Disapproval
A disapproval is Google Merchant Center’s ruling that a product breaks one of its requirements and cannot be shown on Google until the problem is fixed.
- Not approved
- Disapproved product
- Product disapproval
What it means
In Google Merchant Center a disapproved product has the status Not approved, which Google defines plainly: “The product can’t be shown on Google.”1 Its glossary describes product disapprovals as products that “don’t meet Google’s requirements”.2
Google’s issues page gives three causes of a product-level issue: data that does not match your website, data that does not follow the product data specification, and products that break its Shopping policies. Each stays with its own product: “Product-level issues only affect individual products, not your entire account.”3
To clear one, fix the data, upload it again and, where offered, request a website check. Google says a review may take up to seven working days, and approved products are eligible to show across Google within 24 hours.4
Think of it like this
A disapproval is a parcel held at the sorting office for an incomplete address. Often nothing is wrong with what is inside, but it goes nowhere until the label is put right.
For example
A supplier file gives a drill’s image as images/drill 18v.jpg, a path on its own server rather than a web address. Google flags Invalid image link and says it “can’t show your product in ads or free listings” until the value is a full address, such as https://www.example.com/images/drill%2018v.jpg.5
Why it matters
Google’s issues page is blunt: “Disapproved products stop showing across Google.” Warnings can come first, but “If warnings aren’t resolved, they can lead to disapprovals”, so an issue left unresolved can stop a product showing later.3
Not to be confused with
A disapproval differs from limited performance. A Limited product still shows on Google in some places, while a Not approved one cannot be shown until it is fixed.1
Sources
- Google Merchant Center Help. Check product visibility and status in Merchant Center.
- Google Merchant Center Help. Product disapprovals.
- Google Merchant Center Help. Issues in Merchant Center.
- Google Merchant Center Help. Request a review of your issues.
- Google Merchant Center Help. How to fix: Invalid image link.