How to Fix Invalid Image URL Format Errors on Amazon Listings (Error 15)
Error 15 occurs when an image URL in a feed does not start with http://, contains prohibited characters (e.g., spaces, $, ?, &, @) or uses the wrong domain. Amazon only accepts http:// URLs with clean paths and recommends .jpg or .gif extensions. Fixing these formats restores image download and listing visibility.
Overview
Sellers uploading product data to Amazon may run into Error 15, which signals that an image URL does not meet Amazon’s formatting rules. The issue stops Amazon from pulling the picture, delaying the creation or update of the listing. Correcting the URL format is essential to keep listings fully populated and visible.
Key Points
- Error 15 definition — The system flags the feed when an image address fails to match Amazon’s required pattern, preventing the image from being downloaded.
- Required protocol — Only URLs that start with
http://are accepted;https://,ftp://, or local file paths trigger the error. - Prohibited characters — Spaces, dollar signs, question marks, ampersands, at‑signs and other non‑alphanumeric symbols in the path cause the validation to fail.
- Domain naming — Use the marketplace‑specific domain (e.g.,
www.example.comfor the U.S. store,www.example.cafor Canada) to ensure the URL resolves correctly. - File extension guidance — Amazon recommends
.jpgor.gifextensions for clarity, but the absence of an extension does not automatically reject the URL.
How to Resolve Error 15
-
Verify the protocol — Open the feed and check that every image link begins with
http://.
Example: Changehttps://images.example.com/item1.jpgtohttp://images.example.com/item1.jpg. -
Clean the path of special symbols — Remove spaces and characters such as
$,?,&,@from the URL string.
Example: Converthttp://images.example.com/product%20photo$1.jpgtohttp://images.example.com/product-photo-1.jpg.
Analysis & Recommendations
Why This Matters
Listings missing images see lower click‑through rates and may be delayed in activation, reducing sales potential. By correcting the URL format, sellers ensure images load instantly, keeping catalog health and marketplace performance optimal.
Key Takeaways
- Error 15 is triggered when an image URL lacks the required http:// protocol.
- Prohibited characters include spaces, $, ?, &, and @ in the URL path.
- Amazon recommends using .jpg or .gif extensions, though missing extensions alone won't reject the URL.
Recommended Actions
- →In Seller Central, open your inventory feed file, locate the image‑URL column and replace any https:// or ftp:// with http://.
- →Run a spreadsheet find‑replace or script to remove spaces and characters like $, ?, &, @, then verify each URL loads in a browser before re‑uploading.
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