How to Turn On Reviews on a Facebook Page (Recommendations)

Looking for a Reviews switch on your Facebook Page and can't find it? That's because Facebook now calls them Recommendations. People say whether they'd recommend your business and why, and the results feed into your Page's recommendation score. Turning them on takes a moment. Here's how, and how to handle the occasional unfair one without making it worse.

Steps to turn on reviews (Recommendations)

1. Switch into your business Page.
2. Open the Page's Settings.
3. Find the Recommendations option, often under privacy or Page settings.
4. Turn Recommendations on.

Facebook's help describes turning Recommendations on or off for a business Page from its settings. Menu names shift as Meta updates Pages, so if you can't see the option, search Settings for Recommendations.

Reviews and Recommendations: what changed

Old idea	Today on Facebook
Star reviews	Recommendations
Average star rating	Recommendation score
Number of reviews	Recommendations shown on the Page

Facebook has a help article explaining how a Page's review count and recommendation score are worked out. If your score seems off, read that before assuming something's wrong.

Where recommendations appear

Once they're on, recommendations show on your Page where visitors can read them, and Facebook has help on seeing your Page's recommendations so you can keep an eye on new ones. People can recommend a business from its Page, saying whether they'd recommend it and why. Check them regularly, because a quick reply to a new recommendation, good or bad, shows visitors that someone is listening.

Replying to recommendations

• Thank people by name for positive recommendations, and mention something specific they said.
• For criticism, acknowledge the problem, explain what you've done, and offer to talk privately.
• Keep replies short and calm; future customers read them as much as the recommendation itself.
• Never argue in public, even when a comment feels unfair.

Should you turn Recommendations on?

For most small businesses, yes. Recommendations are social proof from real customers, right where people are already looking at your Page. The downside is that you can't pick and choose which ones appear, so they work best for businesses confident in their service. If you're just starting out, you might wait until you have happy customers ready to recommend you.

Getting your first recommendations

• Ask happy customers directly, with a link to your Page.
• Add a line to your email signature or receipts inviting recommendations.
• Thank people publicly when they recommend you.
• Never offer incentives that break Facebook's rules or fake recommendations.

Dealing with an unfair recommendation

Facebook lets you report a recommendation or review that breaks its Community Standards, such as spam or abuse. Disagreeing with a fair complaint isn't a reason to report it. For honest criticism, a calm public reply often impresses future customers more than a perfect score does. Explain what you've done to put things right and offer to continue the conversation privately.

What makes a recommendation useful to customers

A recommendation that says "great service" helps a little. One that says what you did, how quickly and how it felt helps a lot more, because it answers the questions new customers have. When you ask for recommendations, give people a nudge: ask them to mention the product they bought or the problem you solved. You can't write it for them, but a specific prompt usually gets a specific answer.

Managing reviews in Meta Business Suite

If you run your Page through Meta Business Suite, Meta has help for managing business reviews there. It's handy if you also manage Instagram and messages in the same place, so you can reply to recommendations without switching apps.

Turning Recommendations off

You can switch them off from the same setting. Think carefully before doing it in response to one bad review, though. A Page with no recommendations can look less established than one with a few honest ones, including the odd critical comment with a thoughtful reply.

For more Page housekeeping, see my guides to inviting friends to like a Facebook Page and whether boosting helps small Pages.

My verdict

Turn on Recommendations from your Page's settings; that's Facebook's name for reviews now. Ask happy customers to recommend you, reply to criticism calmly, and only report recommendations that break Facebook's rules. Switching them off after one bad review usually loses you more trust than it protects.

Frequently asked questions

How do I turn on reviews on my Facebook Page?

Turn on Recommendations in your Page's settings. That's what Facebook calls reviews now.

Why can't I find reviews on my Facebook Page?

Facebook replaced star reviews with Recommendations. Look for Recommendations in the Page settings.

Can I delete a bad recommendation on Facebook?

You can report recommendations that break Facebook's Community Standards, but not remove fair criticism.

How is my Facebook recommendation score worked out?

Facebook has a help article explaining how review counts and recommendation scores are determined.

Can I manage Facebook reviews in Meta Business Suite?

Yes. Meta Business Suite has tools for managing business reviews.

Should I turn off Facebook recommendations?

Usually not. A few honest recommendations, with thoughtful replies to criticism, build more trust than none.

Should I reply to Facebook recommendations?

Yes. Thank positive ones and reply calmly to criticism, since future customers read your replies.

Where can I see my Page's recommendations?

On your Page, and Facebook has help on seeing your Page's recommendations.

Can I ask customers to recommend my Page?

Yes. Asking happy customers directly, with a link to your Page, is the best way to get your first recommendations.

Do Facebook recommendations help my business?

They act as social proof from real customers on your Page, which helps new visitors trust you.

How do customers recommend my business?

They visit your Page and choose to recommend it, saying why.