Running ads on Google Shopping can feel like a goldmine—until your products suddenly get disapproved. For ecommerce sellers, a single disapproval often means lost visibility, wasted ad spend, and declining sales. The frustration is real: you’re ready to sell, but Google blocks your listings.
This guide walks you step-by-step through fixing every common product disapproval in Google Merchant Center. From policy violations to feed errors, you’ll learn practical solutions backed by real experience. At Ecom Hustle, we help businesses resolve Merchant Center issues faster so their ads keep running smoothly.
What Causes Google Merchant Center Product Disapproval?
If your product is flagged inside Merchant Center, don’t panic. A Google Merchant Center product disapproval usually means that something in your product data or listing violates Google’s policies. Based on our experience handling 100+ ecommerce accounts across Shopify, WooCommerce, and BigCommerce, here are the most common causes:
- Policy Violations – Selling prohibited or restricted items (e.g., weapons, counterfeit goods) or using misleading claims like guaranteed results. Learn more about fixing misrepresentation issues.
- Feed Errors – Incorrect prices, mismatched availability, or formatting mistakes in your product feed.
- Missing or Wrong Identifiers – Not providing GTINs, MPNs, or using fake identifiers that confuse Google’s system.
- Image Issues – Low-quality images, watermarks, or stock photos that don’t match the actual product.
- Fake Promotions – Countdown timers, “before/after” pricing, or discounts that are not genuine.
- Legal Compliance – Missing Privacy Policy, Return Policy, or Shipping information on your site.
Example: One of our clients lost 80% of traffic because of a misrepresentation policy violation—Google flagged their “50% off sale” as fake. Once we corrected the pricing and removed misleading countdowns, approvals returned within 48 hours.
Step-by-Step Guide to Fixing Merchant Center Disapprovals
Getting a disapproval notice in Merchant Center doesn’t mean the end of your campaigns—it means Google is giving you a chance to fix your listings. Most sellers panic, but if you follow the right process, products can be re-approved within days. Here’s our proven, step-by-step method (used to recover over 100+ ecommerce accounts) to fix any disapproved products Google Merchant Center throws at you.
Step 1 – Identify Disapproved Products
The first step is to clearly see which products were disapproved and why. This helps you understand the type of issue, how many items are affected, and which ones should be fixed first. When you know the scope, it’s easier to prioritize and save time during resubmission. You’ll find disapproved products Google Merchant Center under the Diagnostics section.
- Go to Google Merchant Center → Products → Diagnostics → Needs attention
- In the Issues tab, review Error / Example / Affected items and note product IDs
Export a CSV/Sheet with columns like Issue, Product, Status for tracking - Prioritize high-impact fixes like Price or Availability
Check out our guide on optimizing your Google Shopping feed to prevent recurring issues.
Step 2 – Understand the Policy Violation
Next, you need to understand what Merchant Center policy violation triggered the disapproval. Google gives a “Why it happened” explanation, but your job is to translate that into simple terms and identify what must be changed or removed. Doing this reduces the risk of resubmitting with errors.
- Open Learn more / Policy details for each issue and read the conditions
- Match the violation category: Prohibited, Restricted, Misrepresentation, Promotions
- Remove fake countdowns, exaggerated claims, or hidden charges if present
- Compare your listing’s text, images, and pricing line by line against policy
For repeated issues, you might need to appeal a Merchant Center suspension.
Step 3 – Fix Product Data Feed Errors
Most disapprovals come from errors in the product feed. Here, your goal is to make sure your feed, website, and structured data all match. Quick fixes at the feed level usually give the fastest Google Merchant Center fix.
- Correct missing or incorrect GTIN, MPN, or Brand in Diagnostics
- Ensure Price and Availability match exactly between feed and live page (sync stock)
- Optimize titles and descriptions with main keywords + specifications (avoid stuffing)
- Assign the correct Google Product Category
- Replace images with clear, high-quality versions (no watermarks, low-res, or mismatched photos)
- Use feed tools (Rules/Mapping) for bulk fixes and confirm updated timestamps
Step 4 – Resolve Policy & Legal Issues
Even if your data is correct, disapprovals will continue if your website doesn’t meet Google’s compliance requirements. The goal is trust and transparency—customers (and Google) must see all important information clearly.
- Add required pages: Privacy Policy, Terms, Refund/Return, Shipping/Delivery
- Show contact details: Company name, address/email, responsive support
- Make pricing clear: no hidden fees, transparent tax and shipping calculations
- Keep promotions honest: show valid timelines/rules, avoid fake countdowns or strikethroughs
- Use trust badges only if verifiable (not excessive or misleading)
For help, see our full Google Merchant Center setup service.
Step 5 – Resubmit for Review
Once all fixes are made, submit a clean feed for review. The key is to resubmit only when you’re confident everything is correct—this avoids repeated rejections.
- Go to Products → Feeds → [Primary Feed] → Fetch now
- After fetching, check Diagnostics again for any leftover issues
- For bigger policy-related changes, click Request review
- While under review, avoid frequent edits, let Google complete the process
Common Merchant Center Policy Violations and How to Fix Them
Getting disapproved in Google Merchant Center often comes down to common policy violations. The good news? Most of these issues have straightforward fixes. Below, we’ll cover the most frequent reasons your products get flagged and how to resolve them quickly so your listings stay active.
Misrepresentation Policy Violation Fix
A misrepresentation violation in Merchant Center happens when product information is incomplete, misleading, or exaggerated. Google wants shoppers to trust what they see.
Quick fixes:
- Be transparent about shipping costs, taxes, and extra fees
- Remove exaggerated claims like 100% guaranteed cure or fastest in the world
- Avoid fake urgency tactics such as endless countdown timers
- Double-check that product descriptions match reality (no hidden conditions)
Keeping your listings honest builds both Google’s trust and customer confidence.
