Overview

Amazon sellers encounter Error 97779 when the backend (generic) keyword field in a product feed exceeds the platform’s 200‑byte limit. The error blocks the creation or update of listings, which can stall product launches and promotional campaigns. Fixing the issue promptly restores feed processing and keeps listings searchable.

Key Points

• 200‑byte ceiling — Amazon caps generic keyword fields at 200 bytes; any submission beyond this triggers Error 97779.
• Bytes ≠ characters — Characters such as “é”, “ß”, or Chinese glyphs occupy multiple bytes, so a 150‑character string can still breach the limit.
• Spacing inflates count — Missing spaces between terms (e.g., “redshirtbluejeans”) adds extra bytes because Amazon treats the whole string as one token.
• Feed report flags the error — The processing summary report lists the exact byte allowance for the category and highlights the offending field.
• Redundant terms waste bytes — Repeating words already present in the title, bullets, or description consumes valuable byte space without improving discoverability.

How to Fix Error 97779

1. Locate the feed processing summary — Open the “Feed Results” page in Seller Central, download the processing report, and find the row that reads “Generic Keywords – Byte Limit Exceeded.” For example, a report for a kitchen gadget may show “Allowed: 200 bytes, Used: 237 bytes.”
2. Calculate current byte usage — Use a text‑editor or an online byte‑counter to paste the entire keyword string. The tool will display the byte total; in our example, “stainless steel kitchen knife set” registers 34 bytes, while “stainless steel kitchen knife set” (with extra spaces) jumps to 38 bytes.
3. Trim low‑value terms — Start by deleting duplicate words, brand names, and overly broad phrases. If the original string contains “knife set, knife set, best knife set, cheap knives,” remove the repeats and the subjective adjectives, leaving only “knife set.”
4. Replace multi‑byte characters — Substitute accented or non‑Latin characters with their unaccented equivalents. Change “café” to “cafe” (2 bytes → 4 bytes becomes 4 bytes → 4 bytes, but the accent is removed, saving a byte).