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Troubleshooting Common 'Google for WooCommerce' Connection Errors

27 threads Sep 22, 2025 Plugin → Google for woocommerce

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Many WooCommerce store owners encounter frustrating connection issues when setting up the 'Google for WooCommerce' plugin (formerly Google Listings & Ads). These errors can prevent you from linking your Google Ads, Merchant Center, or WordPress.com accounts, halting your advertising efforts. Based on community reports, here are the most common problems and their solutions.

Common Connection Errors and Their Fixes

1. "Unable to connect your Google Ads account. Please try again later."

This is one of the most frequent errors. It often appears with a PERMISSION_DENIED, 403 Forbidden, or 400 Bad Request message in the logs.

Why it happens: This is typically a permissions issue. Your Google account may not have the correct administrative access to the Google Ads account you're trying to link, or there might be a conflict with an existing account link.

How to fix it:

  • Ensure you are using an administrator email address for the Google Ads account you wish to connect.
  • Log into your Google Ads account directly to confirm it is active, has a verified payment method, and is not paused or deactivated.
  • Check that you are not trying to link the same bank details to multiple Google Ads accounts, as this can sometimes cause conflicts.
  • Clear the plugin's data by adding define( 'WC_GLA_REMOVE_ALL_DATA', true ); to your wp-config.php file (remember to remove it after reinstalling the plugin).

2. Endless Reconnection Loop or "Please reconnect your Google account"

Users click "Connect," authenticate successfully, but are returned to the setup screen asking them to connect again.

Why it happens: This is often caused by a plugin or theme conflict that interrupts the connection handshake between your site and Google's servers.

How to fix it:

  • Perform a full conflict test. Deactivate all plugins except for WooCommerce and Google for WooCommerce. Switch to a default theme like Storefront. Then, attempt the connection process again.
  • Clear your browser cache and cookies, or try a different browser entirely.
  • Access the hidden connection test page at: https://YourSiteURL/wp-admin/admin.php?page=connection-test-admin-page. Try disconnecting and reconnecting your accounts from here.
  • Sometimes, simply waiting a few hours can resolve transient API issues on Google's end.

3. WordPress.com Connection Errors (invalid_client, redirect_uri_mismatch)

Errors like Error Code: invalid_client or Error Message: Unknown client_id point to a problem with the Jetpack/WooCommerce connection to WordPress.com.

Why it happens: The connection between your site and WordPress.com has become corrupted or is being blocked.

How to fix it:

  • Disconnect and reconnect your Jetpack plugin. You can find instructions for this on the Jetpack support site.
  • If you use a security or URL-changing plugin (like WP Hide), temporarily deactivate it, as it can interfere with the authentication callback URL.

4. Blank White Screen or PHP Fatal Error During Setup

Some users encounter a blank page or a PHP error, such as Uncaught Exception: Unable to connect Google account.

Why it happens: A PHP compatibility issue or a problem with the plugin's API requests.

How to fix it:

  • Check your WooCommerce system status logs (WooCommerce > Status > Logs) for detailed error messages. Look for logs prefixed with google-listings-and-ads.
  • Ensure your site meets all the plugin's requirements, including a supported PHP version.

General Troubleshooting Steps

If you're unsure of the specific error, follow these steps first:

  1. Check Account Consistency: Use the same email address for your WordPress.com, Jetpack, and Google services (Merchant Center & Ads) wherever possible.
  2. Verify Account Status: Log in to each service directly (Google Merchant Center, Google Ads) to ensure they are fully set up, verified, and in good standing.
  3. Conflict Test: As mentioned above, test with only WooCommerce and the Google plugin active on a default theme.
  4. Review Logs: Always check the logs under WooCommerce > Status > Logs. They provide crucial clues for diagnosing connection problems.

By methodically working through these common issues, you can resolve most connection problems and get your product listings and ads up and running.

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