Tiktok Shop Academy

How to Relink Products

11/14/2025

Summary

What is the TikTok Shop Product Relinking feature and how does it benefit sellers and creators?

  • Product Relinking lets creators replace unavailable products in shoppable videos instantly, preserving traffic and earnings without re-recording content.
  • It maximizes sales from existing videos, leverages engagement momentum, saves time, and provides smart product recommendations for quick relinking.

What are the key steps and requirements for using the Product Relinking feature effectively?

  • When a product becomes unavailable, TikTok notifies creators immediately and marks the video with a relevant CTA and "Abnormal anchor status" filter for easy management.
  • Creators access relinking via TikTok inbox notifications or the Manage tab in Creator/Seller Center, then select recommended or own showcase products that match the original content.

How should sellers ensure compliance and content alignment when relinking products?

  • Replacement products must visually and functionally match the original, including brand and category, to avoid policy violations.
  • Sellers should double-check recommended products before linking and name the product clearly and honestly for shopper transparency.

What happens if the original product is restocked after relinking?

  • The original product automatically re-anchors to the video alongside the relinked product, allowing up to 10 products to be anchored to one video simultaneously.

What best practices should sellers follow to optimize the use of Product Relinking?

  • Act promptly on notifications, regularly check the "Abnormal anchor status" filter, confirm product-content fit, and monitor video performance metrics like CTR and sales before and after relinking.

Introduction

The Product Relinking feature helps you keep your shoppable videos earning, even when your product links stop working. When a product in your video becomes unavailable (out of stock, delisted, or the collaboration plan becomes invalid, etc.), you can instantly replace it with another product. This helps you protect your traffic, maintain earnings, and avoid re-recording videos.
With smart recommendations and manual product selection options, you can quickly relink products while staying compliant with TikTok Shop policies.
image

Feature Overview

Product Relinking allows creators to relink videos when the originally tagged product becomes unavailable for reasons such as:
  • Out of stock
  • Invalid collaboration plan
  • Seller blacklists the creator
  • Product is delisted by seller or platform
  • Certain content violations (where relinking is not allowed until the issue is resolved)
As soon as a product becomes unavailable, the video will show a relevantCTA and appear in the "Abnormal anchor status" filter.
image

Benefits of Relinking Unavailable Videos

  • Maximize sales from existing content: Prevent your video from losing revenue when the product becomes unavailable. Simply relink the video to a similar in-stock product and keep earning from the same traffic.
  • Leverage existing engagement: If the video is already performing well, you can keep its momentum going without needing to recreate content.
  • Save time and effort: Replace unavailable products in a few taps instead of reshooting or editing your video.
  • Simplified decision-making: Recommended products help you replace unavailable items with those that closely match the original.
  • Stay informed: You'll receive notifications as soon as your product link becomes unavailable, so you can take action right away.
image

How It Works

  1. Detecting unavailable products

When a product in your video becomes unavailable for any supported reason, TikTok immediately:
  • Displays a relevant CTA on the video
  • Updates the anchor status (e.g., "Out of stock")
  • Makes the video appear under the Manage tab as Abnormal anchor status
There is no longer any waiting period. Notifications can be triggered immediately for eligible videos once a suitable alternative product is available.

  1. Accessing the relinking feature

You can access relinking through:
Entry point 1: TikTok inbox Notification
image
Entry point 2: TikTok Shop Creator Center / Seller Center (Manage tab)
image

  1. Product selection and recommendations

On the Relink page, you’ll find:
Recommended Products
  • Up to 5 highly similar in-stock products
  • Same logic for OOS, invalid plan, delisted products
  • For sellers, recommended products are limited to your own showcase
There is still a small chance that a recommended product may not fully match or could create policy risk, so you should always double-check before linking.
image
Showcase SelectionYou’ll see a recommended list of products, and for sellers, a Showcase section where you can pick from your own products. Tap Review products to see the recommended list. Tap any product to open its Product Details Page (PDP) and learn more before deciding. Tap Link to confirm and relink your video to that product.
image
Anchor NameAfter linking, name the product as you want it to appear to shoppers on the For You Page. Choose a clear, honest product name so viewers understand what they’re buying.
image

  1. Content alignment and compliance

You must ensure that the newly linked product matches what appears in the video, including:
  • Visuals
  • Function
  • Key features
  • Brand or category alignment
Recommended products match closely in most cases, but always double-check to avoid violations.

  1. Restocked product behavior

If the original product comes back in stock:
  • It will automatically re-anchor to your video
  • Both the original product and your relinked product may appear on the For You Page
  • Up to 10 products can be anchored to one video
image
image

Key Features

  • Immediate CTA display (no more 48-hour wait)
  • Immediate notification eligibility when alternative products exist
  • Supports more abnormal statuses: OOS, invalid plan, blacklisted creator, delisted (non-prohibited)
  • Up to 4 reminder notifications over 2 weeks if no action is taken
  • Videos must be posted within the last 6 months and have engagement in the last 30 days
  • Recommended products are highly related
  • Manage tab includes new filters for Abnormal anchor status and Video violations
image

Best Practices

  • Act Promptly: Fix unavailable product links as soon as you get a notification.
  • Confirm product-content fit: Make sure the replacement product truly matches the video.
  • Use Manage tab filters: Check "Abnormal anchor status" regularly to stay ahead.
  • Track performance: Evaluate CTR, sales rate, and GMV before and after relinking.
image

FAQs

When will I receive notifications?You will receive notifications as soon as your product link becomes unavailable and alternative products exist.There is no waiting period.
Will I see products from other sellers if I’m in a Target Collaboration?Yes, but you should follow your collaboration guidelines.If required, choose products from the same seller.
Why doesn’t TikTok auto-relink products?Automatic relinking could cause mismatches if your video mentions a specific brand, price, or seller.You stay in control by picking the product manually.
Can I relink to any product from my shop or showcase?Recommendations are prioritized. Sellers can also relink from their showcase.
What's the risk of a violation?Very low, but possible. Always choose products that clearly match your video content.
Why didn’t I receive a notification?Possible reasons:
  • No suitable alternative products exist
  • The video is older than 6 months
  • The video had no engagement in the last 30 days
What if I miss the first notification?You may receive up to 4 notifications over 2 weeks. You can still relink manually through the Manage tab at any time.
PreviousHow to Use the Product Link Status Review Tool