Microsoft Channel is not ready

Topic summary

A Shopify merchant encounters a persistent error stating “Microsoft Channel is not ready” despite completing the setup process. The issue appears to stem from geographic restrictions rather than technical problems.

Key Requirements Identified:

  • Microsoft Channel only supports stores with business addresses in the US or Canada
  • Requires an existing Microsoft Business account
  • Products must comply with Microsoft’s advertising guidelines

Troubleshooting Steps Attempted:

  • Verified account settings and permissions
  • Checked Microsoft Merchant Center for product approval status
  • Confirmed no errors in product listings or disapprovals

Resolution Status:
The issue remains unresolved through Shopify support. The merchant was directed to contact Microsoft’s external support team directly (via chat or phone: 1-800-518-5689), as Microsoft sets its own channel requirements independently.

Additional Context:
Another merchant from Australia reported similar compatibility issues, suggesting the geographic restriction may have been implemented recently, potentially explaining poor Bing ad performance for stores outside supported regions.

Summarized with AI on November 12. AI used: claude-sonnet-4-5-20250929.

Hello i hope you are doing well. Microsoft channel is already setup still it shows the error of Microsoft Channel is not ready. Setup your account to use this app.

Hi,

If you have set up a Microsoft Channel but are still encountering the error message stating that it’s not ready and you need to set up your account, here are a few things you can try:

Double-check your account settings: Make sure you have provided all the necessary information and completed the setup process correctly. Ensure that your account is properly connected to the Microsoft Channel.

Verify permissions: Ensure that your account has the necessary permissions to access and use the Microsoft Channel. Check if you have the appropriate roles and access rights within your Microsoft account.

Refresh the connection: Sometimes, refreshing the connection between the app and the Microsoft Channel can help resolve the issue. Disconnect the channel, wait for a few minutes, and then reconnect it. This can help establish a fresh connection and resolve any potential glitches.

Clear cache and cookies: Clearing your browser’s cache and cookies can sometimes resolve issues related to account settings and configurations. Try clearing the cache and cookies for the browser you’re using and then restart the browser before attempting to access the Microsoft Channel again.

Contact support: If the above steps don’t resolve the problem, it may be best to reach out to the support team of the app or the Microsoft Channel.

Best Regards

Hi, @PoojaHiwade !

Thanks for reaching out to us!

Are you able to send a screenshot of this error and let me know in which country you’re based?

Just to note, in order to use the Microsoft sales channel, merchants must meet the following requirements:

  • Must be based in the US or Canada

  • Must have an existing Microsoft Business account

Merchants should not use the Microsoft marketplace channel if they meet the following restrictions:

Can you double-check the above points and ensure that you’re meeting the requirements and complying with the restrictions?

Can you share with me a little more about your marketing initiatives? The reason I ask is that advertising appears to be a priority for your business, and I’d love to help you explore more marketing techniques.

Please check below screenshot.

1 Like

Hey, @PoojaHiwade !

Thanks for sharing this screenshot.

Are those products also listed as pending/approved in your Microsoft Merchant Center store (this would be external to Shopify)? If so, please share a full-screen screenshot of the page where this is shown.

Can you also click on ‘Learn more’ that’s in that screenshot and send me a screenshot of the page after 'learn more’?

Looking forward to hearing back from you!

Hello

i have checked there is no error in it please check.

Hi, @PoojaHiwade !

Thanks for your response and screenshot.

Are the products listed as pending/approved in your Microsoft Merchant Center store? If so, please share a full-screen screenshot of the page where this is shown.

Looking forward to your response!

Hello

I have checked there is no error in the product and not any product have disapproved.

can you please let us know how to solve this now.

Hi, @PoojaHiwade !

Thank you for getting back to me and letting me know that there are no issues within the Microsoft Merchant Center store.

This does not appear to be a technical issue on our side as far as I’m aware, in that case please reach out to the Microsoft team via chat in this link or via Phone: ​1-800-518-5689. This channel’s own external team fully supports this channel and will be able to advise further on this issue for you.

Let me know if there is anything else you need.

When was it restricted to US and CA? I installed this channel a while ago and I’ve just gone into it again and it is telling me


This sales channel is not compatible with your store

Microsoft Channel is only compatible with stores that:

  • Have a business address set in any of these countries: CA and US

When did this change and is it going to be available again to other countries (I’m in Australia) - probably explains why my Bing ads have been performing so badly!

Hey, @ZeroWasteCo !

Thanks for joining this discussion.

I regret to advise I would not have any context on this as Microsoft is a third party channel who set their own guidelines and requirements.

As mentioned above, this channel’s own external team fully supports this channel, so any questions about changes or requirements should be directed towards their support team.

You can find their contact information on the channel’s app listing page here under the section ‘support’.

Thanks!