How to Edit Google Reviews? 2024 Guide for Customers

Have you recently left a review on Google for a certain brand or business and the products and services they sell, but now you want to edit it for whatever reason?

Regardless of whether you’ve changed your opinion or cleared any misunderstanding with the business owner, the process is quite straightforward.

So if you want to update or improve your feedback for your favorite local spot, keep reading as we tell you how to do that on both PC and mobile devices.

FYI: You can automatically embed Google reviews widget on your website and show authentic user-generated reviews, increasing trust for more sales. Try it now.

Who can edit or delete review entries on Google?

When it comes to editing Google reviews, only customers who leave the reviews can modify or remove them. But even though businesses cannot change customer feedback, they may still be able to delete these Google reviews, especially if they are fake or inappropriate.

Here are a few alternative ways business owners can take action: 

• Option 1: Flag the review as inappropriate so Google can delete it
• Option 2: Ask the reviewer to change or remove their rating
• Option 3: File a legal removal request for a fake and hurtful review
• Option 4: Directly contact Google and explain the situation at hand

Note: Taking any or all of the actions listed above does not guarantee a successful removal of the review. After all, Google protects the customer first as it tries to paint an objective picture of companies and businesses that use Google to boost their brand.

Why can’t businesses edit review entries on Google?

As mentioned above, businesses can’t edit Google review entries written by their customers in order to maintain the integrity and trustworthiness of the review system.

Google’s current review policy ensures that users’ feedback remains authentic, unbiased, and genuinely reflects the customers’ experiences and opinions.

Allowing businesses to edit reviews will allow them to manipulate their online reputation, thus misleading future customers by altering negative feedback.

Instead, this approach helps create a transparent and fair platform where consumer voices can guide others in making informed decisions.

Instead of editing reviews, businesses can see all their Google reviews and demonstrate their commitment to customer satisfaction and their willingness to address feedback constructively by responding to both negative and positive reviews.

How to edit reviews on Google from your computer

The quickest method to edit your feedback on Google is to find your review by accessing Google Maps via your favorite browser and making the changes on the spot:

Step 1: Open ‘Google Maps’ via your browser;

Step 2: Tap the hamburger menu in the top-left corner;

Step 3: Navigate to ‘Your contributions’ > ‘Reviews’ (the middle tab);

Step 4: Find your review, tap the three-dot menu, and click ‘Edit review’;

Step 5: Make the necessary changes: change the star rating (for individual service aspects), adjust your written review, add photos and videos, and provide further information.

Note: You can also delete any of your Google reviews if you choose to after pressing on its three-dot menu. Then, you can simply provide new feedback.

How to edit reviews on Google from your phone

If you want to edit your review on the go and don’t have access to a computer, you can still complete the process in a few steps via your mobile device:

1. Open your ‘Google Maps’ application;
2. Tap on the ‘Contribute’ icon in the bottom ribbon and click ‘View your profile’;
3. Find the review in question, tap the three-dot menu > ‘Edit review’;
4. Make the necessary adjustments once the edit window opens and tap ‘Post’;

It’s as simple as that! Now you know how to easily update any of your Google reviews, so you don’t have to worry about making a mistake, as it takes a few steps to correct it.

Why edit the Google reviews you write for businesses?

Editing your Google reviews is crucial for various reasons. After all, your feedback can have a significant impact on any company with an established Google presence.

Here’s why you should stay on top of the reviews you share on Google:

• Correct incorrect or outdated information—if you’ve made either a grammar mistake or provided incorrect information in your review, you should correct it promptly;
• Affect the online reputation of a particular business—your review will change the public’s perception of a certain brand and its services to a degree. So you should ensure the reviews you are leaving behind are genuine and objectively truthful;
• Update your ratings because of updated services—if the business has updated its services after your initial feedback, you should accordingly adjust your initial review;
• Improve your overall feedback—if you feel like you haven’t given enough credit or info or were too harsh with your comments, you can clarify your review tone further;
• You’ve changed your opinion—brand perception can shift quickly, and if you feel that you’ve misjudged the company originally, you should update your reviews;
• You’ve resolved your differences with the brand—some brands may contact customers who leave bad reviews to explain their side, clarify the situation, offer reimbursement, and promise to do better in the future so that users change their reviews.

Remember: businesses cannot edit, delete, or hide customer reviews from their Google Business Profiles. But, they can fix their online reputation via sound Google review management practices, such as appealing to the reviewer and promising they’ll do better.

Conclusion

Editing your Google reviews is important for reasons of providing accuracy and additional information. Also, you give users correct and up-to-date info about brands and their products.

So, by taking the time to edit your Google reviews, you improve the overall Google review ecosystem, which is essential for today’s digital marketplace.

Keep in mind that judgments and impressions are shaped by the words and tone you use, so you should be careful with your feedback and remain impartial at all times.

At the end of the day, brands welcome constructive feedback, as that’s how they learn where they have failed, so they introduce the necessary changes to their service.

FYI: You can automatically embed Google reviews widget on your website and show authentic user-generated reviews, increasing trust for more sales. Try it now.

FAQs

Can I edit a Google review I posted?

Yes, you can easily edit your Google reviews by logging into your Google profile, navigating to Google Maps, and locating the ‘Reviews’ tab under ‘Your contributions’.

Can I delete a Google review and rewrite it?

Yes, you can delete Google reviews if you are the user who wrote them. Just follow the same procedure as editing reviews, but instead of selecting “Edit review,” you click “Delete review”.

How do I remove a bad review on Google?

You can remove a bad review by locating it via Google Maps and clicking “Delete review” from the three-dot menu. However, this action is only available to users who originally posted the review. So, if you’re a business owner, you should report the review or ask the reviewer to change it.

How to report a Google review?

To report a Google review, just navigate to the review, click on the three-dots menu, and click on the ‘Flag as inappropriate’ option.

Next follow the steps to specify the reason from the selection as following:

• Off-topic – Review doesn’t pertain to an experience at or with this business.
• Spam – Review is from a bot, a fake account, or contains ads and promotions.
• Conflict of interest – Review is from someone affiliated with the business or a competitor’s business.
• Profanity – Review contains swear words, has sexually explicit language, or details graphic violence.
• Bullying or harassment- Review personally attacks a specific individual.
• Discrimination or hate speech – Review has harmful language about an individual or group based on identity.
• Personal information- Review contains personal information, such as an address or phone number.
• Not helpful – Review doesn’t help people decide whether to go to this place.

Note: Here you can also report a legal issue with a particular review and a reviewer.

Learn more on how to delete Google reviews >