In short. Automatic product updates cannot replace regular Merchant Center product data submissions; automatic website submission is a separate method.
Definition: As of 17 October 2026, Google's automatic product updates use product landing page data to correct occasional discrepancies alongside continued product data submissions. They cannot replace regular updates to a Merchant Center feed, which Google now calls a data source.
Key facts
- Google's automatic updates documentation limits the feature to sporadic accuracy problems affecting a small percentage of products.
- Google's data source glossary lists submission methods including files, Google Sheets, ecommerce platform connections and the Merchant API.
- Google's file submission guide states that directly uploaded files require resubmission whenever their contents change.
Why must product data submissions continue?
Google's automatic updates guide requires merchants to continue providing accurate product data frequently. It lists price, sale_price, availability and condition as supported attributes for automatic updates.
Google may disapprove a product when a mismatch is detected, and may stop updates when detected mismatches become too numerous. For frequent changes to pricing, availability or condition, the same guide recommends managing updates through the Merchant API, a product data submission method.
How can a file feed stay current?
Google's file submission instructions describe adding a file through these Merchant Center controls:
Settings > Data sources > Add product source
Add products from a file > Enter a link to your file
Merchant Center fetches the file from the supplied URL every 24 hours by default, with an adjustable schedule. The URL must point directly to the data file, and the file must be accessible to Google. A password-protected source requires credentials in Merchant Center settings.
A direct upload from a computer requires resubmitting the changed file. The same instructions locate product data issues in the “Needs attention” tab of the “Products” section.
Can Google add products from the website instead?
Google separately documents automatic product submission from an online store. This method scans product pages and reads structured data markup, which labels product details such as title, price and availability, then submits the extracted information to Merchant Center.
The method requires product structured data, permission for Google to collect the information, and a verified and claimed store website linked to the Merchant Center account. Eligibility depends on Google's ability to crawl and extract the website's product data.
Google keeps the merchant-uploaded version when the same product also appears through automatic website submission, and removes the automatically added duplicate.
Related terms
- Google Merchant Center
- Product feed freshness
- Product structured data
- How do I enable automatic product updates in Merchant Center?
FAQ
Do I have to submit a file?
Google's data source glossary also lists website-based automatic submission, platform connections, Google Sheets, individual product entry and the Merchant API. A file is one documented submission option.
Will a price mismatch always be corrected automatically?
No. Google's automatic updates guide says a mismatch can lead to disapproval instead of an update, particularly when price or availability changes frequently.
Sources
- Google Merchant Center Help, "Allow Merchant Center to update product information automatically", undated
- Google Merchant Center Help, "Data source (Previously known as “Feeds”)", undated
- Google Merchant Center Help, "Add products from a file to Merchant Center", undated
- Google Merchant Center Help, "Add products automatically from your online store", undated
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