Google does not offer a direct reply button for customers to respond to a business owner’s comment on their review. The platform intentionally limits the back-and-forth to prevent review sections from turning into extended arguments. Your only option is to edit your original review and add your response there.
This workaround is simple and effective. The business owner will receive a notification that your review has been updated, so your added comments won’t go unnoticed.
How to Edit Your Review on Desktop
Open Google Maps in your browser and make sure you’re signed into the Google account you used to write the original review. Click the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top left corner, then click “Your contributions” followed by “Reviews.” Find the review you want to update, click the three-dot menu icon next to it, and select “Edit review.”
Your original text will appear in an editable field. Add your response to the business owner’s reply at the end of your existing review, then save. Many people separate their original review from the new reply with a line break and a label like “Update:” or “In response to the owner:” so readers can tell what was added later.
How to Edit Your Review on Mobile
Open the Google Maps app and tap your profile icon in the top right corner. Go to “Your profile,” then tap “Reviews.” Find the review, tap the three-dot menu, and choose “Edit review.” Add your response the same way you would on desktop, keeping your original text intact and appending your new comments below it.
Your star rating will also be editable at this point. If your opinion of the business has changed based on how they responded, you can adjust the rating up or down. If nothing has changed, just leave it as is.
What the Business Owner Sees
When you edit a review, Google flags it as updated. Business owners who manage their Google Business Profile receive notifications for new and updated reviews, so they’ll know you’ve made changes. Your edited review also appears with its new text on the business listing for anyone browsing, which means other potential customers will see both your original thoughts and your follow-up.
The business owner’s original response to your review stays in place after you edit. They can also choose to update their own response if they want to continue the conversation.
Tips for Writing Your Update
Keep your added text focused on facts. If the owner offered to resolve an issue and you took them up on it, a brief update about the outcome helps future customers understand how the business handles problems. Something like “Update: The manager reached out and replaced the item at no charge. Bumping my rating from 2 to 4 stars” gives readers useful context.
If you’re adding a response because you disagree with how the owner characterized your experience, stick to specifics. Describe what happened, include dates or details if you have them, and avoid personal attacks. Google can remove reviews that violate its content policies, and reviews that devolve into name-calling are more likely to get flagged.
There’s no character limit that most reviewers will hit in practice, but shorter updates tend to get read more. A few sentences added to the end of your review will do more than a lengthy rebuttal that buries your original point.
When Editing Isn’t Enough
If you’re trying to have an actual conversation with the business, editing your review back and forth isn’t the right tool. Reviews are public-facing and static by design. If the owner left contact information in their response (a phone number, email, or invitation to reach out directly), that’s usually the better path for resolving a specific issue. Save the review edit for after the situation is settled, when you can post a final update that reflects how things turned out.
If you believe a business owner’s response contains false statements about you, you can report the response to Google through the review listing. Tap or click the flag icon on the owner’s reply to submit it for review. Google evaluates flagged content against its policies but doesn’t guarantee removal.