Google Maps Review Nicknames Are Rolling Out Globally: What Changes For You Next

Google has added a new Maps setting that lets users post public business reviews under a nickname and custom profile picture. The feature is rolling out globally across Android, iOS, and desktop and affects contributions in both Maps and Search. Google says reviews posted with nicknames remain linked to the underlying Google Account and are subject to existing review protections.

Key Details: Google Maps review nicknames

The setting lets users create a separate public identity from their main Google Account profile. They can choose a nickname and image for public contributions, which then appear on reviews and other visible content in Google services.

• According to Google's support documentation, users can turn on a custom display name and profile picture for public contributions.
• When enabled, the nickname identity appears on reviews, photos, videos, and Q&A posts in both Maps and Search.
• Nickname settings apply to new and past contributions, which update to show the chosen name and image.
• Reviews created with nicknames remain tied to the underlying Google Account, and existing review protections still apply.
• Businesses can continue to report reviews they believe violate Google's content policies, according to the company.
• The feature is part of a four-feature Maps update described in an official Google blog post.
• Local SEO agency Whitespark was among the first to document the change and described it as a major shift in Google's review system.
• The rollout is global across Android, iOS, and desktop, although some users report that they do not yet see the setting.

The nickname setting covers all public contributions linked to that Google Account in both Maps and Search. The same nickname and picture appear on reviews, photos, videos, and Q&A posts from that account. Changes to the nickname or image update both existing and future contributions automatically, without additional action from the user.

Background Context

Before this update, Google Maps reviews displayed the user's primary Google Account name and profile photo by default. Some reviewers created separate Google accounts with alternative names to gain more privacy on public reviews. According to coverage from local SEO agency Whitespark, this is the first time Google has formally documented a separate posting identity option.

Whitespark describes the new setting as "pseudonymous rather than truly anonymous," since it still links activity to an account. Industry outlet Search Engine Journal reported the update and included reactions from agencies focused on local search marketing. Local search consultant Joy Hawkins noted on LinkedIn that the nickname option was not yet visible in her account.

Source Citations

Key details about the nickname feature come from official Google publications, with industry reports documenting how the setting appears in live accounts.

• Google Maps product announcement describing the nickname feature and related updates in the four-feature Maps update on the official Google blog.
• Google Maps support documentation explaining how to set and manage a nickname identity for public contributions.
• Coverage from industry publication Search Engine Journal and local search agency Whitespark.