Even if a listing shows as "Inactive" (停止中), that does not necessarily mean Amazon stopped it. The same word "Inactive" is also used for a vacation setting you apply yourself (the "Inactive" listing status) and for listings you closed by choosing "Close listing" (出品を終了) in Manage Inventory (在庫管理).
In this article, we first explain how to tell whose action caused the "Inactive" status, and then, if it is an action by Amazon, we set out the entry points for an appeal according to the scope of what was stopped (individual listings, merchant-fulfilled listings, or the entire account). For detailed steps for each cause, this article points you to the explanatory articles published by Amazon Seller Reinstatement Support ("we" below).
We are not an official Amazon contact channel and have no ownership or partnership relationship with Amazon.
This article reorganizes our existing articles from the angle of listing suspensions. Those articles are based on Seller Central Help and other sources that we checked as of September 2026. Screen names and displays can change, so please also check the notice you received and the latest Help pages.
"Inactive" can also appear because of your own actions: first confirm who initiated it
The "Inactive" status can be applied through the seller's own actions or through an action by Amazon. The table below lists the main situations covered in our articles, by who initiated them.
| Situation | Initiated by | Clues for telling them apart | How to restore it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vacation setting (you set your listing status to "Inactive" under Store status (ストアのステータス)) | You | No suspension notice from Amazon. FBA listings stay active | Switching back to "Active" (出品中) makes the listings visible again within 1 hour |
| You chose "Close listing" | You | Sales history is kept | You can relist it |
| Removal of a listing with repeated seller-caused cancellations | Amazon | Marked with an orange icon. Filter by "Pending" (保留中) under the reason for inactivity to find them in the list | Updating the price via "Edit details" (詳細の編集) can reactivate it. Explanations differ between sources, so follow the instructions on your screen |
| Removal of listings for policy violations, complaints from rights owners, or similar reasons | Amazon | "View all" (すべて表示) in Product Policy Compliance (商品規約の遵守) shows the removed listings and "Next steps" (次の手順). You can check the removal details in Performance Notifications (パフォーマンス通知) | Appeal or correct the listing by following "Next steps" |
The first two rows of the table (the vacation setting and "Close listing") are statuses applied through your own actions. With the vacation setting, you do not receive a suspension notice from Amazon. The last two rows are actions by Amazon, and you can identify the affected listings from the reason shown for inactive listings in Manage Inventory, or in Product Policy Compliance and Performance Notifications.
If your listing suspension results from an action by Amazon, the entry point for your appeal depends on the scope of what was stopped
If Amazon stopped something, first confirm what was stopped. This is because Help lists removal of listings, restrictions on merchant fulfillment, and temporary deactivation of the account as separate actions, each with a different entry point for appeals.
| Scope of what was stopped | Where to find out | Main entry point |
|---|---|---|
| Specific listings (ASINs) | "View all" in Product Policy Compliance, inactive listings in Manage Inventory, Performance Notifications | Appeal or correct the listing by following the guidance in the "Next steps" column (how to proceed for each reason is described below) |
| Merchant-fulfilled listings (from a single product category up to all of them) | Each metric under Shipping Performance (出荷パフォーマンス) in Account Health, the banner at the top of the page, notices | An appeal for each metric (such as submitting a plan of action). For the route for each scope, see the quick-reference chart in what to check when merchant fulfillment is disabled |
| The entire account | The suspension notice and the guidance at the top of the Account Health page | Appeal from "Reactivate your selling account" (出品用アカウントの再開) |
The order in which to check screens for listing-level removals
Listing-level removals are not always shown together on a single screen. Opening them in the following order helps reduce the chance of missing something.
- In Account Health (アカウント健全性), open "View all" in Product Policy Compliance and look at the removed listings and the "Next steps" column
- If they don't appear there, look at the stopped listings and their reasons under "Inactive" in Manage Inventory
- In Performance Notifications, read the full text of the notice and the removal details
- Some violations, such as those related to product safety, appear in Manage Compliance (コンプライアンスの管理), so if you can't find them on the Account Health page, open that as well
For a notice that arrived by email, don't use the links in the email; before you respond, check that the same content appears in Seller Central when you open it yourself (how to check when you can't find it on screen is covered in checking the notice and the role of each contact).
