Overview

Error 90236 is a product listing validation error that Amazon sellers may encounter when creating or updating listings in Seller Central. This error triggers when a seller attempts to assign a value to a product attribute that Amazon has explicitly restricted. Understanding how to identify and resolve this error can save sellers significant time and prevent listing delays.

Key Points / What Sellers Need to Know

• Blocklisted values are enforced automatically — Amazon maintains lists of prohibited values for certain product attributes, and any attempt to use these values will be rejected at submission.
• The error message identifies the problem — Error 90236 specifies both the attribute name and the restricted values, giving sellers a clear starting point for correction.
• This applies to both new and existing listings — Sellers may encounter this error when creating a listing for the first time or when editing an attribute on a product already in the catalog.
• Flat file uploads and API submissions are affected — This validation check runs regardless of whether a seller submits data through the Seller Central interface, inventory file uploads, or the SP-API.
• Resolution requires choosing an approved value — Sellers must replace the blocklisted value with a compliant alternative that accurately describes their product.

How This Error Works

When Amazon processes a listing submission, it validates every attribute value against a set of rules specific to that product category and attribute type. For certain fields, Amazon maintains a blocklist of values that are no longer accepted, may be misleading, or violate catalog data standards. If a submitted value matches any entry on that blocklist, the system rejects the change and returns Error 90236. The error message follows the format: "Attribute '{attribute_name}' must not be changed to any of the following blocklisted values: {blacklisted_values}." This tells the seller exactly which attribute triggered the issue and which specific values are prohibited.

Common Causes and Affected Attributes

Sellers most frequently encounter this error when working with brand names, material types, color specifications, or other structured attributes that Amazon has tightened over time. For example, generic or placeholder values such as "N/A," "None," "Unknown," or overly broad descriptors may have been added to blocklists as Amazon works to improve catalog data quality. Sellers who are migrating listings, updating product details in bulk, or copying attributes from older templates are particularly susceptible, as previously accepted values may have since been restricted. Category-specific attributes can also carry their own blocklists that differ from one product type to another.