Your products are in Shopify, but they aren't reaching Google, or the Google and YouTube app shows errors. Most sync problems come down to a few causes. Here's what causes it and how to fix it.
Two sides to every sync
The Google and YouTube channel copies the products that are available to your online store into Google Merchant Center. Shopify sends the data, and Google decides whether it's approved. So the problem is on one of two sides: the product never synced, or it synced and Google rejected it.
- Shopify: Sends products to Merchant Center
- Google: Reviews and approves them
- So: Not synced, or synced and rejected
Why products don't sync
Common causes. The product isn't available to both the online store and the Google and YouTube channel. Required data is missing, like a description, an image, or a GTIN. Variant options aren't in English, which Shopify says Google needs. Or the Merchant Center account has a warning.
- Availability: Not on Online Store and Google
- Missing data: Description, image, GTIN or MPN
- Variants: Options must be in English
- Account: A warning or suspension
Find the exact error
To find the reason, open the product in Shopify, find the Sales channels section, and click Google to see its errors. Then check Merchant Center itself, in the Needs attention tab. If products synced but still don't appear, check the account status in the channel's settings.
1. Product → Sales channels → Google
2. Merchant Center → Needs attention
3. Channel settings → account status
Fix product errors
Fix each error on the product itself. Add a description. Add at least one image in the Media section. Add the barcode in the variant's inventory details, or the brand and MPN in the channel's Google fields. And change an all caps title to normal case.
- Description: Add one in the Description field
- Image: At least one, in the Media section
- GTIN: Barcode field, or brand + MPN
- Title: No ALL CAPS
Availability and category
If Google reports an unavailable landing page, make sure the product is available on both the Online Store and Google and YouTube. Add a Google product category too. Shopify says that without one, Google assigns its own, and you might see errors. Then check shipping in the channel's product feed settings.
- Landing page: Available on Online Store and Google
- Category: Set a Google product category
- Shipping: Channel settings → Product feed
Timing and upkeep
Then give it time. Shopify says Google reviews new products within three to five business days of the first sync. Synced data expires after thirty days, and the channel refreshes it automatically. Editing a product can create new errors, so check the channel after big catalog changes.
- Review: 3–5 business days after first sync
- Refresh: Automatic, within 30 days
- Habit: Recheck after big catalog edits
Doing this at scale
FeedFix checks the product data behind many of these errors: missing G T I Ns and brands, thin descriptions, undersized images, and all caps titles. It scores every product for Google and Meta, and drafts fixes you approve. It doesn't run the sync. The Google and YouTube channel still does that. See FeedFix.