Add checkout to your products on Google Merchant Center

Topic summary

Google Merchant Center now allows merchants to add direct checkout/cart links to product listings, requiring a specific URL structure. The discussion centers on determining the correct format for Shopify stores.

Recommended URL Structure:

  • Most commonly successful: https://yourdomain.com/cart/{id}:1
  • Alternative that works for some: https://www.yourdomain.com/cart?item_id={id}
  • The {id} placeholder should remain as-is in Google Merchant Center UI; Google automatically populates it with variant IDs
  • The variant ID is the last segment of Shopify product IDs (format: shopify_US_123456789_123456789)

Common Issues & Solutions:

  • “Missing required parameter: {id}” error often occurs when testing with actual variant IDs instead of leaving {id} as placeholder
  • Adding www. to the domain resolves issues for some users
  • Products must be in stock for validation to succeed
  • Installing the Google & YouTube sales channel app and connecting via API helps establish proper connection
  • If default structure fails, merchants may need to manually submit checkout URLs in the product feed

Current Status:
While many users report success with domain.com/cart/{id}:1, others continue experiencing validation errors. The issue appears related to product ID format, inventory status, or account configuration rather than a universal solution. Some users report blank pages or redirect issues even when Google’s test function passes.

Summarized with AI on October 31. AI used: claude-sonnet-4-5-20250929.

Hi Emmanuel!

Hope you are doing well?! I am having the same issue and have been in touch with your collegues but they couldn’t figure out. I have tried all combos, either the format is wrong or it comes to a blank page when i click test. the last bid is when i put an item and click checkout i get following url:
https://print-o-mania.com/checkouts/cn/Z2NwLWV1cm9wZS13ZXN0NDowMUo0VzhSRkhHOVRQSFlHRzVYTUE1OUdQRg

that is wrong format, how should i replace it so it is the right format so to say:
https://print-o-mania.com/cart/{id}:1