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Freedom251 › Blog › ecommerce

How to Upload and Process Product Videos in Google Merchant Center

By Freedom251 Team · · 13 min read

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Upload a product video by adding the optional video_link attribute to the product data you send to Google Merchant Center. Use a direct HTTP or HTTPS URL to an MPG, MP4, WMV, AVI, MOV, FLV, MPEG-1 or MPEGPS file, then submit the feed, platform connection or API request and monitor diagnostics. Google validates the video separately from the offer: a video can be rejected for policy or quality reasons while the associated product offer remains approved.

What the Merchant Center video workflow actually does

Merchant Center does not treat a product video as a replacement for your product data. The product title, price, availability, identifiers, landing page and other attributes still come from your connected ecommerce platform, data file or Merchant API submission. The video is an optional asset attached to the relevant product through video_link.

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Three decisions happen independently:

  • Product-data processing: Google receives and checks the submitted attributes for completeness and policy requirements.
  • Video eligibility: Google checks whether the linked file is technically usable and complies with video policy and quality requirements.
  • Offer approval and serving: The product offer can remain eligible even if its video is not eligible. Google’s documentation states: “This attribute won’t impact the approval status of your offers.”

Consequently, a successful upload or API insertion only means that Google accepted the data for processing. It does not mean the offer is approved, the video has passed review, or the video is already visible to shoppers.

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Supported ways to submit a product video

Choose the product-data source that best matches how often your catalog changes and how it is maintained. The video URL is added to that source; there is no separate requirement to upload the video through a camera or media-upload tool first.

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Submission method Best fit Important timing or limits
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Data file Scheduled or one-time catalog exports TXT, XML and TSV are supported; files can be up to 4 GB. A hosted URL is fetched every 24 hours by default, and the schedule can be adjusted.
SFTP Teams that transfer generated files to a secure server Merchant Center processes the matching file after it is transferred.
Merchant API Large catalogs or frequent, automated changes An insertion response confirms acceptance for processing, not final approval.

For a file source, Merchant Center lets you upload a local file, provide a hosted URL for scheduled fetching, or use SFTP. Google recommends the Merchant API when you maintain many feeds or need frequent updates.

Match the source to your update pattern

A connected platform is convenient when the store already owns the product catalog and your video URL can be exported with each item. It reduces manual file handling, but a change may need 24–48 hours to appear. A hosted file is useful when your commerce system produces a regular export: Merchant Center fetches it every 24 hours by default, and you can adjust that schedule for your publishing cycle. SFTP suits an operations team that generates a file and transfers it to a controlled server. The API is the better fit for programmatic insertion, frequent changes or a large number of feeds, but your integration still needs to monitor processing and diagnostics after each request.

Video-link requirements

Use the optional attribute for the specific product

Add video_link to each product record whose video shows that product. You may repeat the attribute up to 10 times for one product, allowing up to 10 video URLs. The maximum length for each URL is 2,000 characters.

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Use an accepted URL and file format

The value must be a direct video URL beginning with http:// or https://. Google’s documented formats are:

  • MPG
  • MP4
  • WMV
  • AVI
  • MOV
  • FLV
  • MPEG-1
  • MPEGPS

Use ASCII characters and follow RFC 3986 URL rules. The URL should resolve to the video file rather than to a product page, login screen, player page or an expiring session URL. Your marketing content must comply with Shopping policies, and you must hold the rights or licenses needed to use it.

Format the attribute correctly in a feed

In a TSV feed, multiple video links are comma-separated. If a comma is part of the URL itself, encode that comma so Merchant Center does not interpret it as the separator between two links. Keep the field within the 2,000-character limit, including any encoded characters.

The exact column or field name is video_link. Keep the URL tied to the product identifier used by your feed so the video is matched to the intended offer rather than to a different variant.

