Google's product taxonomy is the classification system that organizes products across Google Shopping, free listings, and other surfaces. In January 2026, Google updated the taxonomy with new categories, restructured hierarchies, and deprecated several old paths. This guide covers what changed and how to update your feed.
The google_product_category attribute tells Google what your product is so it can match it to the right searches. Using the most specific category available improves targeting accuracy.
Action Required
If you use any deprecated categories, you have until July 31, 2026 to update your feed. After this date, products using deprecated categories may be disapproved.
What's New in the 2026 Taxonomy
Here's what changed:
New top-level categories
Google added four new top-level categories:
| New Category | ID | Products Covered |
|---|---|---|
| Smart Home & IoT | 8701 |
Smart sensors, hubs, automation devices |
| Electric Vehicles & Charging | 8702 |
EV chargers, adapters, accessories |
| Sustainable Products | 8703 |
Eco-friendly, refurbished, zero-waste products |
| AI & Robotics Consumer Products | 8704 |
Consumer robots, AI assistants, smart devices |
Expanded Electronics categories
The Electronics section got a bigger overhaul:
- Wearables is now a full subcategory with distinct paths for smartwatches, fitness trackers, smart rings, and AR glasses
- Portable power (power banks, portable power stations, solar chargers) has its own subcategory instead of being scattered across multiple categories
- Audio equipment was restructured with separate paths for spatial audio devices, podcast equipment, and streaming microphones
Health & Wellness reorganization
The Health category was restructured:
- New Mental Wellness subcategory for meditation devices, stress monitors, and therapy aids
- Home Health Monitoring now covers continuous glucose monitors, smart scales with body composition, and sleep trackers
- New Telehealth Equipment subcategory for home diagnostic devices used with telehealth services
Deprecated Categories
The following categories have been deprecated and will no longer be accepted after July 31, 2026:
| Deprecated Category | Replacement |
|---|---|
| Electronics > GPS & Navigation | Electronics > GPS Devices & Accessories |
| Electronics > Portable Audio & Video | Electronics > Audio > Portable Audio Players |
| Software > Computer Software | Software (use specific subcategories) |
| Health & Beauty > Personal Care | Health & Beauty > Personal Care (restructured) |
| Home & Garden > Smart Home (old) | Smart Home & IoT (new top-level) |
Pro Tip
Download the complete taxonomy file from Google and diff it against your current category mappings to identify any deprecated paths in your feed.
How to Check If Your Feed Is Affected
1. Check Merchant Center diagnostics
Merchant Center flags deprecated categories in the Diagnostics tab:
- Go to Products > Diagnostics in Merchant Center
- Look for "Deprecated product category" warnings
- Click the warning to see affected products
- Export the list for bulk updates
2. Review your category mapping
If you use a mapping file or rules, check them against the new taxonomy:
# Example: Check for deprecated categories in your feed
# If using CSV, search for these deprecated paths:
Electronics > GPS & Navigation # DEPRECATED
Electronics > Portable Audio & Video # DEPRECATED
Software > Computer Software # DEPRECATED3. Use the taxonomy API
You can validate categories programmatically with the Content API:
GET https://shoppingcontent.googleapis.com/content/v2.1/productcategories
?merchantId={merchantId}
&categoryPath={your_category_path}Note that taxonomy categories are separate from product-level attributes like brand and product type. If you need to filter Shopping performance data by brand or other product attributes, see our Google Ads API Shopping segments guide which covers all available filter options.
How to Update Your Feed
Option 1: Use category IDs (recommended)
Numeric IDs are more stable than text paths across taxonomy updates:
# Instead of:
google_product_category: Electronics > Computers > Tablets
# Use the ID:
google_product_category: 4745IDs rarely change even when Google renames or moves categories around.
Option 2: Update category paths
If you use text paths, update them to match the new taxonomy exactly:
# Old (deprecated):
google_product_category: Home & Garden > Smart Home > Smart Speakers
# New:
google_product_category: Smart Home & IoT > Smart Speakers & Displays > Smart SpeakersOption 3: Let Google auto-categorize
If you're unsure about the right category, you can omit google_product_category and let Google figure it out from your product data. This works reasonably well for:
- Products that span multiple categories
- New product types without clear category matches
- Retailers with diverse inventories who can't maintain detailed mappings
Important
Auto-categorization is less precise than setting categories yourself. For competitive product types where targeting matters, always specify a category manually.
How categories affect Shopping performance
Getting categories wrong has real consequences:
Search matching
Google uses your category to decide which searches your product shows for. Wrong categories mean:
- Products showing for irrelevant searches (wasting budget)
- Missing relevant searches where your product should appear
- Lower click-through rates due to poor query-product match
Auction competition
Categories determine which products you compete against. A category that's too broad puts you in auctions with more competitors, which can push up CPCs and eat into your impression share.
Reporting accuracy
If you analyze performance by category in tools like SKU Analyzer, wrong categories will skew your numbers. Accurate categories make budget allocation decisions much easier.
Category best practices
1. Be as specific as possible
Don't stop at a parent category when a more precise child exists:
# Too broad:
Electronics > Audio
# Better:
Electronics > Audio > Headphones & Earbuds > Over-Ear Headphones
# Best (with attributes):
Electronics > Audio > Headphones & Earbuds > Over-Ear Headphones
+ product_type: Wireless Noise-Canceling Headphones2. Combine with product type and custom labels
Use product_type alongside google_product_category to add detail that Google's taxonomy doesn't cover. Add custom labels for things like margin tiers or seasonality. Product type can use your own hierarchy:
google_product_category: 505778
product_type: Running Shoes > Trail Running > Waterproof3. Review categories quarterly
Set a calendar reminder. Google's taxonomy changes, and a category that was the best fit last year might have a more specific option now.
4. Watch for mismatches
If Google auto-categorizes a product differently than what you specified, it shows up as a warning in Merchant Center diagnostics. That usually means your category choice could be better.
Tools and resources
- Google Product Taxonomy File - Download the full taxonomy in TXT or Excel format
- Category Requirements by Market - Some categories have specific attribute requirements per the product data specification
- Google Shopping Product Categories Guide - Our complete guide to choosing categories
- Feed Errors Guide - How to fix common category-related errors
Frequently asked questions
How often does Google update the product taxonomy?
Usually 1-2 times per year, with major updates in Q1 and Q3. Updates add new categories, restructure existing ones, and deprecate old paths.
What happens if I use a deprecated category?
Google gives you a grace period (usually 3-6 months). During that time, your products still get accepted but may be auto-mapped to new categories. After the grace period, deprecated categories can cause feed errors or product disapprovals.
Do I need to update my feed if my categories still work?
Not strictly, but you should. More specific and current categories improve how Google matches your products to searches, which affects whether the right people see your ads.
Should I use category IDs or text paths?
IDs. When Google restructures or renames categories, IDs usually stay the same while text paths break. IDs also avoid issues with spelling or special characters.
Conclusion
The 2026 taxonomy adds categories for smart home, EVs, sustainable products, and AI consumer devices. If you use any deprecated categories, the deadline to update is July 31, 2026.
What to do:
- Check Merchant Center Diagnostics for deprecated category warnings
- Download the latest taxonomy file and compare it to your current mappings
- Switch to the most specific categories available
- Use category IDs instead of text paths for stability
- Pair
google_product_categorywithproduct_typefor more detail
For more on feed optimization, see our guides on product categories, title optimization, and feed errors. SKU Analyzer tracks performance by category, so you can spot products that might be in the wrong one.