have to access the Google Maps app and navigate to the ‘Reviews’ tab. It’s also more practical since most users leave reviews right on the spot, and they don’t carry laptops, do they?

Plus, it’s very common for businesses to share their review link via email or as a QR code, so customers can easily tap this link and directly leave Google reviews via a form.

1. Leave a review via the Google Maps mobile app

This is by far the easiest method to write a review on Google, as you only need your phone and the Google Maps app. Then, just follow these steps:

• Tap ‘Post’ to submit your review.
• Open the Google Maps app on your phone.
• Enter the name of the business you want to review.
• Scroll down to get to the ‘Reviews’ section.
• Tap the stars under the ‘Rate and review’ section.
• Write your review and add media if you want.

2. Leave a Google review via your mobile browser

You can also leave a Google review via your mobile browser via these steps:

1. Search the business in question.
2. Click the ‘Reviews’ tab at the top.
3. Choose your star rating.
4. Write your review and upload photos.
5. Tap ‘Post’ once you are done.

How to edit a Google review you left?

You can edit a Google review you left for whatever reason, such as a misspelling or adding more details and/or images. To do this, navigate to Google Maps and follow these steps:

1. Click the hamburger icon in the top-left corner.
2. Tap ‘Your contributions‘ → ‘Reviews’.
3. Find the review in question and tap its menu icon.
4. Select ‘Edit review’.
5. Make the necessary changes and click ‘Post’.

Note: It’s a common practice for customers to edit Google reviews, especially after businesses actively manage reviews and quickly respond to bad Google reviews.

Read more: How to Edit Google Reviews? 2026 Guide for Customers

How to delete a Google review?

Note: You can delete a Google review only if you’re the one who submitted it. Actual business owners are unable to delete Google reviews that they dislike.

However, in case of fake reviews, they can still flag them as inappropriate and wait for Google’s team to take care of them.

That said, to delete your Google reviews, navigate to Google Maps and follow the same steps as described above for editing the reviews:

1. Tap the hamburger menu icon in the top-left corner.
2. Click ‘Your contributions‘ → ‘Reviews’.
3. Find the review in question and tap its menu icon.
4. Select ‘Delete review’ and confirm.

Read more: How to Remove Bad Reviews from Google My Business?

How to share my Google review?

Once you submit your review, there’ll be an option to share the review on social media or copy the link to the review and share it via email, SMS, WhatsApp, etc:

1. Go to the review you’ve submitted.
2. Click the Share icon, or if you are on mobile, tap the three dots menu and tap ‘Share review’.
3. In the pop-up, choose to share on social media or click ‘Copy link’.

How to write a great Google review?

Writing (and getting) a constructive and sincere review nowadays (in the AI era) is highly valuable. So, here are some tips on how to write a Google review that is useful:

• Be specific. Don’t just say that you had a “good” or “bad” experience. Explain what made your experience good or bad.
• Be honest. Don’t exaggerate your experience or make things up.
• Be constructive. If you had a negative experience, offer suggestions for how the business could improve things in the future.
• Be timely. Don’t write a review for a business that you visited years ago.
• Be constructive when criticizing. If you need to post a negative review, at least be civil and constructive, so it really helps the business improve.
• Write it yourself. Avoid using AI writing tools like ChatGPT.

Here’s an example of a review that is genuine, provides real insights into the experience of the user, and is written by the user himself without prompting Chat GPT:

Read more: 40+ Positive Reviews Examples + Free Response Library

How to leave a bad review on Google?

If you had a negative experience with a business, follow these steps to leave a review:

1. Sign in to Google – You need a Google account to post a review.
2. Find the Business – Search for it on Google Search or Google Maps.
3. Go to the ‘Reviews’ section – Scroll down and click ‘Write a review’ on desktop or tap the ‘Reviews’ tab via Google Maps and then ‘Write a review’.
4. Rate & write – Give it a 1 or 2-star rating and explain your experience clearly. Share as much detail as possible and fill out all optional fields.
5. Add media (optional) and post – Upload images/videos and tap ‘Post’.

Tips for writing an effective review:

• Always be factual and avoid personal attacks.
• Mention specific attempts (or lack thereof) to solve the issue.
• Keep it constructive, your feedback helps others.

Read more: 20+ Negative Review Response Examples and Templates

How to leave a Google review for a multi-location business?

Trying to find the correct location to review, but you’re dealing with a chain business that has multiple locations? Unless your review applies to the brand in general or a certain product sold everywhere, it’s important to find the specific location to review.

The easiest method is to search for the location using keywords like ‘nearby’ or ‘[brand name] + country/city’. Plus, some brands may include pages where they list all their locations and the corresponding Google review collection forms, such as here:

Why write a Google review?

Once you understand how to leave a Google review, taking a minute to share your experience can have a real impact on the businesses you visit.

When customers write a Google review, they help other people decide where to go, support businesses they like, and provide feedback that can improve services. A single review on Google Maps or Search can influence dozens of future customers.