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Pre-submission URL checklist

  • Open the URL in a normal browser session and confirm that it reaches the video file.
  • Check that the address starts with HTTP or HTTPS and uses valid ASCII and RFC 3986 characters.
  • Confirm that the file is one of the eight documented formats.
  • Keep each URL at or below 2,000 characters.
  • For multiple videos, count the repeated values and stay within the limit of 10.
  • Confirm that the content is licensed marketing material and complies with Shopping policies.
  • Use the same product identifier in the video record as in the rest of the offer data.

These checks do not approve the video in advance; they simply prevent avoidable fetch, formatting and mapping errors before Google begins validation.

Step-by-step: add a video through product data

  1. Prepare a stable video URL. Confirm that the URL is reachable over HTTP or HTTPS without authentication, redirects that require a session, or a temporary token that will expire before Google crawls it. Check the file extension and encoding against the supported list.
  2. Choose your source. Open the connected ecommerce-platform integration, prepare a TXT/XML/TSV file, transfer the file through SFTP, or use the Merchant API. Select the source that already controls the product’s title, identifier, price and availability.
  3. Add video_link. Put the direct URL in the record for the matching product. Repeat the field for additional videos, up to 10 links. In TSV, separate links with commas and encode commas that belong inside a URL.
  4. Submit the data. Upload the local file, save the hosted-file schedule, transfer the SFTP file, trigger the platform sync, or send the API request. For a hosted file, the default fetch interval is 24 hours unless you change the schedule.
  5. Check processing status. In Merchant Center, inspect product status and the “Needs attention” diagnostics. Look for malformed URLs, unsupported formats, missing product fields, policy warnings and fetch failures.
  6. Wait for video validation. Google processes technical, serving-eligibility, policy and quality checks separately from the initial data acceptance. Do not infer approval from a successful file upload or API response.
  7. Confirm the asset association. After processing, open the Video assets page and verify the thumbnail, duration, source and recognized product. Review any suggested product matches and accept, modify or reject them as appropriate.

What to record for each submission

For operational tracking, note the source used, the product identifier, the exact video URL, the submission time and any diagnostic message. This makes it easier to tell whether a delay is caused by a file that has not yet been fetched, a product-data error or a video review still in progress. An API success response should be recorded as an accepted insertion, not as proof of offer approval.

What happens during review and recrawling

2026 validation rollout

Google announced that technical validation errors for the new video attribute would begin being reported on April 14, 2026. Video serving eligibility and policy and quality validation began on June 30, 2026. These dates describe Google’s rollout of reporting and eligibility checks; they are not a promise that every account will finish processing at the same time.

A technical or policy error can prevent the video from serving while leaving the associated offer’s approval status unchanged. Resolve the video issue in the source data, but continue to investigate offer-level diagnostics separately.

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New URL versus changed file

When replacing a video, submit a new, unique URL whenever possible. Google says a new URL typically prompts a new crawl within 24–72 hours. This is an expected processing window, not a guaranteed service-level deadline.

If you overwrite the file behind an unchanged URL, Google says detection can take up to six weeks. The old video may continue serving while the new URL is being reviewed. A cache-busting filename or path is therefore more reliable than silently replacing bytes at the same address.

Change you make Google’s stated expectation Practical action
Submit a new unique video URL Typical new crawl in 24–72 hours Use a versioned filename or path and retain the old file until the replacement is processed.
Replace content at the same URL Detection can take up to six weeks Use this only when a stable URL is unavoidable; do not expect an immediate refresh.

How to plan a replacement

Publish the replacement at its new address first, verify that the URL is reachable, then update the product data. Keep the old asset available while the new URL is crawled and reviewed. Once the new asset is accepted and associated with the correct product, you can retire the old file according to your own hosting policy. This sequence avoids creating a gap when the old video is still the only eligible asset.

