Yes, you can search Google Maps reviews by keyword using the “Search reviews” box or filter chips on a place’s reviews page.
Hunting for a specific word inside customer feedback saves time and helps you make better decisions. This guide shows fast, reliable ways to find words and phrases inside reviews across phone and desktop, plus tips that work in the live app. You’ll see where the search box lives, what the filters do, and what to try when the tool acts up.
How Keyword Search Works Inside Google Maps Reviews
On each business page in Google Maps, the Reviews tab includes two handy tools: a small search field labeled “Search reviews,” and clickable chips that group “reviews that mention” common terms. Both features scan the text that people wrote. Matches are highlighted in bold inside each review card.
Where To Find The Tools
On desktop, open a place on maps.google.com, click the Reviews tab, then look for the magnifying glass icon. On iPhone or Android, open the place, scroll to Reviews, and tap the search icon to reveal the field. If you see chips like “parking,” “service,” or “wifi,” tap one to filter to only those mentions.
What These Filters Actually Do
The free text box finds exact text matches inside review content. The chips are auto-generated clusters based on words that many reviewers used. Chips are quick; the text box is precise. Use both for speed and accuracy.
Fast Start: Methods Compared (Phone And Desktop)
Use this table to pick the quickest route based on your device and goal.
| Method | Where It Lives | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| “Search reviews” field | Reviews tab on a place | Exact words like “vegan,” “wheelchair,” “quiet” |
| “Reviews that mention” chips | Above review list | Common themes such as parking, staff, noise |
| Browser Find (Ctrl/⌘+F) | Open “All reviews” in browser | Skimming long review lists for a simple term |
Step-By-Step On Desktop
Open The Right Page
Go to maps.google.com, search for the business, and pick the correct listing. Click Reviews.
Use The Search Field
Click the magnifying glass near the sort options. Type a word or short phrase, then press Enter. Matching reviews appear and your term is bolded where it shows up.
Try The Review Chips
Click a chip such as “delivery” or “bathroom.” The list refreshes to only reviews with that word or close variants.
Refine With Sort
Set sort to Most relevant or Newest. Newest helps with recent policy changes or menu updates; relevant surfaces the clearest mentions.
Step-By-Step On Phone
Open Reviews
Inside the listing, scroll until you see star ratings and the Review summary. Tap See all reviews.
Search Or Tap A Chip
Tap the magnifying glass. Enter your term and submit. Or, tap one of the chips to filter in a single tap.
Skim Quickly
Use the thumbnails along the top to jump to photo-heavy reviews. Photos can confirm details like menus, ramps, or seat maps when words are vague.
Find Words In Google Maps Reviews (With Smart Filters)
Below are practical examples that show the feature in action.
Food And Drink Examples
Type terms like “nut-free,” “halal,” “kid menu,” or “outdoor seating.” Combine with sort: set it to Newest to see the latest setup or seasonal patio notes.
Hotel And Stay Examples
Search phrases such as “late checkout,” “parking fee,” “noise,” or “pet policy.” Then read a handful of recent reviews to gauge consistency.
Services And Health Examples
Look for “wait time,” “pricing,” “billing,” “wheelchair,” or “aircon.” Pair with Most relevant to surface the clearest mentions first.
Pro Tips That Save Time
Try Simple Words
Short terms match more often. Use “ramp” instead of “wheelchair ramp access,” or “vegan” instead of “vegan options available.”
Use Browser Find On Desktop
After opening all reviews in a new browser view, press Ctrl+F (Windows) or ⌘+F (Mac) and type your word. This highlights matches on the page and complements the built-in field.
Check Date Stamps
Look at how recent the review is. Policies and menus change. Fresh comments usually reflect what you’ll see now.
Glance At Photos
Photos often confirm the detail you searched for. If you searched “step-free,” a recent entrance photo tells you more than a year-old note.
Limits And Quirks To Expect
The search box matches exact text. Small spelling changes or synonyms might not surface the review you need. Chips also vary by place; some listings show many, some show none. That’s normal.
Sometimes the field appears to do nothing or returns an empty list even when the word is present in a few comments. In those moments, clear the query, reload the reviews, or try a shorter term.
