How to Fix "Missing Refund Policy" on Shopify
Fix the "Missing refund policy" error on Shopify by creating a complete return policy page with window, conditions, and process — accessible from the footer.
What this means
Google requires a publicly accessible refund/return policy that names a specific return window, item-condition requirements, and refund process. The error fires when the page is missing, behind a login, or so vague that the required signals can't be parsed.
How to fix it
- 1
Create a refund policy at /policies/refund-policy
Shopify Admin → Settings → Policies → Refund policy → "Create from template." Replace placeholders with your specifics.
- 2
Include window, conditions, and process
Window: "30 days from delivery." Condition: "unworn, with tags, in original packaging." Process: "contact support@yourstore.com to initiate, ship at customer expense, refund issued to original payment method."
- 3
Link from the footer
Most Shopify themes auto-link policies in the footer. Verify in incognito. If missing, edit theme settings or `footer.liquid` to include the link.
- 4
Verify accessible without login
Open `https://yourstore.com/policies/refund-policy` signed out. Must load with full content, not redirect or fail.
Related fixes
Related reading
FAQ
What must my refund policy include?+
Three signals: a specific return window in days, item-condition requirements, and the refund process steps including how the refund is issued.
Is "all sales final" a valid policy?+
Allowed if disclosed clearly, but expect lower trust signals from Google and lower customer conversion. Most stores find a 14-30 day return window outperforms.
Can I require customers to pay return shipping?+
Yes if disclosed in the policy. Free returns are not required by Google's policy — disclosure of who pays is what matters.
What about restocking fees?+
Allowed but must be disclosed in the refund policy AND visibly on the product page. Restocking fees disclosed only in fine print trigger hidden-fee policy violations.
How long until the policy fix clears the error?+
7 days for Google's crawler to re-fetch the policy page. Then submit a re-review appeal if products were disapproved.
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