How can I find out which policy caused my product disapprovals in Merchant Center?
Quick Answer
Check the Diagnostics tab in Merchant Center for specific disapproval reasons and affected products.
Using the Diagnostics Tab
The Diagnostics tab is your primary tool for understanding product issues.
How to Access Diagnostics
What You Will See
- Issue name - Brief description of the problem
- Affected items - Number of products with this issue
- Severity - Error (blocking) vs Warning (not blocking)
- Destination - Which programs are affected (Shopping ads, Free listings)
Checking Individual Products
For specific product details, drill down to the individual item level.
How to Check a Specific Product
Product Status Information
- Current approval status (Approved, Disapproved, Pending)
- Specific policy violations affecting this product
- Which attributes triggered the issue
- Links to relevant policy documentation
Understanding Disapproval Messages
Disapproval messages can be technical. Here is how to interpret common ones:
"Policy violation: Misrepresentation"
Product or landing page contains misleading information, false claims, or does not match what is advertised.
"Missing value [attribute]"
A required attribute is not provided in your feed. Common examples: GTIN, shipping, availability.
"Invalid value [attribute]"
The value you provided does not meet requirements. Check format, accepted values, or data quality.
"Price mismatch"
The price in your feed does not match the price on your landing page.
"Landing page not crawlable"
Google cannot access or read your product page. Check robots.txt, page availability, and server response.
Finding the Full Policy
Each disapproval should link to the relevant policy. Use these links to understand the complete requirements.
Where to Find Policy Information
- In the disapproval message - Usually a "Learn more" link
- Google Merchant Center Help - Shopping policies documentation
- Product data specification - Attribute requirements
Key Policy Categories
- Shopping ads policies - What you can and cannot advertise
- Product data specification - How to format your feed
- Landing page requirements - What your website must include
- Prohibited content - Products not allowed on Shopping
Read the Full Policy
Do not just skim the summary. Many merchants miss important details by not reading the complete policy documentation. Examples in the policy often clarify edge cases.
Account-Level vs Product-Level Issues
Some issues affect your entire account while others only affect specific products.
Account-Level Issues
- Appear in the main dashboard as warnings
- May affect all products in your account
- Often related to website quality or business verification
- Require fixes at the website or account level
Product-Level Issues
- Appear in Diagnostics for specific products
- Only affect the listed items
- Usually related to data quality or product policy
- Require fixes to your feed or specific pages
Check Both Levels
When troubleshooting, check both the main dashboard for account warnings and the Diagnostics tab for product issues. Sometimes fixing account issues resolves product problems automatically.
After Identifying the Policy
Once you know which policy caused the disapproval:
Action Steps
Automated Policy Check
Our scanner identifies common policy violations on your website before they cause disapprovals in Merchant Center.
Scan for Issues