When you submit a product feed to Google Merchant Center for the first time, your items go through an initial review to ensure they comply with Google's policies. During this process, which takes up to 3 business days, your products will show a "Pending" status.

If the review is successful, your products will be approved and made available for Shopping ads. However, if your items remain pending beyond the expected time frame, this guide will help you troubleshoot and resolve the issue.

Table of Contents

Understanding the 'Pending'Status
Common Reasons for Delays
Step-by-Step Troubleshooting Guide
Step 1: Check Your Account Permissions
Step 2: Verify Product Data and Feed Settings
Step 3: Review Google Policies and Contact Support
Conclusion

Understanding the 'Pending' Status

Google Merchant Center requires all new product listings to undergo a review process before they are approved. If any issues arise during this process, your products may remain in a "Pending" state longer than expected.

Common Reasons for Delays

Incomplete or incorrect product data

Insufficient account permissions

Policy violations requiring further review

Technical issues with feed processing

If your product status is still pending after 2-3 business days , follow the steps below to identify and resolve the issue.

Step-by-Step Troubleshooting Guide

Step 1: Check Your Account Permissions

Your item status may remain pending if your account lacks the correct permissions to manage products in Google Merchant Center.
Log into Google Merchant Center:

Visit Google Merchant Center and sign in with your account credentials.

Verify Your Permissions:

Navigate to Settings & Tools > People & Access.



Ensure your account role is Admin or Standard for full control over product listings.



Request Access if Needed:

Contact the account owner or administrator to update your permissions if necessary.

Tip: Without proper access, you may not be able to upload, edit, or approve product listings.

Step 2: Verify Product Data and Feed Settings

Incorrect product details or feed errors can prevent approval.

Navigate to Settings & Tools and Select Data Source



Click to the feed to verify product data



Check if your product feed was successfully uploaded and processed without errors.



Review Item Details:

Navigate to Products > All Products.

Click to disapprove items to check for missing attributes (e.g., price, description, images).



At Product Details, navigate to the top right corner at Status then click review and fix



Follow the suggestion to fix the issue of products and ensure your feed format follows Google’s product data specifications

Step 3 : Review Google Policies and Contact Support if Needed

Google enforces strict policies for Shopping ads, and any violations may lead to item rejection or extended pending status.

Review Google Merchant Center Policies:

Double-check compliance with Google’s policies and product listing guidelines.

Check for Policy Warnings:

If your items violate any policies, you will receive a warning email with steps to fix the issue within 7 days.

Contact Support if Needed:

If everything seems correct but your items are still pending, reach out to Google Merchant Center Support or contact support@socialhead.io for further assistance.

Conclusion

A 'Pending' status in Google Merchant Center is normal for newly submitted products, but if it persists beyond the expected review time, there may be issues with your feed, account permissions, or policy compliance. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can quickly identify and resolve any issues, ensuring your products get approved and displayed on Google Shopping.

For additional help, reach out to Google Merchant Center Support or support@socialhead.io

Updated on: 09/06/2025