New in v3.6.0 — Released April 30, 2026. You can now tag products directly in your YouTube videos, Shorts, live streams, and channel page and send viewers straight to your WooCommerce store.
Overview
↑ Back to topYouTube Shopping is now built into the free Google for WooCommerce extension. Once your store is connected, your product catalogue syncs automatically through Google Merchant Center — no manual updates required. Any change to a title, price, image, or stock level in WooCommerce is automatically reflected on YouTube.
YouTube is the second-largest search engine in the world, and shoppers watched more than 35 billion hours of shopping-related content there last year. This integration lets you meet those shoppers where they already are.
Before You Begin
↑ Back to topPlugin requirements
↑ Back to top- Google for WooCommerce version 3.6.0 or later — update the extension before connecting your YouTube channel.
- A WordPress.com account (used to authenticate the extension with Google services).
- Google Merchant Center account connected to your WooCommerce store. If you haven’t set that up yet, see Get Started with Google for WooCommerce.
YouTube channel eligibility
↑ Back to topYouTube Shopping features are available to channels that meet YouTube’s eligibility criteria:
- Your channel is in the YouTube Partner Program (YPP).
- Your channel meets the subscriber threshold for YPP, or is an Official Artist Channel.
- Your channel audience is not set as Made for Kids, and your channel doesn’t have a significant number of videos set as made for kids.
- Your channel has no active Hate Speech Community Guideline Strikes.
If your channel doesn’t yet qualify for YPP, you can review YouTube’s resources for growing your channel and return to this setup once eligible.
Store requirements
↑ Back to topYour WooCommerce store must already meet Google Merchant Center requirements, including:
- A live website with a valid, verified domain and no broken links.
- Secure checkout over HTTPS/SSL.
- A valid payment provider (such as WooPayments, Stripe, or PayPal).
- Visible refund and return policies.
- At least one customer contact method.
Setting Up YouTube Shopping
↑ Back to topStep 1 — Update the plugin
↑ Back to topIn your WordPress admin, go to Plugins > Installed Plugins and update Google for WooCommerce to version 3.6.0 or later.
Step 2 — Open the Google for WooCommerce settings
↑ Back to topGo to Marketing > Google for WooCommerce > Settings.
Step 3 — Connect your YouTube channel
↑ Back to topScroll to the YouTube section and click Connect your channel. You will be prompted to sign in with the Google account that owns your YouTube channel and grant the necessary permissions.
Once connected, Google for WooCommerce will link your channel to the same Google Merchant Center account that already powers your product feed. No separate feed setup is required.
Step 4 — Verify your product feed
↑ Back to topYour WooCommerce catalogue syncs automatically, but it’s worth checking a few things before you start tagging:
- Product titles are clear and recognisable to your audience.
- Product images are high quality (recommended minimum: 800 × 800 px).
- Prices and stock levels are accurate.
- Products are approved in Google Merchant Center (not pending or disapproved).
You can review feed status at Marketing > Google for WooCommerce > Product Feed.
Where Your Products Appear on YouTube
↑ Back to topOnce connected, your products can show up across four surfaces on YouTube. All of them pull from the same synced catalog.
Long-form videos
↑ Back to topYour standard YouTube uploads — reviews, tutorials, walkthroughs, hauls, and comparisons. Product tags appear in a “View products” shelf below or alongside the video. You can timestamp individual tags so a product surfaces at the exact moment it appears on screen.
YouTube’s own research found that videos with product tags and timestamps saw 43% more product clicks than videos with description links alone.
Tag multiple products per video as needed: a tutorial might tag every tool used; a product review might tag one hero item; a haul might tag a dozen products as they appear.
Shorts
↑ Back to topShort vertical videos under three minutes. Product tags appear as a “View products” label during playback. Because of the fast, swipe-based format, tagging one or two products per Short works best.
The channel Shopping tab
↑ Back to topA permanent storefront that lives on your YouTube channel page. It isn’t attached to any specific video — you choose which products appear and in what order. Think of it as your second homepage: every new visitor, returning subscriber, and anyone who clicks your channel name may land here.
Populate it with your best-selling or most visually distinct products, and keep it updated when your inventory changes.
Live streams
↑ Back to topPin specific products to the top of your live chat during a stream. This is ideal for high-urgency moments such as product drops, flash sales, and limited releases.
Tagging Products in Your Content
↑ Back to topIn a video or Short
↑ Back to top- Open YouTube Studio and select the video or Short you want to tag.
- Go to Editor > Shopping (or the Shopping tab in the video details panel).
- Search your connected catalog and select the products you want to feature.
- For long-form videos, add a timestamp to each tag so it appears at the right moment.
- Save and publish your changes.
In a live stream
↑ Back to top- Before or during your stream, open the Live Control Room.
- In the Shopping panel, select products to pin to live chat.
- You can swap pinned products at any time during the stream.
On your channel Shopping tab
↑ Back to top- Go to YouTube Studio > Monetisation> Shopping.
- Select Manage store to choose which products are featured and set their display order.
- Save your changes — updates go live immediately.
Tips for Getting the Most Out of YouTube Shopping
↑ Back to topClean your feed before you start tagging. Everything viewers see comes directly from your WooCommerce catalogue. Accurate titles, professional images, correct prices, and live stock levels all affect whether a viewer clicks through.
Tag products at the moment they appear on screen. Timestamped tags consistently outperform non-timestamped ones.
Match the tag to the video’s intent. A tutorial should tag the tools used. A review should tag the product being reviewed. A brand story video may not need tags at all — let the content lead.
Treat the Shopping tab as a curated storefront. Feature your bestsellers or hero products, not your entire catalogue. Update it regularly to stay current.
Use live stream pins for urgency. Flash sales, restocks, and new drops work especially well when pinned during a live event.
Troubleshooting
↑ Back to topMy YouTube channel option isn’t showing in Settings
↑ Back to topMake sure you have updated Google for WooCommerce to version 3.6.0 or later. If the update is applied and the option is still not visible, check that your Google account has the correct permissions on both the YouTube channel and the linked Google Merchant Center account.
My products are not appearing when I try to tag them
↑ Back to topProducts must be approved in Google Merchant Center before they are available for tagging. Go to Marketing > Google for WooCommerce > Product Feed to check for any disapproved or pending items and resolve any listed issues.
My channel is not eligible to connect
↑ Back to topConfirm that your channel is enrolled in the YouTube Partner Program and meets the subscriber threshold. Channels set as Made for Kids or with active Hate Speech Community Guideline Strikes are not eligible for YouTube Shopping.
Product information shown on YouTube is out of date
↑ Back to topYour feed syncs automatically, but changes can take up to 24 hours to propagate. If a product still shows incorrect information after 24 hours, check that the product is published and approved in Google Merchant Center.
Related Resources
↑ Back to top- Google for WooCommerce documentation
- Plugin setup requirements
- YouTube Shopping — official announcement
- Get started with Shopping on YouTube (YouTube Help)
- Tag products in your content (YouTube Help)
- Connect your store to YouTube (YouTube Help)
Last updated: May 2026. Covers Google for WooCommerce v3.6.0.
