How to fix common unique identifiers error in Google Merchant Center (Invalid value [gtin])
If you've encountered the "Invalid value [GTIN]" error in Google Merchant Center, don't worry—you're not alone. This issue is quite common and usually stems from incorrect or missing GTIN (Global Trade Item Number) values. Here's how you can fix it.
How to fix Invalid GTIN with 2 situations
Situation 1: Incorrect GTIN Provided
Situation 2: GTIN Provided for a Custom Product
Google will verify all the gtins that you submitted and will notify if those are incorrect. There are 2 different causes and corresponding solutions to this issue:
Verify the Correct GTIN – GTINs vary based on product type and target country. Check the official GTIN format to ensure accuracy.
Check the Product Type – Common GTIN formats include:
UPC (North America)
EAN (Europe)
JAN (Japan)
ISBN (Books)
ITF-14 (For multi-unit packaging)
Correct the GTIN in Your Product Feed – Update the GTIN in your Google Merchant Center feed and resubmit.
Validate with a GTIN Lookup Tool – Use a barcode scanner or online GTIN validator to confirm correctness.
Tip: If you’re unsure about the correct GTIN, check with your supplier or manufacturer.
Identify Custom Products – If your product does not have a manufacturer-assigned GTIN, it is considered a custom product.
Set identifier_exists to False or No – This tells Google that a unique product identifier is unavailable.
Resubmit Feed to Google Merchant Center – Once updated, submit your product feed again for review.
Note: FeedHub users should set identifier_exists to no in the feed file before submission.
Need Help?
By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the Invalid value [GTIN] error and ensure your products comply with Google Merchant Center guidelines. If you run into any issues, feel free to reach out to us via live chat or email at support@socialhead.io. We’re happy to help!
Curious to read more? Check out additional articles:
How to fix common unique identifiers error in Google Merchant Center (Ambiguous value gtin)
How to fix common unique identifiers error in Google Merchant Center (Insufficient product identifiers: missing two out of three attributes)
Table of Contents
How to fix Invalid GTIN with 2 situations
Situation 1: Incorrect GTIN Provided
Situation 2: GTIN Provided for a Custom Product
How to fix Invalid GTIN with 2 situations
Google will verify all the gtins that you submitted and will notify if those are incorrect. There are 2 different causes and corresponding solutions to this issue:
Situation 1: Incorrect GTIN Provided
Steps:
Verify the Correct GTIN – GTINs vary based on product type and target country. Check the official GTIN format to ensure accuracy.
Check the Product Type – Common GTIN formats include:
UPC (North America)
EAN (Europe)
JAN (Japan)
ISBN (Books)
ITF-14 (For multi-unit packaging)
Correct the GTIN in Your Product Feed – Update the GTIN in your Google Merchant Center feed and resubmit.
Validate with a GTIN Lookup Tool – Use a barcode scanner or online GTIN validator to confirm correctness.
Tip: If you’re unsure about the correct GTIN, check with your supplier or manufacturer.
Situation 2: GTIN Provided for a Custom Product
Steps:
Identify Custom Products – If your product does not have a manufacturer-assigned GTIN, it is considered a custom product.
Set identifier_exists to False or No – This tells Google that a unique product identifier is unavailable.
Resubmit Feed to Google Merchant Center – Once updated, submit your product feed again for review.
Note: FeedHub users should set identifier_exists to no in the feed file before submission.
Need Help?
By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the Invalid value [GTIN] error and ensure your products comply with Google Merchant Center guidelines. If you run into any issues, feel free to reach out to us via live chat or email at support@socialhead.io. We’re happy to help!
Curious to read more? Check out additional articles:
How to fix common unique identifiers error in Google Merchant Center (Ambiguous value gtin)
How to fix common unique identifiers error in Google Merchant Center (Insufficient product identifiers: missing two out of three attributes)
Updated on: 18/03/2025
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