Troubleshooting common PayPal Express Checkout issues on Shopify
When integrating PayPal with your Shopify store, several common errors can occur. Understanding these issues and their solutions can help ensure a smooth payment process for your customers.
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Unable to complete activation
To activate Paypal, your store's country must match the one specified in your PayPal account settings. You can update your store's country from the Store details settings page in your Shopify admin.
Gateway error: Too many requests
If you receive an error indicating too many requests for operation, then it suggests that an excessive number of requests have been sent to PayPal within a short timeframe, potentially triggering a temporary suspension of your account for 24 hours. To resolve this, reach out to PayPal support for assistance.
Invalid vendor account (PayFlow Pro)
Encountering an error related to an invalid vendor account during PayPal setup might indicate missing or incorrect credentials. Ensure that you generate the necessary Payflow credentials in your PayPal account and enter them correctly in the Payment providers page of your Shopify admin. The mandatory fields include Vendor/Merchant Login, Password, and Partner.
Payment already processed for InvoiceID
This error typically occurs when the same PayPal account is linked to multiple Shopify stores, leading to duplicate order IDs. To address this issue, you need to modify your order ID format by incorporating a prefix or suffix to ensure uniqueness.
Payment is pending
If you receive an error indicating payment is pending, then it suggests that the payment was sent to an unverified PayPal account at the time of order creation. You need to verify your account email address, after which it could take up to two business days for the payment to be deposited. Before you mark the order as paid, you should confirm that you've received payment. Refer to the instructions provided on the PayPal help center for more information on how to confirm your email address.
PayPal account type requirement
To use PayPal on your store, the PayPal account must be a professional business account. If you have a personal account, then you can upgrade to a business account by following the instructions provided on the PayPal help center.
Refund permission error
If you encounter an error stating Unable to refund: You don't have permissions to make this API call, then it could signify a connectivity issue between PayPal and Shopify. To address this, complete the following steps:
- Log in to your PayPal account to grant Shopify the required access.
- Deactivate and reactivate PayPal in your Payment providers settings to re-establish the connection.
- If required, orders received during the downtime might require manual refunds through your PayPal account until the connection is restored.