If Google reviews won’t open, refresh the page, enable JavaScript, allow cookies, and try clearing cache or switching browser/app.
Stuck tapping the star count or the “reviews” snippet and nothing happens? You’re not alone. When the rating panel won’t open, it usually traces back to a simple browser setting, a stale cache, an outdated app build, or a temporary glitch on the listing page. This guide lays out fast checks first, then deeper fixes. You’ll also see the exact menu paths for Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and Edge, plus mobile steps for Android and iPhone.
What “Reviews Won’t Open” Looks Like
Symptoms vary a bit across devices, but the pattern is consistent: you click the rating text or the star total and nothing loads. Sometimes the page scrolls, the panel flashes and vanishes, or the link opens a blank area. On phones, you may see the place card but the detailed rating feed stays hidden. On desktop, the right-hand business panel loads fine, yet the click target appears dead.
Quick Triage: Symptoms, Where It Happens, Fast Move
Use this table to match what you’re seeing with the fastest next step. It covers the most common patterns users report across web and app.
| Symptom | Where | Quick Move |
|---|---|---|
| Click target does nothing | Desktop browser | Toggle JavaScript on, allow cookies, hard refresh |
| Panel opens then vanishes | Desktop browser | Disable extensions, clear cache for maps.google.com |
| Review tab missing | Android or iPhone app | Update app, force stop, relaunch, retry on Wi-Fi |
| Endless spinner | Any browser | Open in incognito/private window, test another browser |
| Works on desktop, fails on phone | Mobile app | Clear app cache/data, sign out/in, reinstall if needed |
Review Links Not Opening On Google: Causes And Fixes
In most cases, the page relies on scripts and cookies to load the rating feed. If either is blocked, the click falls flat. Extensions can intercept the event. Old cache can keep a broken script around. On mobile, an outdated build or a hiccup in the app data store can stop the panel from rendering. Below are the core fixes, in order, with the exact paths later in this article.
1) Refresh, Then Hard Refresh
Press reload once. If that fails, perform a hard refresh so the browser bypasses stale files. On Windows, press Ctrl + F5. On macOS, press Shift + Command + R. On phones, swipe away the app from Recents, then reopen the place page and try the rating area again.
2) Turn JavaScript On
The rating feed needs scripts to render. If scripts are off, the click goes nowhere. Turn scripts on for your browser, then reload the place card and tap the star count again. If you prefer per-site control, allow scripts for google.com only. For reference, see Google’s help page on how to enable JavaScript.
3) Allow Cookies (At Least For Google)
Blocking cookies can break sign-in checks and pop-up panels. If you use strict settings, add an exception for Google domains. On Chrome, you can allow third-party cookies or limit the block for specific sites. Google documents cookie behavior and settings here: manage cookies in Chrome. After changing the toggle, reload the place page.
4) Clear Cache And Try Again
Old cached scripts often cause dead click targets. Clear cache for all time, then reopen the listing. Desktop users can follow Google’s steps to clear cache & cookies. On Android or iPhone, clear the Maps app cache or offload/reinstall the app to purge stuck files.
5) Disable Extensions And Content Blockers
Ad blockers, privacy tools, and script managers can intercept the click or block the review module. Toggle them off for a minute and retry. If the panel appears, add an allow-list rule for google.com and maps.google.com. Password managers with pop-up overlays can also steal focus; turn off their page-overlay features while testing.
6) Try Incognito Or A Second Browser
Private mode ignores many cached assets and runs with a cleaner profile. If reviews open there, the issue sits in your main profile’s cache, cookies, or an extension. If private mode still fails, switch completely to a second browser and retry. A clean run helps separate site issues from local settings.
7) Update Or Reinstall The Maps App
On phones, an outdated build can break the tap target. Open your app store, update the app, then force stop and relaunch. If the rating feed still refuses to load, uninstall and reinstall. This clears corrupt local data that survives a soft reset.
8) Check Account And Region Quirks
If you’re signed out, some rating features may look different or load slower. Sign in, then try again. Listings can also show slightly different layouts by region or language. If you’re traveling, enable location and retry once the place page refreshes.
Step-By-Step For Each Platform
Here are the exact menu paths to fix the most common blockers. Flip the toggles in this order: scripts on, cookies allowed, cache cleared.
Chrome (Desktop)
- Open the place page, keep the tab open.
- Go to Settings → Privacy and security → Site settings → JavaScript → Allow sites to use JavaScript.
- Settings → Privacy and security → Cookies and other site data → Allow third-party cookies or add an exception for google.com.
- Privacy and security → Clear browsing data → Time range: All time → Cached images and files → Clear data.
- Reload the listing and click the star total.
Safari (macOS)
- Safari → Settings → Advanced → ensure “Show features for web developers” is off unless needed.
- Safari → Settings → Privacy → Uncheck “Block all cookies.”
- Safari → Settings → Privacy → Manage Website Data → Remove data for google.com and maps.google.com.
- Close the tab, reopen the listing, and try again.
Firefox (Desktop)
- Settings → Privacy & Security → Enhanced Tracking Protection → set to Standard or add an exception for google.com.
- Settings → Privacy & Security → Cookies and Site Data → Manage Data → Remove google.com and maps.google.com.
- Settings → Privacy & Security → History → Clear Data → Cached Web Content → Clear.
- Reload and test the review link.
