Change SEO Title by bulk file upload

[skormy]

I noticed a copy/paste error when I recently uploaded a new product file.  The SEO Title was wrong for over 200 items.  In this case, as I've done many times before, I created a correction file with the handle, title and fields to be corrected.  For whatever reason the SEO titles were not corrected.  I subsequently added the SEO Description and still no change.  

I've made corrections in this way a number of times before and it always worked without an issue.  

Is there something special about the SEO Title field that doesn't allow it to be corrected in bulk?  Are additional fields required in the file?  Any guidance is appreciated.  

[Yuparkoti]

Hello @skormy ,

Your bulk SEO Title correction via CSV upload on Shopify should work like the last time. The problem could be with wrong column headers, absent identifiers, or file format issues. A quick solution for that:

Export Products

To export products from Shopify Admin > Products and make sure that you export products which have Metafields.

Edit CSV

– In editing the CSV file, remember to use Metafield: title_tag [string] for SEO Title (as well as Metafield: description_tag [string] for Description).

– Retain Handle (required) plus either ID or Variant ID.

– Change SEO Titles, eliminate irrelevant columns, and save it as UTF-8 CSV before proceeding with the next step of your work.

Import

When you upload it under Products>Import, remember to tick the Overwrite existing products option before clicking on run.

Verify

Examine how some products appear in the search engine listing preview to make sure they were imported correctly. In the event that it does not import properly, go through any errors indicated in the import email.

Begin by trying out a few ones. This field is not different; therefore ensure that there is an exact match for the heading.

[skormy]

Thanks for you suggestions, I will start with the export and try to fix this with fresh eyes tomorrow and update the group accordingly.

[skormy · Accepted solution]

Fixed. Must've been gremlins in the Excel column header.  Much appreciated!  

[LitExtension]

Hi @skormy 

Looks like you’ve got the right approach since it worked for you before, but Shopify can be a little picky when it comes to bulk updating SEO fields. Here are a few things to check:

1. Field name accuracy – Shopify's bulk import requires exact field names. The correct column names for SEO updates should be:

•  Handle (to match the product)
• SEO title (for updating the title)
• SEO description (if needed)

2. CSV format & encoding

• Sometimes, CSV files can have formatting issues. Make sure it's saved in UTF-8 format and that no hidden characters are interfering with the import.

3. Shopify cache

• After uploading, Shopify might take some time to reflect changes. Try waiting a bit or checking with an incognito browser.

If none of this works, a workaround is using a bulk SEO app from the Shopify App Store or Shopify’s API to push updates directly.

Hope this helps! Let me know if you need more details.

[skormy]

Thanks for you suggestions, I will start with the export and try to fix this with fresh eyes tomorrow and update the post accordingly.

[skormy]

Fixed. Must've been gremlins in the Excel column header.  Thanks for your suggestion.  

[skormy]

Fixed. Must've been gremlins in the Excel column header.  Thanks for your suggestion.  

[SEOAnt-Sylvia]

@skormy 

Your SEO fixes probably failed because:
1️⃣ Wrong column names – Platforms like Shopify need oddly named headers (e.g., metafield:seo.title:string instead of "SEO Title").
2️⃣ Missing SKU/Handle – Without these, the platform can’t match products.
3️⃣ SEO apps overriding you – Third-party tools sometimes block manual updates.
4️⃣ Titles too long or Excel hidden junk – Keep titles under 60 characters. Save CSVs in plain text (not Excel!).

Fix it like this:
1️⃣ "Steal" the headers – Re-download a CSV from your platform and copy-paste their exact SEO column names.
2️⃣ Test 2-3 products first – If it works, your big file likely has one typo ruining everything.
Example Shopify setup:

Copy

Handle, Metafield: seo.title:string, Metafield: seo.description:string  
my-product, "Perfect Yoga Mat | Brand Name", "Ergonomic yoga mat for pros. Shop now."  

3️⃣ Shorten titles/descriptions – Think tweets, not essays.
4️⃣ Disable SEO apps temporarily – Stop them from hijacking your changes.

After solving your issues, if you need an SEO app, I highly recommend SEOAnt AI Optimizer. It’s trusted by millions of users and officially certified by Shopify for safety.

SEOAnt can analyze your shop and provide a step-by-step SEO optimization report. It also helps with bulk Alt text updates, bulk meta tag editing, AI-powered keyword recommendations, AI content generation, and offers 24/7 online support.

You can try it free for 14 days, and here’s a special discount for 2 MONTHS: SEOAnt-40%OFF.

Wish this solution can help you!