Avoid These Common Website Mistakes That Get Your Google Merchant Center Account Suspended

Getting your Google Merchant Center account suspended can feel like hitting a wall. One moment, your ads and products are showing perfectly, and the next, everything disappears without warning. In most cases, this happens because of a simple website issue that Google’s automated system flags as non-compliant. Missing pages, incorrect redirects, broken links, or mismatched domains are common triggers. These signals indicate to Google that your site may not comply with its shopping policies, even if your store is legitimate and your products adhere to all the rules.
Shopify users encounter this problem more frequently because their sites often rely on dynamic themes, third-party apps, and automatic redirects, which can easily confuse Google’s crawlers. The good news is that these problems are fixable once you know what to look for. This guide focuses on website-related causes behind Merchant Center suspensions and gives you clear solutions to fix and prevent them. By the end, you’ll know how to keep your store compliant, consistent, and trusted by Google so your products keep showing without interruption.

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Understanding How Google Reviews Websites

Google doesn’t rely on guesswork when it reviews websites connected to the Merchant Center. It uses a mix of automated scans, policy checks, and manual reviews to decide if a store is trustworthy and safe for shoppers. Automated systems constantly crawl your Shopify site to confirm that ownership is verified, the domain is secure with HTTPS, and that there’s no sign of malware or misleading content. At the same time, Google checks if your business details are transparent. This includes having a visible contact page, clear refund and shipping policies, and real product information that matches what appears in your product feed. Everything your website shows should align with what’s sent to the Merchant Center, because Google cross-verifies data through your connected Search Console and Google Ads accounts. If anything looks inconsistent or incomplete, it can raise flags that affect your account status. In short, Google expects your website to prove ownership, show real business information, protect visitors with safe browsing, and provide accurate, honest details about what you sell

Major Website Mistakes That Lead to Account Suspension

Using a Non-Functional or Broken Website

One of the quickest ways to get your Merchant Center account suspended is by having a site that doesn’t load properly. Google checks if your website is live, easy to navigate, and accessible to users. If your Shopify store is under construction, has broken links, or shows 404 errors, Google flags it as non-functional. Shopify users often face this when their store is still password-protected, when they switch themes and forget to publish it, or when old product links are still active. Before connecting your site to the Merchant Center, open it in an incognito window and test your main pages to make sure everything loads correctly.

Using the Wrong Domain or Mismatched URLs

Google treats each domain as a separate website. If your Merchant Center is connected to yourstore.myshopify.com, but your live site is www.yourstore.com, Google sees two different entities and may suspend your account. In Shopify, always set your custom domain as Primary under “Domains,” then use the same domain in your Merchant Center and product feed. Make sure you’re using the same version, either “www” or “non-www”—and always keep your site on HTTPS to avoid security warnings.

Incomplete Legal Pages or Missing Policy Information

Google expects your website to explain your business practices clearly. Missing or vague refund, return, shipping, or contact policies make your site look untrustworthy. This often leads to “Misrepresentation” suspensions. In Shopify, go to Settings → Policies, fill out each policy section, and add links to them in your footer. Use real information like shipping times, return conditions, and a working email address so Google can verify your store’s authenticity.

Misleading or Inaccurate Product Information

Google cross-checks the product data in your feed with what appears on your website. If prices, stock availability, or product titles don’t match, Google marks them as misleading. This can happen when Shopify updates don’t sync instantly with Merchant Center or when apps modify product data. Avoid fake countdown timers, “limited stock” labels that aren’t true, or exaggerated claims. Keep your listings honest and consistent across all platforms.

Poor Website Transparency

Google expects visitors to find who you are and how to contact you easily. A missing “About Us” page, no address, or a fake contact number can make your business appear suspicious. To fix this, include a clear About section with your company background, a working contact form or email, and your business location if possible. The more transparent your site looks, the more Google trusts it.

Low-Quality or Thin Content

Google’s crawlers quickly detect websites with duplicate or minimal content. Empty product pages, repeated descriptions, or stock images lower your trust score. Every product should have a unique description, original photos, and ideally, user reviews or real product details. If you’ve recently launched, fill out each product and collection page before submitting your feed to the Merchant Center.

Policy Violations Hidden in the Website

Selling restricted or controlled items like medical devices, counterfeit goods, or unapproved supplements can instantly suspend your account. Some merchants unknowingly add “gray-area” products that violate Google’s shopping policies. Always review Google’s Prohibited Content List and make sure all listed products are compliant before publishing them in Shopify or syncing them with Merchant Center.

Unsafe or Unsecured Website (No HTTPS)

Google automatically flags non-secure websites as unsafe. If your site still runs on HTTP instead of HTTPS, it signals a security risk to both shoppers and Google’s crawlers. Shopify provides a free SSL certificate by default, but make sure it’s activated. You can test it by visiting your store if the browser shows a padlock icon, your connection is secure. Also, scan for malware or unwanted redirects that might affect user safety.

Misrepresentation or “Untrustworthy Promotions”

This is one of the most confusing suspension reasons because it’s not always obvious. Google uses “misrepresentation” when a website’s promotions or claims seem deceptive. Examples include fake sales, unreal discounts, copied testimonials, or unverified “best seller” labels. Keep your marketing honest and avoid making promises your product pages can’t back up.