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Why a video is still under review

“Under review” usually means the video has entered processing but has not completed one or more checks. The most useful troubleshooting sequence is:

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  • Check the URL: Open it outside your logged-in session. A password page, blocked request, expired token or non-video landing page can prevent fetching.
  • Check the format: Make sure the file is one of Google’s listed formats and that the URL uses HTTP or HTTPS.
  • Check data mapping: Confirm that video_link is attached to the correct product identifier and that TSV commas were encoded correctly.
  • Check policy and rights: Remove prohibited material and verify that your business owns or licenses the marketing content.
  • Check diagnostics: Review product status and “Needs attention” for technical validation messages rather than assuming the delay is an approval failure.
  • Allow the stated window: A replacement with a new URL may need 24–72 hours for a typical recrawl. An unchanged URL can take up to six weeks to be detected after its file is replaced.

Do not delete an old, working URL immediately when replacing a video. Google says the prior video can continue to serve while the new URL is under review, so removing it can create an unnecessary gap.

Manage videos in the Video assets page

The Video assets page, found under Merchant Center’s Creative content area, aggregates video assets from connected websites, social channels and Product Studio. For each asset, Merchant Center can show a thumbnail, duration, source and recognized products.

Review product matching

Website videos are automatically mapped to product offers. YouTube videos can receive AI-powered product suggestions. Open each suggestion and accept, modify or reject it so the video is associated with the products it actually demonstrates. Matching in the asset page is separate from adding video_link in a product feed; use the workflow that corresponds to how your catalog and video source are managed.

Check variants carefully when several products look alike. A suggested match is a recommendation to review, not a reason to assume that every related offer should receive the same asset. Correct the association in the asset page or correct the product identifier in the source data, depending on where the mismatch originated.

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Sharing with Google Ads

When Merchant Center is linked to Google Ads, videos shown in the asset page are shared with the Ads asset library. This makes the same managed asset available to linked advertising workflows, but it does not change the product-data requirements or guarantee that a video will serve in every placement.

Can you create a product video in Merchant Center?

Yes, through Product Studio where the feature is available. Google’s current help information lists availability in Australia, Canada, India, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States. Availability is account- and country-dependent, so an account outside those locations may not show the tool.

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Product Studio workflow

  1. Open Product Studio from Merchant Center’s creative tools.
  2. Provide a product image.
  3. Edit the generated prompt to describe the desired video treatment.
  4. Review the generated options.
  5. Save or download the selected result, then use it as the video asset or host it at a URL for video_link.

The interface and eligibility can change. Verify that Product Studio appears in the account and check the generated video against Google’s policy, quality, format and licensing requirements before associating it with an offer.

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Choosing a reliable operating pattern

Small catalog with occasional updates

A connected ecommerce platform or a manually uploaded file is usually simplest. Keep a stable naming convention for video URLs and create a new URL only when the video itself changes. After each submission, check diagnostics rather than waiting for shoppers to report a missing asset.

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Scheduled catalog exports

Use a hosted TXT, XML or TSV file when your store generates regular exports. The default 24-hour fetch interval is useful for daily changes, while an adjustable schedule can match a less frequent publishing process. Ensure the hosted location remains available when Google fetches it.

Large or frequently changing catalogs

Use the Merchant API when you need automated insertion and updates at scale. Build monitoring around the API response, product status and diagnostics: an accepted insertion means the data entered processing, not that an offer or video has passed review.

Separate video operations from offer operations

Maintain two queues when possible: one for product-data corrections and one for video changes. A missing price or identifier requires an offer-data fix, while an unsupported file format or video-policy error requires an asset fix. Separating them prevents a video warning from obscuring a product approval problem and helps your team assign the right owner.

