On Etsy, go to Purchases, pick the order, tap or click Leave a review, add stars, text, and an optional photo or video, then submit.
Leaving feedback on Etsy helps shoppers pick with confidence and gives makers clear notes on what worked. Below you’ll find plain steps for desktop and phone, rules about the 100-day window, and fast fixes when the review box doesn’t appear. Screens vary a bit between iOS, Android, and web, but the flow stays the same.
Leaving A Review On Etsy: Step-By-Step
Sign in to your account on the web or open the app. Open Purchases & Reviews from your profile menu. Find the order, then choose Leave a review when the button shows. Pick a star rating from one to five. Add clear text that mentions item quality, fit, color, shipping speed, and service. Attach a photo or short clip if it adds context. Keep any faces or private details out of frame. Press Submit. You can edit the text within the allowed window if something changes.
This quick map shows where the review option lives on each platform and the basic requirements before the button appears.
| Platform | Path To The Button | Requirements Snapshot |
|---|---|---|
| Web/Desktop | Profile → Purchases & Reviews → Order → Leave a review | Signed in, order within 100-day window, no open case |
| iOS App | You → Purchases → Order → Leave a review | Signed in on the app, review window open |
| Android App | You → Purchases → Order → Leave a review | Signed in on the app, review window open |
| Digital Items | Same paths as above | Window begins after you download the file |
| Guest Checkout | Claim the order to your account first | Use the receipt email to link the order, then review |
When The Review Window Opens And Closes
Etsy opens the feedback box after the estimated delivery date. If tracking confirms an earlier handoff, the date may shift to that scan. For digital goods, the clock starts once your file downloads. The window runs for one hundred days. If there’s an open case on the order, the option won’t show until the case is closed. Canceled orders can’t receive new feedback. Edits to review text stay possible during the same window; star changes may be limited once a seller replies.
Write A Helpful, Fair Review
Short, clear notes help shoppers and shop owners. Lead with facts, then add context. Here’s a simple template you can adapt: what you ordered, how it matched the listing, speed of dispatch, packaging, and the maker’s response if you had a question. Use plain words. Avoid private details. If an issue was solved, say how it was handled so others see the full picture.
What The Stars Usually Mean
Five stars: met or beat expectations. Four stars: solid result with a small gap. Three stars: mixed outcome; item arrived but missed on size, color, or finish. Two stars: clear problems that the seller didn’t fully resolve. One star: item never arrived or quality failed outright.
Editing, Photos, And Videos
You can update the text during the open window by visiting Purchases & Reviews, opening the order, and selecting Edit review. Photo and video clips can show scale, color, or defects better than words. Keep the media well lit and focused on the item. If you attach media that breaks site rules, it may be removed.
For full rules on ratings, media, and the time limit, read Etsy’s How to leave a review and the timing guide when reviews open and close. Both pages explain the 100-day window and when digital purchases become eligible.
Why The Review Button May Be Missing
If you can’t spot Leave a review, one of these common blockers is likely in play.
| Issue | Probable Cause | Quick Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Order placed as guest | The order isn’t linked to an account | Use the receipt email to claim it to your account |
| Still within shipping window | The estimated delivery date hasn’t arrived | Wait until the date passes or tracking shows delivered |
| Digital item not downloaded | The trigger for the window hasn’t fired | Download the files to start the clock |
| Open case on the order | Reviews pause while a case stays open | Resolve or close the case, then review |
| Order canceled | Canceled purchases aren’t reviewable | Message the seller if you still want to share feedback |
| Wrong shop or marketplace | The item wasn’t purchased on Etsy | Check where you bought it and review there |
Fair Play And Policy Basics
Keep feedback about your transaction with the shop. Avoid posting private data, ad copy, or links. Hate speech, threats, and off-topic promos can be removed. Sellers can flag reviews that break site rules for a staff check. If you need a refund or a replacement, use Messages and the Help Center paths instead of using the star rating as pressure.
Bought As A Guest? Link Your Order First
Guest checkout creates a receipt email with an order number. That email includes a link you can use to connect the purchase to a new or existing account. Once linked, the review box appears when the window opens. This link method works best from a browser.
Reviews For Digital Downloads
Digital prints, patterns, and presets can be reviewed once you access the files. The time limit matches physical goods after the download event. Attach a cropped screenshot if it helps, making sure no activation codes or personal details show.
Sample Review Lines You Can Borrow
- “Color matched the listing photos; fit was true to the size chart.”
- “Shipping ran two days late; seller replied the same day and sent a replacement.”
- “Print quality is crisp; paper has a nice weight; packed flat with corner guards.”
- “Preset worked in Lightroom Classic; tones are warm; needed a small exposure tweak.”
- “Ring arrived with a scratch; shop offered a return label and full refund.”
Privacy, Names, And Photos
Don’t post last names, emails, phone numbers, or street names. If you show a label in a picture, blur barcodes and tracking codes. Skip photos of minors. Stick to item details that help buyers make a choice.
Make Your Review Count
Take a minute to write after you’ve used the item. Mention what you bought, what you liked, and what could be better. Attach one clear photo when it adds clarity. That single post helps the next buyer, and it helps the maker refine the listing.
What You Can Edit Or Remove
You can change the text of your feedback during the open window. If a seller replies, the site may lock star changes below three stars. Photo and video can be removed by you, and staff may take down media or text that breaks rules. If a post needs a full removal, contact the Help Center with the order number and a short reason.
How Seller Responses Work
Shop owners can reply once you post. Their reply sits under your words and gives shoppers both sides of the story. Keep your own tone calm and fact based. If the shop fixes an issue, you can update your text so readers see the outcome.
Make Photos And Clips Useful
Shoot in natural light, near a window or bright lamp. Fill the frame with the item and place a ruler, coin, or hand for scale. Add a short clip when movement, sparkle, or fit matters. Save faces for private messages. Avoid logos you don’t own and any paperwork with order numbers.
Email Prompts Versus Purchases Page
Many buyers get a prompt email after delivery. That email links straight to the feedback screen for the order. If the email went to spam or you prefer the app, you can always use Purchases & Reviews to reach the same spot. Both routes land on the same form.
Handmade Nuance: Set Fair Expectations
Color can shift a bit between screens and real life. Natural materials vary from piece to piece. When a shop lists size ranges or made-to-order timing, review that context before rating. Point out what matched and what missed so the maker can tune their listing.
Privacy And Safety On Media
Crop shipping labels. Mask QR codes. Skip shots that show your home number, street name, or child’s face. If a review needs proof for staff, you can share more in a private message instead of posting it public.
When A Review Helps The Seller Improve
Shops can fix sizing charts, add more photos, or update packaging after they read trends in feedback. Clear notes about seams, hardware, wood grain, or file instructions point to changes that save the next buyer time. You help shape the catalog with each well written line.
Common Myths, Debunked
Leaving only stars with no text won’t help your case if there’s a problem. Staff don’t remove feedback just because it’s negative. You don’t need perfect grammar; clarity beats flair. One photo is often enough if it shows the point cleanly.
Step-By-Step Recap
Log in. Open Purchases & Reviews. Find the order. Choose a star rating. Write two to five tight sentences. Add one clear photo or a short clip if needed. Submit. Edit the text later if you need to add an outcome.
If you loved your item, mention sizing, finish, and packaging so others know what stood out. For a gift, say who it suited and why. That detail helps shoppers scan listings faster and pick with confidence.