Merchant Center Images
Invalid image in Merchant Center
A clear photo of the product you sell. Little else.
Google disapproves images that do not show the product, that the crawler cannot fetch, or that are covered in promotional text, watermarks and borders. The image URL in the feed has to be the image on the landing page’s product, not a lifestyle banner or a logo.
What to replace
- Placeholder graphics and “image coming soon”.
- A collage, a size chart used as the only image, or text that promises a discount.
- A photo of the branded original when you sell a compatible or generic item.
- A URL that redirects to a login, a blocked CDN, or a file that is not an image.
Check the file before you resubmit
- Open the disapproved product in Merchant Center and copy the image link from the product data.
- Open that link in a private window. A login, a 404, or a file that is not a picture is the error.
- The first image should be the product. A discount banner, a logo or a collage can sit further down, not in front.
- On Shopify, replace the file on that variant, wait for the Google channel to refresh, then request a review of the item.
The product data specification is the rulebook for image attributes. When Google tightens a minimum size, the diagnostics in your account are the date that applies to you. Do not trust a blog’s pixel number over that screen.
Questions people ask
Can I use supplier photos?
Yes, if they show the product you ship and you have the right to use them. The same photo on a different product is a mismatch.
Are AI-generated images allowed?
Only if they accurately represent the product. An invented product photo is a misleading representation.
Does the page need the same file?
The page and the feed should show the same product. They do not have to be byte-for-byte identical.
Google’s own pages