Why was my Google Shopping product link disapproved?
Direct answerEach product needs one link, starting with http or https, on the domain you verified, and the shopper has to see the product without registering. Google’s link attribute, reviewed October 28, 2026, disapproves the product when those requirements are missed. A page the ads crawler cannot fetch is a different label.
What gets the product disapproved
- The link is required for every product. If you submit only this attribute, desktop and mobile shoppers both go to that page.
- Start with http or https and comply with RFC 3986. Google’s example is https://www.example.com/writing/fiji-pens.
- Use the domain you verified during account setup or in the Website Verification tab.
- Google has to be able to crawl the URL. The link page’s example is a robots.txt file that allows the crawler. An ad destination with the same crawl failure is destination not crawlable. A page that returns an error after the request is destination not working.
- Replace symbols and spaces with URL-encoded characters. An ampersand becomes %26.
- Do not require registration, sign-in, or another action before the shopper can see the product. The final page has to appear immediately after the click. A store that only sells to businesses is a separate checkout rule.
- Submit one link attribute per product or variant. Extra link attributes are not all used. Google says only one is applied.
- The landing page has to be mobile friendly and has to work on desktop and mobile, even if you also submit a mobile link.
Tracking, variants, and redirects
A legally required page in front of the product, such as an age check, is allowed. After the shopper passes it, the product page still has to meet the rules above.
These are best practices on the link page, not extra disapproval lines: use a stable URL without timestamps or session IDs, because a new URL is crawled again. Link to the variant already selected, and still submit color, size, and age group. Give each variant its own URL. How those variants are grouped is the item group ID. Use as few redirects as possible, and keep them on the same verified domain. If the link contains tracking parameters, also submit a canonical link so Search can associate the product with the clean URL. Do not put ValueTrack parameters in the link or mobile link. Put that tracking URL in ads redirect, or use a Google Ads tracking template.
This attribute page does not print a 7-day suspension warning.
Sources
Reviewed October 28, 2026. Policies change. This is not legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
I added a mobile link. Does the desktop link still have to work on a phone?
Yes. Google says the landing page in the link attribute has to work on desktop and mobile, and it has to be mobile friendly, even if you also submit a mobile link.
Shopping ads go to a tracking URL. Where does that URL go?
In the ads redirect attribute. Shoppers who click a Shopping ad are sent there instead of the link or mobile link. Shoppers who click a free listing still go to the link or mobile link. Google’s best practice is not to put Google Ads ValueTrack parameters in the link or mobile link.
An age check sits in front of the product page. Is that a bad link?
Not by itself. Google says local law may require a page before the product, such as an age check. After the shopper passes that page, the product page still has to meet the link rules, including showing the product without another signup.
Check the product URL before it enters the feed
LaunchGuarding can scan the landing page for a login wall or a claim the product link is about to send shoppers into.