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warning IMAGE_LINK_USES_HTTP_INSTEAD_O

Image link uses HTTP instead of HTTPS

What this means

Although HTTP is technically supported, Microsoft strongly prefers HTTPS for image links; HTTP can lead to crawl warnings and mixed-content issues.

Why this happens

Microsoft Merchant Center requires product images that are publicly reachable, sized within the platform's bounds, in supported formats (JPEG/PNG typically), and free of overlays, watermarks, retailer logos, or text callouts. This issue trips when one of those constraints is broken.

How to fix it

  1. Open the image URL in a private/incognito browser — confirm it loads without authentication or bot challenges.
  2. Check minimum dimensions (most channels: 500x500 or 800x800), file size limits, and supported formats. Re-export as JPEG quality 85–95 if compressed below threshold.
  3. Strip promotional overlays, watermarks, store logos, and call-out badges — the main image must show only the product.
  4. Re-host on a stable CDN if your origin host is rate-limiting or blocking the platform's crawler.
  5. Re-submit the feed; image changes typically propagate within 4–24 hours.

Common pitfalls