Common mistakes and fixes

Symptom Likely cause Fix
Video URL rejected as invalid Non-HTTP(S) address, malformed characters or a URL over 2,000 characters Use a direct HTTP(S) URL, ASCII characters and RFC 3986 formatting; shorten or restructure the URL.
Only one of several videos appears Links were not repeated correctly or commas inside a URL were treated as separators Repeat video_link up to 10 times and encode commas that are part of the URL in TSV.
Offer approved but video unavailable Video policy, quality or technical validation failed Read video-specific diagnostics and correct the asset; offer approval is a separate status.
Replacement does not appear quickly File changed behind the same URL Publish the replacement at a new unique URL; unchanged URLs can take up to six weeks to be detected.
Video is attached to the wrong product Incorrect product identifier or an unreviewed asset suggestion Correct the feed mapping and review the suggested match in Video assets.
Product Studio is missing Country or account is outside the published availability Use an externally hosted video or confirm eligibility in a supported country: Australia, Canada, India, Japan, the UK or the US.
Feed appears successful but no video status is visible Data was accepted for processing, while video validation is still pending Check product status, “Needs attention” and Video assets after allowing the applicable fetch and crawl window.

How to tell when processing is complete

Use all three checks instead of relying on a single status:

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  1. Confirm the product source processed without feed or API errors.
  2. Check the product’s status and “Needs attention” diagnostics for offer-level and video-level messages.
  3. Open Video assets and verify the asset’s source, duration, thumbnail and product association.

If the offer is approved but the video still has an eligibility or quality error, the product can continue serving without that video. If the feed itself has missing or invalid product data, fix those offer-level issues independently.

Practical publishing checklist

  • Use a supported product-data source: platform connection, TXT/XML/TSV file, SFTP or Merchant API.
  • Attach the optional video_link value to the correct product identifier.
  • Use an HTTP or HTTPS direct video URL with ASCII, RFC 3986-compliant characters.
  • Stay within 2,000 characters per URL and 10 video links per product.
  • Encode commas that belong inside a TSV URL.
  • Confirm the file format, policy compliance and marketing-content rights.
  • Allow the source fetch and video review to complete before judging visibility.
  • For replacements, use a new unique URL and keep the old one available during review.
  • Use Video assets to verify product matching, source, duration and thumbnail.
  • Remember that video eligibility and offer approval are separate outcomes.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I upload a product video to Google Merchant Center?

Add the optional video_link attribute to the product data sent through a connected platform, TXT/XML/TSV file, SFTP workflow or Merchant API. Submit the source, then monitor product status, “Needs attention” and Video assets.

What video formats does Merchant Center accept?

Google lists MPG, MP4, WMV, AVI, MOV, FLV, MPEG-1 and MPEGPS. The link must use HTTP or HTTPS.

How many videos can one product have?

You can repeat video_link up to 10 times for a product. Each URL can be up to 2,000 characters.

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How long does it take for a product video to show?

A new unique URL typically prompts a crawl within 24–72 hours. Google does not present that window as a guarantee. If you replace the file at the same URL, detection can take up to six weeks.

Why is my Merchant Center video still under review?

The video may still be undergoing technical, serving-eligibility, policy or quality checks. Verify the URL, format, product mapping, rights and diagnostics, then allow the applicable crawl window.

Can a video fail while the offer stays approved?

Yes. Video validation is separate from offer approval. A video policy or quality error can prevent the video from serving without changing the associated offer’s approval status.

Should I replace a video at the same URL?

Use a new unique URL whenever possible. Google says a new URL typically triggers a 24–72 hour crawl, while a changed file behind the same URL can take up to six weeks to detect.

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Can I make a product video in Merchant Center?

Product Studio can generate videos from product imagery where available. Google lists Australia, Canada, India, Japan, the UK and the US; availability depends on the account and country.

The Bottom Line

Add a direct, policy-compliant video URL through video_link in the product source you already use. Stay within Google’s format, URL-length and 10-link limits, monitor diagnostics separately from offer approval, and use a new URL for replacements when possible. Expect a typical 24–72 hour crawl for a new URL, but allow up to six weeks when the file changes behind an unchanged address.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

ecommerceGoogle Merchant Centerproduct feedsproduct videosvideo_link

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