Product Listing Fix
Google restricts certain categories such as alcohol, supplements, or medical devices. A restricted product disapproval happens if rules aren’t followed.
Quick fixes:
- Check if your product falls under Prohibited or Restricted categories
- Provide any certifications or legal documents required (e.g., supplements, healthcare items)
- Follow country-specific laws and age restrictions
- Avoid using restricted keywords in titles and descriptions
Always review Google’s restricted products list before uploading new items to prevent disapprovals.
Pricing & Fake Promotion Issues Fix
One of the most common reasons for pricing disapprovals in Google Merchant Center is mismatch between your site and your feed. Fake promotions also trigger violations.
Quick fixes:
- Make sure product price in the feed matches your website 100%
- Show correct taxes and shipping fees—no hidden costs
- Use valid promotional pricing (start and end dates must be accurate)
- Never use fake strikethroughs or endless sales timers
Accuracy in pricing avoids rejection and builds shopper trust.
Image Quality & Watermark Disapproval Fix
Google requires high-quality product images. Image disapprovals in Merchant Center usually happen due to watermarks, logos, or low resolution.
Quick fixes:
- Upload clear, high-resolution images (at least 800x800px recommended)
- Remove watermarks, logos, or promotional text from product images
- Use the product’s main image (avoid lifestyle-only photos unless secondary)
- Ensure images are relevant and not misleading
Good product photos not only meet policy standards but also improve click-through rates.
Missing GTIN / MPN Fix
Incorrect or missing identifiers like GTIN, MPN, or Brand often cause product disapprovals. These values help Google verify your product.
Quick fixes:
- Add correct GTIN (Global Trade Item Number) from manufacturer packaging
- If no GTIN exists, provide accurate MPN and Brand name
- Use Google’s Diagnostics tab to see which products are missing identifiers
- Ensure identifiers in your feed match your website details
Accurate product identifiers improve visibility and reduce disapprovals.
Landing Page Mismatch Fix
A landing page mismatch occurs when the feed details don’t match the website page. This is a red flag for both Google and shoppers.
Quick fixes:
- Make sure price, availability, and condition in feed = website exactly
- Ensure product pages are accessible on mobile and not returning errors
- Avoid using redirects or blocked pages (robots.txt or login walls)
- Keep structured data in sync with product feed information
Consistency between your feed and landing page is critical for approval.
How Long Does It Take to Get Approved After Fixing?
A common question is: How long does it take for Google Merchant Center to approve? The answer usually depends on the type of issue. Once you fix the errors and resubmit, Google typically reviews your feed within 24–72 hours. Minor product-level issues (like missing GTIN or image updates) often get cleared faster, while policy-related fixes may take longer.
If your updates are accurate and meet Google’s guidelines, approval is usually smooth. Patience is key, avoid making constant changes during review, as it can delay the process.
Google Merchant Center Suspension vs Product Disapproval
It’s important to understand the difference between a product disapproval and a full Google Merchant Center suspension.
- Product disapproval: This happens when individual products violate policies (e.g., pricing mismatch, missing identifiers). Your other products can still run ads while you fix the affected items.
- Google Merchant Center suspension: This is more serious. It means Google has flagged your entire account for policy violations such as misrepresentation, restricted products, or lack of trust signals. During suspension, none of your products can serve ads until you resolve the core issue.
In short, disapproval impacts certain listings, while google merchant center suspension affects your entire advertising ability. For help with suspensions, see our guide on fixing Google Merchant Center suspension.
Pro Tips to Prevent Future Disapprovals
Getting approved once is great, but staying compliant is even better. Here are some expert recommendations to avoid future Merchant Center issues:
- Double-check data feeds: Always ensure your product feed matches your live site. Price, availability, and product details should be identical.
- Use feed management tools: Platforms like DataFeedWatch or Feed Rules in Merchant Center help automate corrections and keep your data synced.
- Stay updated with Google policies: Google often updates its advertising policies. Subscribe to policy update alerts and adjust listings accordingly.
- Prioritize transparency: Clearly show shipping costs, return policies, and customer support details. Hidden charges or vague terms often trigger disapprovals.
- Optimize product identifiers: Always provide GTIN, MPN, and brand to reduce errors and improve product visibility.
Expert tip: Treat your Merchant Center feed like your storefront. Keep it clean, accurate, and trustworthy. As SEO professionals recommend, consistency across feed, website, and structured data not only prevents disapprovals but also builds long-term authority.
By maintaining accuracy and transparency, you’ll drastically reduce chances of disapproval.
When to Get Professional Help Fixing Merchant Center Issues
Sometimes Merchant Center issues are too complex or time-sensitive to handle alone. That’s when expert support can save you time and lost revenue. If you’re dealing with repeated disapprovals, policy confusion, or even a full suspension, it’s smart to bring in specialists.
Need your disapproved products fixed fast? Our team at EcomHustle.net specialises in resolving Merchant Center violations so your ads keep running. From technical feed fixes to policy compliance checks, we’ll get your account back on track quickly and reliably.
Conclusion – Keep Your Products Active on Google Shopping
Keeping your products active on Google Shopping requires diligence, accuracy, and compliance. Start by identifying disapproved items, understanding the policy violations, fixing feed errors, and resolving legal or website issues. Regularly updating your feed, using correct identifiers, and following Google’s policies will reduce future disapprovals.
Don’t let disapprovals stop your sales – fix them today or contact our experts at EcomHustle.net. Our team ensures fast, reliable resolution of Merchant Center violations so your products stay live and visible to shoppers.
