Fix “Account suspended due to policy violation” on Google Merchant Center
Severe account-level disapproval. The entire Merchant Center account is suspended — no items can serve regardless of their individual status. Typically triggered by repeated or serious policy violations.
What you see in Google Merchant Center:
Account suspended due to policy violation
API identifier: account_suspended
Account suspension is the severe end of policy enforcement. The whole Merchant Center account is suspended; no items serve regardless of individual status. Cause is usually pattern-based — repeated policy violations across many items, misrepresentation, counterfeit goods, or related accumulating issues.
The reinstatement path requires addressing the root cause across the catalog, not just fixing the surfaced examples. If misrepresentation triggered suspension, every title and description needs review; if counterfeit suspicion did, every brand-product pair needs invoice documentation. Vague reinstatement requests fail; specific ones with documented systemic fixes succeed.
The timing: reinstatements take 3-14 days. Don't resubmit during the window — it resets the queue. Patience and specific documentation are the only paths back.
Top causes
- 1
Pattern of policy violations across many items
- 2
Misrepresentation policy violation (false claims, deceptive content)
- 3
Counterfeit goods or trademark infringement
- 4
Repeated failed appeals on individual disapprovals
How to fix it
- 1
Read the specific reason in Account Quality
Account Quality → Restrictions. The specific policy will be named there with detail not in the summary email.
- 2
Address the root cause across the catalog
Don't just fix the flagged items. If 'misrepresentation' is the cause, audit every product description, title, and image for compliance — Google reinstates only when systemic issues are resolved.
- 3
Submit a reinstatement request
Account Quality → Request review. Provide detail on what was wrong and what you've changed. Vague requests fail; specific ones succeed.
- 4
Wait for review
Reinstatements take 3-14 days. Don't resubmit during that window — it resets the queue.
FAQ
Can I run ads while suspended?
No. Suspension blocks the entire account from serving. Linked Google Ads campaigns using the suspended Merchant Center stop running until reinstated.
What's the difference between suspended and disapproved?
Disapprovals are item-level — individual items don't serve, others can. Suspension is account-level — nothing serves.
Last reviewed: 26 May 2026
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