Published by the Zolyp team ·
What is YouTube Shopping?
It's YouTube's way to feature products in your content. Viewers in supported locations can browse and buy them in:
- Your channel's store.
- The video description.
- A product shelf below your content.
- The Shopping button on long videos, or a product sticker on Shorts.
- Payment, delivery, refunds and customer service stay with your store or retailer. YouTube and AdSense aren't involved in the sale.
Sources: YouTube Help: Get started with Shopping on YouTube, checked 15 October 2026; YouTube Help: Tag products in your content, checked 15 October 2026
Who can use YouTube Shopping?
There are two routes, with different rules:
| Requirement | Your own products | Other brands' products (affiliate) |
|---|---|---|
| YouTube Partner Program | Required | Required |
| Subscribers | Meets the YPP threshold | Meets the YPP threshold |
| Made for kids | Channel not set as made for kids, and not many videos set that way | Same |
| Strikes | No Hate Speech Community Guidelines strikes | No active Community Guidelines strikes |
| Location | Not listed as a requirement | US, South Korea, Indonesia, India, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Brazil, Taiwan or Japan |
Source: YouTube Help: Get started with Shopping on YouTube, checked 15 October 2026
How do you connect your store?
Supported platforms include Shopify, Wix, FourthWall, SHOPLINE, Spreadshop, Spring, TeePublic and a few regional ones, plus a list of merch retailers. On a computer:
- Sign in to YouTube Studio.
- In the left menu, select Earn.
- Click the Shopping tab. It only appears if your channel is eligible.
- Click Get started, or Connect new store if you've connected one before.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to link your store.
- Shopify: use the same email address with admin access on both YouTube and Shopify, and add the Google & YouTube app in Shopify.
- YouTube then reviews your products against its policies and Google Merchant Center policies, which typically takes a few business days.
- To disconnect, go to Earn, then Shopping, click More next to the store and select Remove store.
Source: YouTube Help: Connect, manage, & disconnect your store on YouTube, checked 15 October 2026
How do you tag products in a video?
When uploading, or for an existing video opened from Content:
- Sign in to YouTube Studio and upload a video or Short, or open one from Content.
- On the Details page, go to the description and click Products.
- Search for the product.
- Drag it into the tagged area. You can tag up to 60 products.
- On long videos, click Add timestamp next to a product to show it at the right moment, then click Done and Save.
- Timestamps need a computer, work on long-form videos of at least 1 minute, and must last 15 to 60 seconds each.
- On Shorts, the first tagged product appears as the sticker. Reorder the list to change it; size and position can be adjusted in the YouTube mobile app.
- Only tag products that are clearly shown or mentioned and meaningfully related to the content. Sponsored products also need a branded content disclosure.
Source: YouTube Help: Tag products in your content, checked 15 October 2026
Why can't I use YouTube Shopping?
Match the problem to the cause:
| What you see | Likely cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| No Shopping tab under Earn | The channel isn't eligible | Check the YPP and audience requirements |
| Can't add a product tag | Made for kids, a copyright claim, limited or no monetisation, or a Creator Music revenue-sharing track | Fix the setting or claim, or tag a different video |
| Products disapproved | They don't meet YouTube or Merchant Center policies | Ask your store admin to resubmit them in Google Merchant Center |
| Tags removed | They broke the tagging guidelines | Filter Content by Products, then Tagging violation |
| Shipping Areas Limited notice | The store hasn't targeted that country in Merchant Center | Ask your store admin to add the country |
Sources: YouTube Help: Tag products in your content, checked 15 October 2026; YouTube Help: Connect, manage, & disconnect your store on YouTube, checked 15 October 2026; YouTube Help: Get started with Shopping on YouTube, checked 15 October 2026
Where Zolyp fits
Shopping needs Partner Program membership first, so for most small businesses it follows a steady upload habit. Zolyp, which publishes this guide, publishes to YouTube as one of 9 platforms (Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Google Business, X, TikTok, YouTube, Pinterest, and Threads). It creates video uploads and Shorts with titles and descriptions written for search, can set a custom thumbnail on a standard video, and schedules them with the posts on your other networks. You approve the week before anything goes live.
Common questions
Do I need the YouTube Partner Program for YouTube Shopping?
Yes. Both selling your own products and tagging other brands' products require YPP membership.
Which stores can connect to YouTube Shopping?
Supported platforms include Shopify, Wix, FourthWall, SHOPLINE, Spreadshop, Spring and TeePublic, plus regional platforms and a list of merch retailers.
How many products can I tag in a YouTube video?
Up to 60.
Who handles payment and refunds?
Your store or retailer. YouTube says all payments go through them, and YouTube and AdSense aren't involved.
How long does YouTube take to review my products?
Typically a few business days after your store is connected.