How to Fix “Your Shopify Store Isn’t Eligible for Instagram Product Tagging” Error (Quickly)

Your Shopify Store Isnt Eligible For Instagram Product Tagging Error

It’s the mystery that’s been keeping you up for days.

Have you ever felt puzzled about why you can’t use Instagram’s product tagging for your store, despite trying everything?

Imagine a tasty carrot just out of reach—frustrating, right? Don’t worry, we’ll help you grab that carrot by simplifying the solution.

Here are the reasons you’re encountering this error and what you can do to fix it.

Why is my Store Not Eligible for Instagram Product Tagging?

  1. Instagram Shopping isn’t available in your location
  2. Your products or store do not comply with Instagram guidelines
  3. You don’t have an Instagram Business profile
  4. Your Instagram account isn’t linked with your Facebook Business page

If you get the “Your store isn’t eligible for Instagram product tagging” error, it could be due to any of the following reasons:

Instagram Shopping isn’t available in your location

Instagram Shopping has not been rolled out to every location yet and you can check the list of supported countries. If you are physically in a location where it is not supported due to travel, you may also face issues with tagging your products.

Your products or store do not comply with Instagram guidelines

If your store sells things Instagram doesn’t allow, like weapons, you can’t use Instagram Shopping.

Make sure what you’re selling is allowed, and customers can buy it directly from your Shopify site or Instagram. Remember, Instagram Shopping is just for items you can touch and see, not services or digital products.

You don’t have an Instagram Business profile

Change your Instagram to a business profile before setting up Instagram for your store. Add in your email address and Shopify website to your profile so that Instagram knows that you are a legitimate business.

Your Instagram account isn’t linked with your Facebook Business page

First things first, you’ve got to be the boss of your Facebook Business page—it means being an administrator. Then, just hop onto your Facebook page, hit Settings, and link up your Instagram. This step is key to get your Instagram Shopping ready and showcase your products.

Connect Instagram Facebook

Go to your Instagram account, click on Settings and select Accounts. You should see the option to link your Instagram to your Facebook.

How To Fix “Your Shopify Store Isn’t Eligible For Instagram Product Tagging” Error

  1. Change your Instagram Business account back to a Personal account
  2. Disconnect your Instagram and Facebook
  3. Change your Facebook page template to the Shopping template
  4. Reinstall Instagram
  5. Change your Instagram account to a Business account
  6. Create your product catalog on Facebook
  7. Set up Commerce Manager on Facebook
  8. Connect your Facebook catalog to your Facebook shop
  9. Set up the Shop Now Button
  10. Reconnect your Instagram and Facebook

If none of the reasons above applies to you and you’re still having issues, report the issue to Instagram and the Facebook support team. The team may take a few days to review your store and investigate the issue but they can solve your problem.

To report a problem on Instagram, go to your Profile > Setting > Help > Report a problem. Fill out the Facebook Support form and a member of the support team should get back to you. Unfortunately, Shopify support is unlikely to help because the issue lies with the Instagram and Facebook platforms.

While waiting, you can try the following steps to fix the error.

1. Change your Instagram Business account back to a Personal account

You’ll change it again later but this step resets your account to clear any potential issues. Go to your Profile > Settings > Account > Switch Back to Personal Account.

2. Disconnect your Instagram and Facebook

On Instagram, select Settings > Account > Linked Accounts > Facebook and you’ll see the option to disconnect your Facebook page.

Go to your Facebook page and tap Settings > Instagram > Disconnect. Next, go to your Facebook Business Manager and click on Settings > Account > Instagram. The option to disconnect your Instagram account should be there.

3. Change your Facebook page template to the Shopping template

On your Facebook page, go to Settings > Edit > Template. You’ll see the option to click Edit and choose the Shopping template for your page.

Set Facebook Page To Shopping Template

Ensure that your Facebook page has a category assigned to it as not having one may be a reason why you’re encountering the error.

4. Reinstall Instagram

Go to the Settings menu in your phone and clear your Instagram app cache. If you are using an iPhone, go to Settings and select the Instagram app. Turn on the slider that says Reset cached content.

On an Android phone, select Settings > Apps > Installed Applications and select Instagram. Press the Clear Cache button.