Edge (Desktop)
- Settings → Cookies and site permissions → Cookies and site data → Allow third-party cookies, or add exceptions for Google domains.
- Settings → Privacy, search, and services → Clear browsing data → Choose what to clear → Cached images and files.
- Reload and click the rating snippet.
Android App
- Open the app store and update the app.
- Settings → Apps → Maps → Storage & cache → Clear cache. If still stuck, tap Clear storage (you’ll sign in again).
- Force stop the app, relaunch, open the place, and tap the star count.
iPhone App
- Open the App Store and update the app.
- Settings → General → iPhone Storage → Maps → Offload App → Reinstall.
- Open the listing and tap the rating snippet again.
How To Tell If It’s A Listing-Side Issue
Sometimes the click problem isn’t on your side at all. A place page can change layout during tests or have a temporary data glitch. If the same listing fails across devices and connections, try a different place page. If others work and one fails everywhere, it’s likely a listing-side quirk that clears on its own. You can still read text snippets by switching to desktop and expanding the sidebar section while you wait for the panel to behave.
How Reviews Load Behind The Scenes
The page builds the rating feed with scripts that run only after basic content renders. Those scripts use cookies to route requests and tie them to your session. Privacy tools can block the request, and the feed silently fails. Cache keeps previous script versions, which can block new code from running. Clearing cache forces a fresh pull of the current files. Allowing cookies lets the feed request return with the right session data. A quick test is to run the page in a clean profile or private window; if it works there, a local setting caused the stall.
When You’re Trying To Post A Rating Too
If you’re trying to publish your own rating and the button doesn’t respond, make sure you’re signed in and that the app has network access. Posting policy still applies, and the write panel may hide if your network flips between cellular and Wi-Fi during the flow. Google’s help hub on Maps reviews & ratings outlines the standard behavior and edit paths. If you can write on desktop but not on mobile, that points to stale app data or an outdated build.
Exact Paths To Toggle JavaScript And Cookies
Bookmark this table. It lists the shortest path to the two settings that affect the review panel most. Use it when helping a colleague or client who can’t get the rating area to open.
| Platform | JavaScript Menu Path | Cookies Menu Path |
|---|---|---|
| Chrome (Desktop) | Settings → Privacy and security → Site settings → JavaScript → Allow | Settings → Privacy and security → Cookies and other site data → Allow / Exceptions |
| Safari (macOS) | Safari → Settings → Advanced | Safari → Settings → Privacy → Manage Website Data |
| Firefox (Desktop) | Settings → Privacy & Security → Standard or Exceptions | Settings → Privacy & Security → Cookies and Site Data → Manage Data |
| Edge (Desktop) | Settings → Cookies and site permissions → JavaScript | Settings → Cookies and site permissions → Cookies and site data |
| Android App | N/A for system app; update app build | System WebView & app data controls |
| iPhone App | N/A for system app; update app build | Offload app to refresh local data |
Clean Testing Flow To Pinpoint The Culprit
Work through this short flow. Stop once the panel opens.
- Reload the listing once. If no change, hard refresh.
- Open the same listing in a private window. If it opens, the issue is local settings or cache.
- Disable content blockers and script managers for this tab. Test again.
- Turn on scripts and allow cookies for Google domains. Reload.
- Clear cache for all time, then reload.
- Try a second browser. If it opens there, fix extensions or profile settings in the first browser.
- Move to mobile: update the app, then clear app cache/data (Android) or offload/reinstall (iPhone).
Tips That Save Time
- Use a direct link: If the place owner shared a direct link, open that rather than searching again. It can bypass a stale SERP layout.
- Reduce zoom: If your zoom is at 110–125%, click targets can shift. Set zoom to 100% and retry.
- Try desktop layout on phone: In mobile Chrome, enable “Desktop site” and test the right-hand panel link.
- Switch networks: Move from cellular to Wi-Fi or vice versa to rule out a network filter.
When Nothing Works
If the panel still won’t open after the steps above, gather a few details before you ask for help so the issue gets triaged fast: device model, OS version, browser/app version, your region, a screen recording of the dead click, and the direct URL to the place page. Share that set when you post in user forums or when you contact the business owner so they can compare behavior across devices. Many issues clear after a day once caches on the network edge refresh, so retest later as well.
Why These Fixes Work
The rating panel is a live component that depends on scripts, cookies, and fresh assets. When those pieces align, the click resolves to a feed request and the panel renders. If scripts are off, nothing happens. If cookies are blocked, the session check fails. If cache is stale, the page loads an old script that can’t talk to the current endpoint. By flipping those three switches—scripts on, cookies allowed, cache cleared—you give the page a clean slate to load the feed as designed.
One-Minute Checklist
- Reload, then hard refresh.
- Scripts on, cookies allowed.
- Disable extensions/content blockers.
- Clear cache for all time.
- Private window test, then a second browser.
- Update mobile app; clear data or reinstall.
Helpful Official References
For settings and posting behavior, these official pages are handy: Google’s page on clear cache & cookies and the help hub for Maps reviews & ratings. Keep those open while you work through the steps above.
Bottom Line Fix
When the rating area won’t open, start simple: reload, ensure scripts and cookies are allowed, purge cache, and retry. If that fails, disable extensions, switch browsers, or move to the mobile app after an update. In nearly every case, one of those moves unlocks the panel and brings the full review feed back to life.