Trusted Sources And Feature Background
Google announced the ability to find words inside Maps reviews years ago on its Local Guides forum, and it remains present on current listings. You can read that product thread here: search reviews on Google Maps. For writing better feedback (which powers those chips), see Google’s guidance: high quality reviews & photos.
Troubleshooting: When The Review Search Doesn’t Work
Here are fixes that usually restore results.
- Refresh the listing: close and reopen the Reviews view.
- Try a shorter word: single nouns match more often than long phrases.
- Check your connection: a weak signal can fail the query.
- Switch device: if the phone view misbehaves, try desktop, or the reverse.
- Sign out and back in: sessions age out and odd filters can linger.
- Clear app cache on Android, or update the Maps app to the latest build.
Common Keyword Ideas For Quick Filtering
This list is meant to spark ideas. Pick what matches your decision.
Dining
“allergen,” “spicy,” “portion,” “waitlist,” “reservation,” “takeout,” “delivery.”
Travel
“quiet,” “late checkout,” “parking,” “shuttle,” “breakfast,” “pool,” “gym.”
Access And Amenities
“ramp,” “elevator,” “accessible,” “restroom,” “wifi,” “outlets,” “seating.”
What You Can’t Do (And Workarounds)
You can’t run one search that scans every place across Maps for a word and returns a master list of matching reviews. The feature works inside a single listing. To widen your reach, first run a normal Google Search that pairs a brand or location with a term and the filter site:google.com/maps. Open promising listings, then use the in-page review search. You also can’t export a filtered list from the app. If you need a record, copy the direct link to the review or take a timestamped screenshot.
Privacy And Data Notes
The search only scans public review text. It doesn’t reach into private data. If you share a review, it links back to Google Maps where readers see the same text you saw.
Advanced Moves For Power Users
Pair Chips With The Text Box
Tap a chip, then type a second word in the box to tighten the set. You can stack intent this way: tap “parking,” then search “free.”
Use Quotation Marks For Phrases
When you type into the box, enter short phrases in quotes to look for that exact sequence of words.
Use Google Search With Site: Operator
Type a brand and term, plus site:google.com/maps in Google Search. Open candidates, then use the in-page review tools to confirm.
Quick Reference: Fixes And Workarounds
| Issue | Symptom | What To Try |
|---|---|---|
| No results but term exists | Empty list after search | Reload reviews; shorten the word; switch device |
| No chips visible | Only sort options show | Use the text box or browser Find |
| Old info dominates | Mentions from last year | Sort by Newest; scan dates on each card |
| Need to scan fast | Many long reviews | Open in browser and use Ctrl/⌘+F |
| Need a second opinion | Conflicting comments | Compare with photos and star patterns |
How This Guide Was Built
Steps were tested on current iOS, Android, and desktop builds at the time of writing. We verified the presence of the search field and chips on a range of listings, confirmed how matches render, and noted quirks like missing chips on smaller profiles. We also reviewed Google’s own guidance to align wording with live product labels.
Ethics And Review Integrity
Use review search to find honest, experience-based comments. Skip incentivized blurbs. Scan a spread of dates and read both praise and complaints. Balanced reading helps you judge whether a theme is a one-off or a pattern.
Method Notes And Limits
Google highlights matched words in bold, but it doesn’t rank results by your exact intent. That’s why pairing a short query with the right sort order matters. Also, language settings may affect what you see if a review was posted in another language. Use the translate toggle on a review to switch views.
Practical Scenarios By Role
Parents
Search for “highchair,” “stroller,” or “kids menu.” Pair with recent photos to confirm seating and space. This cuts planning time for group meals.
Remote Workers
Type “wifi,” “outlets,” or “quiet.” If you spot mixed feedback, scan dates and choose the most recent comments before you pick a table.
Accessibility Needs
Try “ramp,” “step-free,” “elevator,” or “wide door.” Check photo timestamps and look for multiple mentions to confirm reliability.
Small Business Owners
Use the tool to monitor mentions of “service,” “clean,” “refund,” or a product name. This helps you spot trends and respond with specifics in public replies.
Bottom Line Actions
Pick your device, open the Reviews tab, type a short word, and sort smartly. If the search stalls, reload or switch device, then try again with a tighter term. You’ll land on relevant comments fast without paging through everything.