Product import errors — and how to fix them
Your store rejected your product CSV? Find your exact error below for a plain-English explanation and the exact, free fix. Most import failures come down to three things — and all three are fixable in your browser, with nothing uploaded.
Most import errors come down to three free tools
Skip ahead if you already know the cause — otherwise find your exact error in the lists below.
Fix a CSV
Encoding, BOM, delimiter, ragged rows and duplicate-row problems — the most common reasons a file is rejected.
Split a CSV
Too-large files and "memory exhausted" timeouts — break the import into smaller batches that go through.
The converter
Wrong column names, blank fields, bad price/gtin format — reformat the file to the destination's exact schema.
Shopify import errors
"Line is invalid"
A row has more or fewer columns than the header, so the data no longer lines up.
Fix with Fix a CSV →"We couldn't import your product CSV"
Shopify's generic "bad format" message — usually encoding, delimiter or ragged rows.
Fix with Fix a CSV →"Invalid CSV header" (missing "Title")
Your columns aren't named what Shopify expects — e.g. "Name" instead of "Title".
Reformat with the converter →CSV file too large (over 15 MB)
Shopify caps product CSVs at 15 MB and big uploads time out — import in batches.
Fix with Split CSV →WooCommerce import errors
Google Merchant Center feed errors
General CSV import errors
"File must be UTF-8" / illegal characters
Saved in the wrong encoding, so accented characters become illegal or garbled.
Fix with Fix a CSV →CSV imports as one column
Saved with semicolons or tabs instead of commas, so nothing maps to the right field.
Fix with Fix a CSV →"Duplicate SKU" / "handle already exists"
Two rows share a SKU or handle; importers that need unique keys reject the file.
Fix with Fix a CSV →Don't see your exact error?
Most rejected files just need to be cleaned or reformatted. Run yours through the free converter or the cleanup tools — everything is deterministic and processed in your browser, nothing uploaded.
Why do product imports fail? A store importer reads your CSV strictly: every row must have the same columns as the header, the file must be UTF-8 text separated by commas, the column names must match what the platform expects, and identifiers like SKU and price must be in the right shape. When any of that is off, the import is rejected — usually with a vague message. The pages above translate each common error into plain English and point you at the one free, in-browser tool that fixes it. Built for e-commerce sellers and the agencies and VAs who manage their catalogs.