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Fixing Common Google for WooCommerce Connection and Loading Issues

18 threads Sep 22, 2025 Plugin → Google for woocommerce

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Many users of the Google for WooCommerce plugin encounter connection problems, random disconnections, or infinite loading screens. These issues can prevent you from syncing products with Google Merchant Center and running ads effectively. Based on community reports, here are the most common problems and their solutions.

Common Symptoms

  • The plugin interface shows a continuous loading spinner.
  • Error messages like "There was an error loading Jetpack account info" or "Unexpected token '<'... is not valid JSON".
  • The connection to your Google account randomly disconnects after a few hours or days.
  • You cannot proceed past the initial setup screen.

Why This Happens

These issues typically stem from one of several root causes:

  • Corrupted Connection Data: Stale or conflicting connection tokens between WordPress.com, Jetpack, and Google.
  • Jetpack Connection Confusion: The plugin requires a connection to WordPress.com, which is powered by Jetpack technology, but the Jetpack plugin itself is not always mandatory. This distinction can cause confusion.
  • Caching or Firewall Interference: Aggressive caching plugins, security rules, or firewalls (like Cloudflare) can block the API calls the plugin needs to function.
  • Leftover Data: Even after uninstalling the plugin, residual database entries (like jetpack_nonce_ options) can interfere with a fresh installation.

Step-by-Step Solutions

Solution 1: The Full Reset (Most Effective)

This is the most reliable method to clear corrupted connection data. It's often the first step recommended by the 'Google for WooCommerce' team.

  1. Navigate to your site's Connection Test page. The URL is typically: https://YOURSITE.com/wp-admin/admin.php?page=connection-test-admin-page (replace YOURSITE.com with your domain).
  2. On this page, you will see sections for Merchant Center, Google Account, and Jetpack. Click the Disconnect button in each section.
  3. Once everything is disconnected, go to Marketing > Google for WooCommerce and start the setup process again.

Solution 2: Clear All Plugin Data

If the reset above doesn't work, a more thorough cleanup may be necessary.

  1. Before deactivating the plugin, add the following line to your wp-config.php file, just above the line that says /* That's all, stop editing! Happy publishing. */:
    define('WC_GLA_REMOVE_ALL_DATA', true);
  2. Deactivate and delete the Google for WooCommerce plugin.
  3. Reinstall the plugin freshly from the WordPress plugin repository. The constant you added will ensure all previous data is purged during deletion.
  4. Attempt the connection process again.
  5. Important: After a successful setup, you can remove the define('WC_GLA_REMOVE_ALL_DATA', true); line from your wp-config.php file to prevent accidental data loss in the future.

Solution 3: Check for Caching and Security Conflicts

  1. Temporarily disable caching: If you use a caching plugin (e.g., W3 Total Cache, WP Rocket) or a server-level cache, temporarily disable it and try the connection again.
  2. Check your firewall: If you use Cloudflare or another firewall, ensure it is not blocking requests from your own site or from WordPress.com/IPs. You may need to add specific IPs to an allowlist; consult your firewall's documentation.
  3. Disable other plugins: As a test, temporarily disable all other plugins except for WooCommerce and Google for WooCommerce. If the connection works, reactivate your plugins one by one to identify the conflict.

Solution 4: Understand the Jetpack Requirement

You do not necessarily need the Jetpack plugin installed. The connection to WordPress.com is powered by Jetpack's underlying technology. However:

  • If you do have Jetpack installed, you must be logged into WordPress as the user connected to Jetpack (this user will have a green Jetpack logo next to their name in the Users list).
  • If you do not have Jetpack installed, the plugin will create a limited connection to WordPress.com for its specific purposes. This is normal.
  • If you previously had Jetpack and uninstalled it, you may have leftover database tables (like _jetpack_sync_queue) or options (like jetpack_nonce_*). These are generally safe to remove if you are sure Jetpack is no longer needed by any plugin on your site.

When to Provide More Information

If none of these solutions work, the problem might be more specific to your server environment. Before seeking further help, gather the following information, as it is routinely requested for deeper troubleshooting:

  • System Status Report: Found under WooCommerce > Status > Get system report.
  • Error Logs: Check under WooCommerce > Status > Logs for any relevant error files.
  • Screenshots: Use a service like Snipboard.io to share screenshots of any error messages.

By methodically working through these steps, most connection and loading issues with the Google for WooCommerce plugin can be resolved.

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