Set up the Google & YouTube channel

Note

As of September 1, 2022, the Google & YouTube sales channel is managed by Google. Refer to Google Merchant Center Help for setup guides.

The Google & YouTube channel automatically syncs your products and relevant information about your Shopify store with the Google Merchant Center. You can then update your Google product feed directly from Shopify. For eligible stores selling in the United States, products synced to Google Merchant Center using the Google & YouTube channel can display in Google Shopping tab search listings for free.

Connect your Google Account to the Google & YouTube channel

You can install the Google & YouTube channel from the Shopify App Store and then connect to your Google Merchant Center account, your Google Ads account, and Google Analytics to Shopify. You can choose which accounts to connect to Shopify based on which Google products you want to use. For example, you don't need to connect a Google Merchant Center account when you want to use only Google Ads and Google Analytics, which don't require a Google Merchant Center account.

Learn how to install an app.

Steps:

1. From your Shopify admin, click Settings > Apps and sales channels > Google & YouTube.
2. Click Connect Google Account, and then select a Google account or create a new one. You need to allow Shopify to access your Google account information.
3. Optional: You can receive notifications about updates to the channel from Google. In the Emails from Google & YouTube app section, click Turn on.
4. Review the setup requirements for your online store, and make any required changes.
5. To complete the setup of the channel, set up any of the following features:
   • Connect your Google Merchant Center account to sync your products to Google.
   • Connect your Google Ads account to get conversion measurements for your ads.
   • Connect your Google Analytics property to get insights into your online store's performance.

Connect to Google Merchant Center to sync your products

After you install the Google & YouTube channel, you need to connect your Google account and Google Merchant Center account so that you can sync your Shopify products with Google.

Your store needs to meet a few requirements for the Google & YouTube channel to work. Review the requirements to learn if you need to make any changes to your online store or shipping settings.

Note

A Google Merchant Center account needs to be associated with a verified domain that isn't associated with another account. When you connect a Google Merchant Center account to the Google & YouTube channel, your Shopify store's domain is claimed automatically, unless it's associated with a different Google Merchant Center account. If your domain is associated with a different account, then you need to transfer the domain claim to the Google Merchant Center account that you connected to Shopify, or connect the Google Merchant Center account that's associated with your domain.

Steps:

1. Follow the steps to install the Google & Youtube channel and connect your Google account.
2. Select or create a Merchant Center account:
   • Select a Merchant Account from the drop-down list. The Merchant Center IDs listed are the IDs associated with your Google account where your Google account is an administrator.
   • If you don't have a Merchant Center account, then click Create new, and then create an account from Google Merchant Center.
3. Verify yourself as the Merchant Center account owner:
   1. In the Verify it's you section, enter your phone number, select your country from the drop-down menu, and then click Get code to receive your verification code.
   2. In the Verify it's you dialog, enter the 6-digit code that you receive by text message to your phone.
   3. Click Verify.
4. Click Select beside Target market to set up where you want to sell your products, and then select a target market and the language. Your store's currency settings determine the countries and regions available for you to target. The languages available are based on those supported by Google, and depend on your target market.
5. Optional: If you're setting up for paid marketing on Google, then click Select beside Shipping settings, and then click the drop-down menu to select automatic or manual configuration of shipping rates:
   • Select Automatically import shipping settings to sync your shipping rates from Shopify, and then click Save. Learn more about syncing your shipping rates with Google Merchant Center.
   • Select Manually set up shipping settings in Google Merchant Center to set up your shipping rates on Google Merchant Center, and then click Save.
6. Optional: Set your product title and description preferences for products synced with Google. Learn more about optimizing your product titles and descriptions for Google Shopping.

After you complete setup, products that are available to your online store automatically sync with Google. For eligible stores, products synced to Google Merchant Center using the Google & YouTube channel can display on relevant Google surfaces for free.

Learn more about syncing your Shopify products with Google.

From the Overview page in the Google sales channel, you can view your product listing and marketing information:

• Product listings: All of the products that are synced to the Google Merchant Center. Your approved products might be eligible to display for free across different Google surfaces such as the Shopping tab, Google Search, Google Images, Google Maps, and Google Lens. Learn more about listing your products for free on Google.
• Marketing: Access your Google Merchant Center account, where you can create Performance Max campaigns. Learn more about Google Performance Max.

Connect the Google & YouTube channel to Google Ads

To set up Google Ads conversion measurement without a Google Merchant Center account, you must have an existing Google Ads account, and the connected Google account must be an administrator on the Google Ads account.

Steps:

1. Follow the steps to install the Google & Youtube channel and connect your Google account.
2. In the Just want to set up Google Ads conversion measurement? banner, click Get started.
3. In the Connect a Google Ads account section, select an existing Google Ads account from the drop-down list. The Google Ads IDs listed are the IDs associated with your Google account where your Google account is an administrator.
4. Click Connect.

You can disconnect this Google Ads account at any time by clicking Disconnect.

Connect the Google & YouTube channel to Google Analytics 4

You can connect an existing Google Analytics 4 (GA4) property or create a new property to share your Shopify data with Google Analytics and track the performance of your online store. You can set up Google Analytics without a Google Merchant Center account.

Learn more about Google Analytics.

Steps:

1. Follow the steps to install the Google & Youtube channel and connect your Google account.
2. In the Looking only to set up Google Analytics 4? banner, click Get started.
3. In the Connect a Google Analytics property section, select or create a GA4 property:
   • Select an existing property from the drop-down list. The GA4 IDs listed are the IDs associated with your Google account where your Google account is an administrator.
   • If you don't have a GA4 property, then click Create new, and then create a property from Google Analytics.
4. Click Connect.

You can disconnect this GA4 property at any time by clicking Disconnect.

Getting help with Google products

Contact Google to get help with the following topics:

• Your Google Merchant Center account
• Google Ads
• Buy on Google
• Google Local Inventory
• Google Analytics
• Other Google topics not supported by Shopify

Note

You can check the approval status of an ad or fix a disapproved ad from Google Ads. Learn more about the Google ad approval process.

You can contact Shopify Support to get help downloading the Google & YouTube channel or setting up products.