Redirect Chains and Third-Party Checkout Errors

Google’s crawlers struggle with websites that use unnecessary redirects or third-party checkout pages. Some Shopify apps add tracking or redirect scripts that confuse Google and make your checkout path look unclear. Use the URL Inspection Tool in Search Console to check how Google views your site. If it reports too many redirects or broken links, simplify your checkout and remove unnecessary third-party pages.

Other Triggers That Indirectly Lead to Suspension

Besides direct website problems, other issues can still lead to suspension. An unverified or unclaimed site confuses Google about ownership. Repeated product disapprovals can escalate to a full account block. Using multiple Merchant Center accounts for one domain creates policy conflicts. Even hidden redirects or cloaking techniques showing Google one version of your site and users another can result in an immediate suspension. Lastly, using copyrighted or trademarked images without permission can get your listings removed or your account restricted. Each of these problems chips away at Google’s trust, so staying consistent, verified, and transparent is the safest way to keep your Merchant Center account active.

Identify the cause: Open Google Merchant Center → Diagnostics → Account issues. Read the exact suspension reason and note any linked policy pages.
Fix the root issue: Clean up broken pages, add missing policy links, correct domain or URL mismatches, remove misleading claims, and re-verify and re-claim your website if needed.
Check live status: View your site in an incognito window. Confirm HTTPS works, pages load without errors, and contact, shipping, and refund pages are visible in the footer.
Sync fresh data: Resubmit or fetch your product feed. Make sure prices, availability, and titles match the live website.

Request a manual review: In the Merchant Center, submit a review request with a short, clear note explaining what you fixed and where.

Wait for the outcome: Reviews typically finish in 3 to 5 business days. Keep the site stable during this time.

Avoid rapid re-submissions: Reapplying too soon after a denial can slow reinstatement. Recheck the reason, address every point, then request review again once all fixes are live.

Shopify-Specific Fixes & Maintenance Tips

For Shopify users, keeping Google Merchant Center connected and compliant takes a bit of regular maintenance. Always make sure your primary domain is set correctly in Shopify and that all other versions (like www or non-www) redirect to it. Each time you change or update your theme, recheck your verification tag because new templates can remove it without warning. Keep your key pages, such as Contact, Shipping, and Refund Policy, easy to find in both your footer and navigation menu so Google sees them right away. Use the official Google & YouTube app for syncing product feeds and website verification since it handles most setup automatically. If you ever switch to a different Google account, reconnect your Merchant Center immediately to avoid ownership conflicts. Lastly, display real product prices at all times. Google disapproves of listings with “Call for price” or hidden pricing, as it signals a lack of transparency to customers and can lead to product or account suspension.

Check your primary domain: Make sure your main domain is set as “Primary” in Shopify, and redirect all other versions, like www or non-www, to avoid confusion in the Merchant Center.

Reverify after theme updates: Whenever you update, switch, or publish a new theme, confirm that your verification tag is still in place—it often gets removed during updates.

Keep essential pages visible: Add your Contact, Refund Policy, Shipping, and About pages to both the footer and main navigation so Google can easily find and validate them.

Use the Google & YouTube app: Connect your Shopify store through this app to handle feed syncing and verification automatically and reduce manual setup errors.

Reconnect if you switch accounts: If you change your connected Google account, re-link Merchant Center right away to prevent claim or ownership issues.

Show real prices: Avoid “Call for price” or hidden pricing on your product pages. Google expects transparent and visible prices to keep your listings active and compliant.

How to Stay Compliant Long-Term?

Staying compliant in the long run means keeping a close eye on your website and Merchant Center regularly. Make it a habit to run a quick monthly audit in the Merchant Center’s Diagnostics tab to spot any new errors or warnings before they turn into suspension risks. Check your Google Search Console for coverage issues, broken pages, or security alerts since these problems can make your store look unreliable in Google’s system. Keep your product feed and website content perfectly aligned by using automated feed apps that sync updates instantly whenever you edit prices, inventory, or descriptions in Shopify. Anytime your business policies change, like shipping time, refund conditions, or contact details, update them on your website to match. Finally, pay attention to Google’s policy update emails, even the small ones, because slight wording changes can affect what’s considered compliant. Consistent monitoring and quick updates keep your Merchant Center healthy, prevent sudden suspensions, and help your products continue showing smoothly on Google.

Conclusion

Keeping your Google Merchant Center account active and trusted isn’t about luck; it’s about maintaining a website that’s clear, transparent, and consistent with Google’s rules. Most suspensions happen because of fixable issues like missing policy pages, mismatched domains, misleading product details, or poor site security. By taking the time to correct these areas, you’re not only preventing suspensions but also building long-term trust with Google and your customers. Think of compliance as part of your store’s foundation; once it’s strong, your ads run smoothly, your products stay visible, and your brand gains credibility.
If you’re using Shopify, stay proactive. Recheck your verification tag after theme changes, keep your policy pages linked in the footer, and review your account diagnostics regularly. Avoid shortcuts like fake sales or hidden prices. Google’s systems are smarter than ever and reward transparency over tricks. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you’ll not only recover quickly from a suspension but also protect your store from future risks. A well-maintained, compliant website doesn’t just satisfy Google; it also builds customer trust, increases conversions, and helps your business grow steadily without unexpected interruptions.