Android Clear App Cache

Delete the Instagram app from your phone and reinstall the app before logging back into your Instagram page.

5. Change your Instagram account to a Business account

Head to your Profile > Settings > Account > Switch to Business Account.

6. Create your product catalog on Facebook

Go to your Facebook Business Manager and select Catalog Manager to create a product catalog.

Create A Product Catalog

Choose the E-commerce option as your product category.

Product Catalog Ecommerce Category

To get approved for product tagging, Instagram requires at least nine products in your Facebook product catalog. It’s best to manually add your products to your product catalog as this prevents any potential issues caused by loading in your products from Shopify. You don’t have to add your entire catalogue in the beginning, add at least nine products before trying the rest of the steps.

7. Set up Commerce Manager on Facebook

The Commerce Manager is located in your Business Manager account. Select Create & Manage > Commerce Manager where you’ll be asked to input your business details such as your business address and bank information. This allows Facebook to verify your business information which will allow Instagram to approve your Instagram shop.

8. Connect your Facebook catalog to your Facebook shop

Go back to your trusty Business Manager and select your product catalog. Head to the Use cases section where you’ll see the option to connect a Facebook page.

It may take anywhere between five to fifteen minutes for the connection to be completed.

9. Set up the Shop Now Button

It’s time to set up the shop now button that takes people to your Facebook shop. Go to your Facebook page and click Add a button > Shop with you > Shop on your page.

Shop Now Button

10. Reconnect your Instagram and Facebook

Before you take this final step, ensure you have the most updated version of the Instagram app.

Go to Instagram and select Profile > Setting > Linked Accounts > Facebook to connect your Facebook page.

Log in to your Facebook account and go to your page. Click Setting > Instagram > Connect accounts.

It may take a few days to get approved before you are eligible to use Instagram Shopping to sell your Shopify products on Instagram.

How Do You Get Approved For Instagram Shops?

The requirements you need to meet in order to be approved for Instagram Shops are:

  1. An Instagram Business account that is compliant with all guidelines and policies
  2. Your products can be directly purchased from your Shopify website or Instagram Checkout
  3. Instagram Shopping is available in your location and market
  4. Your business is established and trustworthy with a valid business website, address and contact details. Your privacy policy and refund and return policy should also be clearly visible.
  5. Your Shopify website does not provide misleading information to sell products
  6. Your store is selling physical goods

How Many Followers Do You Need To Tag Products on Instagram?

There is no follower requirement for product tagging on your Instagram posts, although some sources claim that Instagram uses the number of followers you have to assess the legitimacy of your business. However, if you want to tag products on your Instagram story, you’ll either need a verified profile or have more than 10,000 Instagram followers.

How Do You Tag Items In Stores On Instagram?

Ensure you’ve activated the Shopping feature on your Instagram account by going to your Instagram Profile > Settings > Business > Shopping and choosing the product catalog to connect to your account.

To do product tagging on an Instagram post, add a photo as usual and write in your caption. Choose the option to “Tag products” and you will have the option to tap on your photo and select a product from your catalog to tag.

When you’re happy with your post, publish it.

You can also add a Shopping sticker to your Instagram Story and choose the product that you want to feature and sell. This also offers the option to change the text colour of the sticker and move it to where you want it to appear on your Story before you publish your Story.

Instagram Story Shopping Sticker

If you have a verified account or over 10,000 followers on your page, you’ll have the swipe-up feature where you can directly take followers to your product page from your Instagram Story.

Conclusion

Boosting your business might just hinge on selling your Shopify goodies on social media. Sure, tackling the “Your Shopify store isn’t eligible for Instagram product tagging” headache seems tough.

You might flip your Instagram from business to personal and back, redo your Facebook template, upload your product lineup, whip up a Commerce Manager, and link up your catalog and page. Reconnect Instagram and Facebook afterward, and you could be all set to tag and sell!

Try these steps above and expand your social media reach to sell your Shopify items.

If you’re looking for (free) tips to increase your Shopify conversion rate and rank higher on Google, you can follow me on Twitter 👉🏻 @bitofseo.

Please DM me if you have any questions about this Shopify article (or have some feedback to make it better 😄️).

About Jake Sacino

After working as an engineer and consultant for a bunch of big companies, Jake now works as a full-time SEO & software engineer.