Overview

Error 18637 is a policy violation that Amazon triggers when sellers attempt to list products from restricted or protected brands without obtaining the required authorization. This is one of the more common compliance errors sellers encounter, and understanding how to resolve it quickly is essential to avoiding account suspensions or further listing restrictions.

Key Points / What Sellers Need to Know

• Brand Authorization Required — Certain brands on Amazon are restricted, meaning sellers must receive explicit approval before creating listings for those products. Attempting to list without this approval triggers Error 18637.
• Multiple Causes — The error can appear because you listed a brand-gated product without ungating, because the brand requires enrollment in a protection program like Brand Registry, or because you skipped the brand authorization process entirely.
• Account Health Risk — Ignoring this error or continuing to list unauthorized branded products can lead to listing removals, account warnings, or even suspension.
• Documentation Is Key — Resolving the error typically requires submitting invoices, authorization letters, or other proof that you have legitimate permission to sell the brand's products.

Why This Error Occurs

Amazon restricts certain brands to protect intellectual property rights and ensure that only authorized resellers offer those products on the marketplace. Error 18637 fires when a seller creates or attempts to publish a listing under one of these restricted brands without first completing the required approval workflow. There are three primary scenarios that trigger it: listing products from brands that are fully gated and require an application to sell, creating listings for brands that participate in Amazon's Brand Registry or similar protection programs without prior verification, and listing under brands where the seller started but did not complete the authorization process. In all three cases, Amazon blocks the listing from going live until the seller can demonstrate legitimate selling rights.

How to Resolve Error 18637

The first step is to log into your Seller Central account and navigate to the Account Health dashboard or the Performance Notifications section. Look for the specific notice related to Error 18637, which will identify which listings and brands are affected. Once you know which brands triggered the violation, gather the appropriate documentation to prove your authorization. This typically includes invoices from authorized distributors that show the brand name, your business details, and purchase quantities. Manufacturer authorization letters or direct approval from the brand owner are also accepted. If you purchased from a wholesaler, make sure the invoices clearly show the supply chain back to an authorized source, as Amazon may reject generic or unclear documentation.