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How to change a UPC or barcode on a live listing

What happens on each channel when you change a barcode on a live listing, and what to do instead

Your item's barcode (UPC, EAN or GTIN) is how most marketplaces recognize the product behind your listing. It matters even more than the SKU. If you change the barcode on an item that is already live, the marketplace may refuse the update, treat it as a different product, or take the listing down.

Short answer: Only change the barcode on a live listing if the current one is actually wrong. If the product itself has changed and has a new barcode, list it as a new item instead of editing the old one.

This article covers barcode changes on live listings. For related topics, see:

Before you change a barcode

Work out which of these situations you're in. The right fix is different for each one.

  • The barcode in Acenda is wrong. For example, there's a typo, a dropped leading zero, or the barcode of a different color or size. Correct it. See Correcting a wrong barcode below.

  • The product changed and has a new barcode. For example, new packaging, a new pack size or a reformulated product came with a new barcode. Treat it as a new item. See When the product has a new barcode below.

  • The barcode is right, but the marketplace shows a different one. Don't change anything in Acenda yet. Contact the marketplace's seller support first, then Acenda Support if you need help.

What happens on each channel

When you save a new barcode on an item, Acenda includes it in the next update it sends to each channel where the item is listed. What happens next is up to each marketplace:

  • Target+: Target links each listing to its barcode. If the new barcode is already in Target's catalog, Target rejects the update with a duplicate barcode error. Talk to Target+ Partner Support before you change a barcode on a live Target+ item, because the change may create a separate product. See Troubleshooting: Duplicate barcode at Target+.

  • Walmart: Acenda sends the new barcode and asks Walmart to update the product ID on your existing listing. Walmart reviews the request. If the new barcode already belongs to another Walmart item, you'll see: This Product ID (GTIN, UPC, ISBN, or EAN) already exists in the Walmart catalog, but the product details you provided do not match the existing item. Walmart can also unpublish a listing whose barcode doesn't match the product, with a reason like UPC Mismatch.

  • TikTok Shop: TikTok doesn't allow a barcode to be changed once it has been submitted. If the barcode in Acenda no longer matches the one TikTok has, TikTok blocks all updates to that product, not only the barcode, and you'll see: The identifier code cannot be changed once be submitted or Cannot change identifier_code: it has already been submitted. To get updates flowing again, put the original barcode back on the item in Acenda.

  • Mirakl marketplaces (for example Macy's, Nordstrom, Bloomingdale's, Kohl's, Lowe's and Best Buy): These marketplaces match your products by barcode. A new barcode usually goes through the marketplace's product review again, like a new item. If the new barcode is already linked to another product, you'll see errors like The submitted UPC is already assigned to another item in your catalog (Nordstrom) or The GTIN provided is already linked to a product. Ensure GTINs match when updating a product or offer. (Best Buy).

  • Other marketplaces: Check with the marketplace's seller support before you change a barcode on a live listing, and ask what happens to the listing's reviews, ranking and stock.

Marketplace rejections appear in Acenda under Item Issues. In the sidebar, under CHANNELS, click Item Issues. You can also open the item and check its Channel Status tab. For help reading these errors, see How to fix marketplace listing errors.

Warning: Never give two items the same barcode, for example by copying a barcode from a sibling color or size. Marketplaces link one barcode to one product, so one of the two items can get stuck without ever going live, sometimes with no error shown.

Correcting a wrong barcode

If the barcode in Acenda is wrong, fix it on each affected variant (the specific size or color), not on the parent product.

  1. Click CATALOG > Items in the sidebar.

  2. Search for the item.

  3. Click the eye icon on its row.

  4. Open the variant you need to fix.

  5. On the Details tab, find the UPC, EAN and GTIN fields. Enter the barcode exactly as printed on the packaging or in your GS1 account: digits only, no spaces or dashes, and keep any leading zeros.

  6. Click Save Changes. Acenda checks the barcode's format before sending it, and sends the change on its next update to each channel.

  7. Over the next day, check Item Issues for any rejection from the marketplace. Use the channel notes above to understand what it means.

Tip: To check what Acenda sent to a channel after your change, see How to track marketplace updates with Channel Events. Channel Events show what Acenda sent, not the marketplace's reply.

If many items need a corrected barcode, you can update them with an import. See How to import product data into Acenda, and format the barcode column as Text so leading zeros aren't lost.

When the product has a new barcode

A new barcode normally means a new product. Instead of putting the new barcode on the item that's already selling, set the new version up as its own item:

  1. Create a new item in Acenda with its own SKU and the new barcode.

  2. List the new item on your channels the same way you listed the original.

  3. Keep the original item, with its original barcode, while you sell through the old stock.

  4. When the old stock is gone, set the original item's stock to zero or stop listing it.

This way the live listing keeps its history, and the new product goes through each marketplace's normal review instead of clashing with your existing listing.

Important: If you must keep the same listing with a new barcode, ask the marketplace's seller support first and follow their process. Some marketplaces, such as TikTok Shop, don't allow it at all.

Troubleshooting & FAQ

  • I changed the barcode and now the item won't update on TikTok Shop. TikTok locks the barcode once it's submitted. Put the original barcode back on the item in Acenda, and updates resume on the next send.

  • I changed the barcode and now get a duplicate barcode error. The marketplace already has another product with the new barcode, possibly one of your own listings. Put the original barcode back if it was correct, or follow the marketplace's duplicate barcode process. For Target+, see Troubleshooting: Duplicate barcode at Target+.

  • Will changing the barcode change my SKU? No. The SKU and the barcode are separate fields. If you need to change the SKU, see How to change SKU values on marketplace listings

  • Can I make up a barcode or borrow one? No. Only use a genuine GS1 barcode that you own and that identifies this exact product. Made-up or borrowed barcodes are rejected or cause conflicts with other products.

Related articles

Still have questions? Contact Acenda Support with the item's SKU, its old and new barcode, and the channels it's listed on.

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