Why can't you respond to Google reviews?
The most common reason is that the Business Profile is not verified, because Google only lets verified businesses reply. Other causes are being signed into a Google account that is not an owner or manager on the profile, or a reply that is still waiting for Google's check, which usually takes minutes but can take up to 30 days.
By Richard Thomas-Pryce, Founder · Updated
Verification comes first. Google's help pages say you must verify your business before you can reply to reviews, so an unverified or half-finished profile will show reviews but no reply button. Finishing verification is the fix.
Next, check which account you are signed into. Only owners, including the primary owner, and managers can reply. Plenty of trades businesses have a profile that was set up years ago by a web designer, a former partner or an old email address. If you are signed into your everyday Gmail and it has no role on the profile, you will not see the reply option. Ask whoever holds ownership to add you as an owner or manager.
If you replied and it has not appeared, it may still be under review. Google checks every reply against its content policy. Most are published within 10 minutes, but some take up to 30 days, and if a reply is not approved Google asks you to edit it.
Two less common causes. Google says it sometimes turns off reviews temporarily for certain profiles or business categories, in which case there is nothing to reply to until they return. And ratings from other sites, such as Facebook or Checkatrade, can show on your Google listing but can only be answered on the site they came from.
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