How it works
Both stores let developers answer reviews publicly:
- App Store: in App Store Connect under Ratings and Reviews. One response per review, which you can edit later. The user is notified and can update their review.
- Google Play: in the Google Play Console under Quality → Ratings and reviews, or through the Google Play Developer API. Replies are limited to 350 characters.
Other people read your replies too — a thoughtful answer under a one-star review tells every visitor that someone is listening.
How to reply to App Store reviews
- Open App Store Connect → your app → Ratings and Reviews.
- Pick the country (reviews are listed per storefront) and sort by most recent.
- Click Reply, write your response and submit. Apple checks it before it appears.
- When the problem is fixed, edit the reply — the user is notified again.
How to reply to Google Play reviews
- Open the Play Console → your app → Ratings and reviews.
- Filter by rating, language or app version.
- Click Reply, write up to 350 characters, and post.
Where users see developer responses
On the App Store, open the app’s page → Ratings & Reviews → See All; the developer response appears directly under the review. On Google Play, it shows under the review as “Response from the developer”.
Does replying change the rating?
Often. Users can edit their review and stars after a reply, and many do when the reply solves their problem or announces a fix. Replies also help the people who haven’t installed yet.
Tips for good replies
- Reply fast. A reply a day after a complaint is helpful; a reply a month later reads like a form letter.
- Be specific. “Fixed in version 3.2, please update” beats “Thanks for your feedback”.
- Don’t argue in public. Offer a support address for anything that needs details.
- Answer good reviews too — briefly.
Three example replies
- Bug: “Sorry about that! A sync issue affected some accounts this morning — it’s fixed now. If it still fails, write to support@… and we’ll look at your account.”
- Feature request: “Thanks for the idea — a widget is on our list for the next months. We’ll post here when it’s out.”
- Praise: “Thank you! Glad the reminders help you stay on track.”
Need a first draft? The free app review reply generator writes one for any rating, topic and tone. More examples in how to respond to app store reviews.
Getting every new review into a shared channel — see app reviews in Slack — is what makes same-day replies possible; each allstarsbot message includes a direct reply link.