Condition, Age Group, Gender: Managing Google Shopping Fields in Shopify

Condition, age group and gender are three Google Shopping attributes that Shopify doesn't have as standard product fields. Shopify's Google & YouTube app reads them from metafields in the mm-google-shopping namespace. For apparel and accessories advertised in Germany, Google requires age group and gender. Condition is required as soon as an item is used or refurbished. If values are missing, products show up with issues in Merchant Center and are limited or not shown at all.

Which values Google accepts

Google only accepts fixed English values for these attributes. German words like "Herren" or "neu" aren't recognised.

Attribute	Allowed values	When required?
Condition (condition)	new, refurbished, used	Required for used or refurbished items. Recommended for new ones.
Age group (age_group)	newborn (up to 3 months), infant (3–12 months), toddler (1–5 years), kids (5–13 years), adult	Required for apparel and accessories in Germany and several other countries. Recommended for any product aimed at an age group.
Gender (gender)	male, female, unisex	Required for apparel and accessories in Germany and several other countries.

For apparel in Germany, Google also requires colour and size. In Shopify these usually exist as variant options. Still, check that the options are actually named "Color"/"Farbe" and "Size"/"Größe", not something like "Variant" or "Type".

Where the fields live in Shopify

The Google & YouTube app stores these values as metafields. The level matters: they sit on the variant, not just the product. The names are:

• mm-google-shopping.condition
• mm-google-shopping.age_group
• mm-google-shopping.gender

Depending on your setup, you'll see them on each variant in the metafields section. If not, check in admin under Settings → Custom data → Variants whether metafield definitions exist. Without a definition you can't conveniently enter values in admin.

A common mistake: the value sits on the product instead of the variant, or in a similarly named metafield an older app created. Then the channel doesn't read it.

Step by step: filling in the fields

Single products

1. In Shopify admin, open Products and pick the product.
2. Click a variant.
3. Enter condition, age group and gender in the metafields using the English values from the table.
4. Save and repeat for each variant. For a kids' shirt in five sizes, all variants usually share the same values.

Many products

1. Select several products in the product list and open the bulk editor.
2. Add the columns for the variant metafields. They're only available if a metafield definition exists.
3. Fill in values. You can copy and paste across rows.
4. Save.

If your range is clearly separated, say only womenswear or only baby clothes, this is quick. Mixed ranges are harder: filter by collection or product type and work in blocks.

Choosing the right values

• Age group by audience, not by guessing from size. A size 140 shirt is kids. An adult XS shirt is adult.
• Unisex only if true. If a product is listed under "Women" and cut that way, use female.
• Be honest about condition. Vintage, second-hand and B-stock with signs of wear are used. Devices inspected and restored by the manufacturer or a specialist are refurbished.
• Not required for everything. A scented candle doesn't need a gender. Don't set it just to fill a field.

Checking in Google Merchant Center

1. Open Merchant Center and go to your products.
2. Filter for products with issues or warnings. Missing values typically appear as "missing value" for age group, gender or condition.
3. Click an issue to see affected items.
4. Fix values in Shopify, not in Merchant Center. Otherwise the next sync overwrites your change.

Updates usually take a few hours up to a day to show in Merchant Center. Google renames menu items from time to time; if a menu is named differently, look for the product diagnostics or issues view.

Google may infer some attributes for clearly identifiable products. Don't rely on it. Your own correct values are more dependable.

Finding missing Google fields with Heartly

Heartly shows in the visibility score per product where condition, age group or gender is missing. The "Fix now" assistant (beta, paid plan) suggests values and, after your approval, writes them into the mm-google-shopping.* variant metafields, exactly where the Google & YouTube app reads them. You review each suggestion, a conflict check shows existing values, and changes can be undone for 30 days.

Checklist

• Google & YouTube app is connected and syncing.
• Variant metafield definitions for condition, age group and gender exist.
• All apparel and accessory variants have age group and gender.
• Used and refurbished items have the right condition.
• Values are English and from the allowed list.
• Variant options are named colour and size.
• Merchant Center shows no missing values after the sync.

FAQ

Do I need these fields if I don't sell clothing?

Age group and gender aren't required outside apparel and accessories. They can help when a product clearly targets an audience, such as toddler toys. Always set condition when an item isn't new.

Can I enter the values in German?

No. Google expects English values like female or kids. Shoppers don't see them in your store; they're only for Google.

Why does Merchant Center still show the error?

Usually one of these: the value is on the product instead of the variant, it's in a wrongly named metafield, it's in German or misspelled, or the sync hasn't finished. Check in that order.

Do AI assistants read these fields too?

Structured values like age group and gender make it easier for any system to classify a product, including AI assistants that evaluate product data. Providers don't disclose how much weight a single field gets.

Check your shop now

The free visibility check shows you, without installing anything, which products are missing Google fields. To set the values directly in Shopify: Heartly in the Shopify App Store, 14-day free trial, then $19 per month.