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Stuck in Google Listings & Ads Setup? Common Issues and How to Fix Them

15 threads Sep 22, 2025 Plugin → Google for woocommerce

Content

Many users encounter roadblocks during the setup process for the Google Listings & Ads plugin. A recurring theme involves problems on the final step, "Confirm store requirements," where issues like unclickable buttons, verification loops, or cryptic errors prevent completing the setup. This guide compiles the most common problems and their solutions based on community reports.

Common Setup Problems

Users frequently report the following issues when they reach Step 3 of the setup:

  • Unclickable "Complete Setup" Button: The button remains greyed out even after verifying a phone number and agreeing to the Pre-Launch Checklist.
  • Verification Loop: Clicking "Send verification code" redirects to a different page or creates an endless loop.
  • Blank or Grey Screens: The setup page fails to load, showing a blank screen with errors like "There was an error loading your merchant center setup status" or "There was an error loading policy check details."
  • JSON Errors: Errors mentioning "Unexpected token" or invalid JSON format appear.
  • Generic Errors: Messages like "There was an error trying to save settings. Please try again later" or "Unable to complete please try again later."

Why Do These Issues Happen?

These setup problems are often not caused by a single bug but by a combination of factors, including:

  • Plugin or Theme Conflicts: Other active plugins or your site's theme can interfere with the setup process.
  • Caching: Aggressive caching, either on your site or server, can serve outdated pages or scripts.
  • Incomplete Store or Account Information: Missing details in your WooCommerce store address or an incorrectly configured Google Merchant Center account can halt the process.
  • Server Configuration: Specific server settings may block the communication required between your site and Google's services.

Step-by-Step Troubleshooting Solutions

If you're stuck, work through these solutions in order.

1. Perform a Basic Conflict Test

This is the most critical first step. Temporarily switch your theme to a default WordPress theme like Storefront and deactivate all plugins except WooCommerce and Google Listings & Ads. Then, attempt the setup process again.

  • If the setup completes successfully, a conflict is the cause. Reactivate your theme and plugins one by one, testing the setup after each, to identify the culprit.
  • Pay special attention to security, caching, and optimization plugins during this test.

2. Clear All Caches

Clear your browser cache and try again in a new browser window. Additionally, clear any server-side or plugin-based caches (e.g., from WP Rocket, W3 Total Cache, or your hosting provider's dashboard).

3. Reconnect Your Google Account

Sometimes, the connection between your site and Google becomes corrupted. Disconnect your account entirely and start the setup process from scratch. The 'Google for WooCommerce' documentation provides steps for this.

4. Verify Your Store and Account Details

Double-check that your WooCommerce store address is fully completed, including the postal code. Also, ensure your Google Merchant Center account is set up correctly and that you are using the same Google account for the setup.

5. Check for PHP Errors

Enable WordPress debugging by adding the following lines to your wp-config.php file to see if any underlying PHP errors are occurring. Remember to turn this off after troubleshooting.

define( 'WP_DEBUG', true );
define( 'WP_DEBUG_LOG', true ); // Logs errors to wp-content/debug.log
define( 'WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY', false ); // Hides errors from the screen

6. Check the Plugin Logs

The plugin may generate its own error logs. Navigate to WooCommerce > Status > Logs and look for log files that start with google-listings-and-ads. These logs can provide specific error messages that are key to finding a solution.

Conclusion

Being unable to complete the Google Listings & Ads setup is a frustrating but often solvable problem. The solutions above, starting with a conflict test, resolve the issue for most users. If problems persist after trying these steps, having your System Status Report (from WooCommerce > Status) and any relevant error logs ready will be essential for further investigation.

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