As of today, Google has quietly rolled out a user interface update in Google Merchant Center (GMC) that changes how merchants access settings. While this isn’t a drastic overhaul, it does affect daily navigation for anyone managing product feeds, account settings, or business information within the platform.
In this article, I’ll guide you through the changes, show you where to find the relocated elements, and explain why this update may make things easier for you.
What’s Changed?
Previously, in the top-right corner of your Google Merchant Center dashboard, you would find a small gear icon — commonly known as the “cog“ icon — which housed all your account and Merchant Center settings. This icon has now been removed in favor of a more user-friendly update.
The New Location
Instead of the top-right corner, all settings are now located in a clearly labeled section called “Settings”, found in the main left-hand navigation panel. This includes all the options that were previously hidden behind the cog icon, such as:
- General
- Business info
- Data sources
- Add-ons
- Access and services
Additionally, Google has added a collapsible drop-down menu to help declutter the sidebar. This allows merchants to easily expand or minimize various sections depending on what they’re working on.
Why This Change Matters
While a minor update on the surface, this change is a welcome one for usability. By removing the gear icon — which many users overlooked or misunderstood — and replacing it with a plainly labeled “Settings” section, Google is making the platform more intuitive, especially for new or less technical users.
This also brings the Merchant Center navigation more in line with other Google platforms that follow a similar sidebar structure.
No Other Functional Changes (For Now)
Aside from the UI layout, no new features or tools have been added or removed as part of this change. The core functionality remains the same — only the menu layout and settings access point have been updated.