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How do I respond to an invitation to review in Editorial Manager?
Last updated on January 08, 2026
Please watch this short videoopens in new tab/window to see the steps.
To accept or decline an invitation to review in Editorial Manager you're required to:
- Have been invited to review by the Handling Editor (you'll receive an email notification).
- Respond before the Editor makes a decision on the paper, or the review invitation becomes inactive.
If you are registered for the journal at a different email address than the one the invitation was sent to, your accounts can be mergedopens in new tab/window to move the invitation to your preferred account.
Editors are able to send invitations to any email address, you will be sent a separate email requesting you to complete registration and set a password the first time you are invited at that address.
The invitation email should include a link to log you directly to the Agree to Review page of EM.
- Select the Agree link in the invitation email.
- Journals may use different wording in the email, such as "accept invitation".
Note if you are currently logged in to EM at a different email address, selecting this link will give an error message. Simply log out, then try the link again.
- If you have never completed registration for the journal using that email address
- Most journals will require a short registration step, with a few key fields and the Privacy Policy. In that case, full registration, including setting a password, will be required the next time you log in.
- Some journals may require full registration now, before your acceptance is processed.
- Your acceptance is recorded, and you have three options :
- Go to Pending Assignments to view the submission PDF or take another actions on the assignment.
- Go to the Main Menu to see all your reviewer activity for the journal.
- Log out for now and continue your review
- If your account is new, you can elect to complete registration now by selecting "Update My Information" in the top navigation bar. Otherwise, you will be required to complete the process the next time you log in.
The invitation email will usually include a link to the journal's Editorial Manager login page, or you can find the journal on elsevier.comopens in new tab/window, and select the Submit your paper link to get to the login page.
- Fill in your username and password, then select the Reviewer Login button .
- If you have not previously logged to this journal, select Send Login Details , then input the same email address at which you received the invitation.
- An email will be sent with your username and a link to set or reset your password.
- If your account is new, you will need to complete the full registration during your first login.
- On your Reviewer Main Menu, select the New Reviewer Invitations folder.
- If you see the author or editor menu instead, look for the Role drop down selection in the top navigation bar, and switch to your reviewer role.
- Select the Agree to Review link to accept the invitation.
- Note that the Action menu may have different options than shown, each journal is able to configure what is shared before you agree to review.
- Your acceptance is immediately recorded, and you have two options :
- Go to Pending Assignments to view the submission PDF.
- Go to the Main Menu to see all possible reviewer actions.
You will be asked to provide a reason for declining, but it is not mandatory. Some journals will also ask you to suggest another reviewers.
- To decline quickly, select the Decline link in the invitation email.
- Journals may use different wording in the email, such as "do not agree" or "unable to review".
- You do not need to register for the EM site in order to decline via the email link.
Note if you are currently logged in to EM at a different email address, selecting this link will give an error message. Simply log out, then try the link again.
- The Decline Review screen will open.
- Optionally fill in your reason and/or reviewer suggestions, following the journal's guidelines on screen.
- Select the Submit button to confirm that you decline the invitation.
If the invitation was sent to an address already registered on EM, you can instead log in and locate the invitation on your Reviewer Main Menu, in the New Reviewer Invitations folder. Select Decline to Review from there.
The Agree and Decline email links will expire according to journal configuration, usually after 1 select or several days.
After completing these steps:
- The Editor is notified of your response to the invitation.
- If accepted, the submission appears in the folder 'Pending Assignments' on your Reviewer main menu, where you can download the PDF and submit your reviewopens in new tab/window.
For more information, guidance and support for reviewing or becoming a reviewer with Elsevier please visit the Elsevier page for Reviewersopens in new tab/window.
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