How to fix: Incorrect GTIN

Add a valid GTIN so Google can ensure your product is easier for customers to find

Why this issue is happening

This issue happens when the GTIN (Global Trade Item Number) value submitted for this product is valid, but incorrect. This error tends to occur when the GTIN from another product is accidentally re-used.

Note: It’s recommended to provide a valid GTIN [gtin] for each product. Products with an assigned GTIN, but submitted without one, may have limited visibility.

How to fix your issue

For any given product, you must only use the related GTIN number that is provided by the manufacturer. This identifying value uniquely defines your product and helps to match search queries with your offers. Do not make up or create new GTINs.

If your product has a barcode, you can normally find the GTIN on the packaging.

Once you confirm that the GTIN you’ve provided correctly corresponds to your product, please make sure that the other product attributes (for example, image [image], title [title], or description [description]) are of high quality and consistent with your product.

For more information about the validation of GTINs, refer to the GTIN Validation Guide edited by GS1.

Fix products one by one directly in Merchant Center

Step 1 Navigate to Products in Merchant Center, then select the Needs attention tab.

Step 2 Use the filter icon above the table to find all products affected by your issue.

Step 3 Click on the title of the product you want to fix, then click Edit product.

Step 4 Make sure you are using the GTIN [gtin] attribute provided by the manufacturer, and the additional product attributes are consistent with your product.

Step 5 Select Save.

Fix multiple products at once

Step 1 Navigate to Products in Merchant Center, then select the Needs attention tab.

Step 2 Use the filter icon above the table to find all products affected by your issue.

Step 3 Select the download icon to download a list (.csv) of all affected products for all issues or this particular issue.

Step 4 Cross reference the downloaded list with your uploaded product data, and make sure you are using the GTIN [gtin] attribute provided by the manufacturer. The additional product attributes should be consistent with your product.

Step 5 Reupload your corrected product data to Merchant Center using your chosen upload method.

Request a review

If your account or product is disapproved, you can either fix the problem and request a review, or disagree and appeal the decision. When your technical fixes are live, making a small ad edit or selecting "Appeal" will start a fresh crawl. These crawls usually finish within 24 to 48 hours. Depending on the violation, there might be extra verification steps and a limit on how many reviews you can request. If the review is successful, the disapproval will disappear.

If the problem remains and you’re unsure how to proceed, contact us for support.

An animation that shows how to request a review for policy issues in Merchant Center.

Note: If you use a third-party platform to list your products, you may request a review directly through their application.

Next steps

After making the requested changes, check that you’ve fixed the issue by making sure the issue is no longer listed on the “Needs attention” page.

Keep in mind: Your change may take 24–72 hours to reflect on the “Needs attention” page.

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