Google Merchant Center Feed Errors — How to Find and Fix Them
Feed errors prevent your products from being listed on Google Shopping. They range from missing required fields to formatting issues and data quality problems.
Why This Happens
Your product feed is missing required attributes like title, price, or availability
Data formatting doesn't match Google's specifications (wrong currency format, invalid URLs)
Your feed hasn't been updated recently and contains stale product data
The feed file itself has structural issues (malformed XML, encoding errors)
What Google Requires
All required attributes must be present: id, title, description, link, image_link, price, availability
Prices must use correct ISO currency codes and formatting
Product URLs must be valid, working HTTPS links
Feed must be updated at least every 30 days (daily recommended)
GTIN, brand, or MPN must be provided for all products
Common Mistakes
Missing the availability attribute or setting it incorrectly
Using HTTP instead of HTTPS for product links and image URLs
Not including the currency code with prices
Exceeding character limits for titles (150 chars) or descriptions (5000 chars)
Submitting a feed with encoding issues (wrong character set)
How to Fix This
Go to GMC > Products > Diagnostics to see all feed errors categorized by type
Export the error report to identify patterns across products
Fix missing required attributes in your feed source (CMS, spreadsheet, or feed tool)
Validate product URLs to ensure they're all working HTTPS links
Check price formatting: use correct currency codes and decimal formats
Re-upload your feed and check the processing report for remaining errors
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the most common feed error?+
Missing or invalid GTIN (barcode) is the most common error, followed by price/availability mismatches. Check your Diagnostics tab for your specific error breakdown.
How often should I update my feed?+
Daily updates are recommended, especially if you have frequent price or inventory changes. Google requires feeds to be updated at least every 30 days.
Can I submit products without a GTIN?+
Yes, but you must set identifier_exists to 'no' for custom or handmade products. For resold products with known GTINs, providing them is required.
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