Here are a few ways your decision to leave a Google review can make a difference.

1. Support local businesses

When you write a Google review for a business, especially a small local shop, you help that business gain visibility and attract more customers. Positive reviews can significantly boost a local company’s reputation and help it stand out in Google Maps results:

Example: “I had the best latte at Jane’s Coffee House last week. The barista was friendly and made the perfect foam art. I’ll definitely be back to try more of their specialty drinks.”

2. Influence potential customers’ decisions

Many people search online before choosing a restaurant, service provider, or store. When you write a review on Google, your experience helps others decide whether a business is worth visiting.

Example: “I recently visited Tony’s Pizzeria, and their Margherita pizza was delicious! The crust was crispy, and the toppings were fresh. I highly recommend trying it if you’re in the mood for a classic pizza.”

3. Share real experiences with a wider audience

When people leave a Google review, they give others an honest perspective about what to expect. Both positive and negative feedback helps create transparency and better-informed decisions.

Example: “I had a disappointing experience at Smith’s Dry Cleaners. The staff was unhelpful, and my clothes weren’t ready when promised. I hope they can improve their customer service in the future.”

4. Encourage businesses to improve

Constructive feedback in a Google review can highlight issues that businesses may not realize exist. By sharing detailed feedback, customers can help businesses improve their service and customer experience.

Example: “I enjoyed my meal at The Green Plate, but the service was slow. It took quite a while for our food to arrive, even though the restaurant wasn’t very busy. I hope they can work on their efficiency so I can fully enjoy my next visit.”

Put simply, when you leave a Google review for a business, you help customers make better decisions while encouraging businesses to improve and grow.

Why do Google reviews matter for businesses?

Once customers learn how to leave a Google review, those reviews quickly become one of the most powerful signals influencing a business’s online reputation and visibility.

When people write a Google review, their feedback appears directly in Google Search and Google Maps, helping potential customers evaluate businesses before deciding where to go. Positive reviews not only build trust but also help businesses appear more credible in local search results.

Here are the main benefits businesses gain when customers leave a Google review:

• Boost credibility: a large number of positive reviews signals that a business is reliable and trusted by real customers;
• Improve local SEO metrics, Google reviews are a known ranking factor that can help businesses appear higher in Google Maps and local search results;
• Increase customer trust: people are more likely to visit a business when they see strong ratings and authentic feedback from others;
• Help customers make informed decisions: detailed reviews allow potential customers to understand what they can expect before visiting;
• Reveal customer needs and preferences: reviews highlight what customers like and where businesses can improve;
• Strengthen reputation management: businesses that monitor and respond to reviews show that they value customer feedback;
• Encourage more feedback: when customers see active engagement with reviews, they are more likely to write a review on Google themselves.

Many businesses use platforms like EmbedSocial to collect, manage, and display these reviews automatically, turning customer feedback into a source of trust and social proof.

How can businesses collect and use these Google reviews?

Once customers understand how to leave a Google review, businesses should make the process as simple as possible and actively use the customer feedback they receive. The easier it is for customers to write a Google review, the more reviews businesses will collect.

Here is how businesses can get and use Google reviews effectively:

1. Generate a direct Google review link: create a Google review link that sends customers straight to the form where they can leave a Google review for a business.
2. Share the review link with customers: send the link via email, SMS, QR codes, receipts, or social media so customers can easily write a review on Google.
3. Encourage customers at the right moment: ask for feedback when the experience is still fresh, such as right after a purchase, service completion, or customer interaction.
4. Monitor incoming reviews regularly: track when customers write a Google review and respond to Google reviews quickly to encourage further feedback.
5. Use reviews as marketing content: display your best Google reviews on your website and marketing channels to build trust with potential customers.
6. Analyze review trends: review patterns in feedback to understand customer sentiment and improve products or services.

Managing this process manually can become difficult and time-consuming, especially for businesses with multiple locations. That’s why many businesses use a Google Business Profile tool like Localith to automate review collection and management.

With Localith, businesses can:

• Automatically collect Google reviews: sync reviews from your Google Business Profile without manual work;
• Generate review request links and QR codes: make it easier for customers to leave a Google review for a business via review QR codes;
• Monitor and manage reviews in one dashboard: track when customers write a review on Google and respond quickly;
• Analyze review sentiment and trends: understand what customers are saying and improve your customer experience;
• Manage reviews for multiple locations: centralize reviews across all your business locations in one place.

Conclusion: Start leaving Google reviews and help businesses grow

Now you know how to leave a Google review via both Google Search and Google Maps on both desktop and mobile devices.

So, anytime you want to write a Google review for a business, share positive feedback, or leave a bad review based on your experience, the process only takes a minute.

As for businesses, educating customers on how to write a review on Google can significantly increase the number of reviews you receive.

Tools like EmbedSocial make this even easier by generating direct review links, collecting reviews at scale, and displaying them on your website to build brand trust.