When listings are removed for policy violations or similar reasons: how to proceed for each reason
What is required for a listing-level removal differs depending on the reason. Identify the reason from the policy name in the notice, and check the steps in the articles below.
| Reason seen in notices | What to check first | Detailed article |
|---|---|---|
| Restricted products | Whether selling the product is prohibited outright, or whether you can list it once you have listing approval or the necessary documents | Responding to a restricted-product warning |
| Inaccurate or inappropriate product information | The flagged ASIN, and which field is at issue, such as the product name, images, or description | Responding to inaccurate or inappropriate content warnings |
| Intellectual property (complaints from rights owners) | Which right is involved, who filed the complaint, and whether it covers only your listing or the entire ASIN | Sorting out intellectual property warnings |
| Suspected trademark infringement (detected by Amazon) | Whether any trademarks or logos that don't represent the product you're listing remain (correct them and save; if the listing is still inactive after 24 hours, submit an inquiry through Product Policy Compliance) | When a listing is removed for suspected trademark infringement |
| Authenticity (suspected counterfeits) | The affected ASINs and the invoice requirements (issue date, quantity, supplier information, etc.) | Organizing documents when you receive a product authenticity review |
| Product safety | Where the warning appeared (an email notification or Manage Compliance), and the documents and deadline requested | Responding to product safety warnings |
Don't confuse a reconsideration with a dispute
Help distinguishes a "reconsideration" (申し立て), which shows that a violation occurred but was unintentional, from a "dispute" (異議申し立て), which shows that the determination of the violation itself was wrong. However, some pages also use the same term as for a reconsideration (申し立て) to describe the procedure for claiming an error.
Claiming the determination was wrong when a violation actually occurred creates a mismatch between your explanation and the records, which could undermine the credibility of your entire appeal. To decide which one to choose, check the table in STEP2 of the full picture from account suspension to reinstatement request.
Closing or deleting a listing doesn't make the violation go away
Even if you close or delete the affected listing, the violation does not disappear from the Account Health page. The cases in which Help says a violation is removed include when a dispute confirms it was issued in error, when a reconsideration results in a determination that it was unintentional, when you have taken the required corrective action, and when 180 days have passed since it was added. However, if you were suspended because of your AHR (Account Health Rating), violations remain even after 180 days.
A violation you did not dispute may still count toward repeat violations for 180 days, even if it was removed from the list through a reconsideration. Review all listings with the same cause, including those not named in the notice.
Responding to a restricted-product warning explains the order to follow when stopping listings: use "Close listing" before "Delete product and listing" (商品と出品を削除), which cannot be undone, and decide on deletion only after you have settled your approach to the appeal.
When merchant-fulfilled listings or your entire account is stopped
If your merchant-fulfilled listings are stopped
Triggers that can stop merchant-fulfilled listings include metrics such as the Late Shipment Rate and Cancellation Rate, the Valid Tracking Rate for each category, and a delivery-performance review, and the scope of what stops also varies: a single product category, all merchant-fulfilled listings, all listings while under review, and so on. The route to reinstatement for each scope is set out in five levels in the quick-reference chart in what to check when merchant fulfillment is disabled.
When a metric is the cause, a five-question quiz may appear in a banner on the Account Health page before your listings are stopped (it is shown only to eligible sellers). The Help pages for the Cancellation Rate and Order Defect Rate explain that if you pass within 72 hours, you don't need to submit a plan of action and your listings won't be stopped (the Late Shipment Rate page doesn't state a deadline).
Apart from Valid Tracking Rate suspensions (described as a restriction on "non-FBA" listings), the Japanese Help doesn't specify whether products you sell through FBA are also stopped, and a review can stop all of your listings, so check what Manage Inventory shows. The vacation setting, which is used for periods when you can't ship, does not lift a suspension by Amazon.
Reviewing your cancellation rate is covered in addressing your Pre-fulfillment Cancel Rate, and what to do when pending orders you don't recognize keep coming in is covered in what to record and how to get help when pending orders surge.
If your entire account is stopped
When your entire account has been stopped, create your appeal from "Reactivate your selling account" (at the top of the Account Health page), following the on-screen instructions. Up to about two days is given as a guideline for a response, but it is only a guide to when a response arrives; it does not indicate whether your account will be reinstated or when.
We cover everything from how to read the notice to what to put in your appeal in the full picture from account suspension to reinstatement request, and how to read the words "suspended" and "closed" in a notice in telling suspension and closure apart.
What not to do when trying to get stopped listings back
- Continuing to sell through another account: Under the Seller Code of Conduct, you may in principle have only one account per region where you sell. The only exception is when you have a legitimate business need for a second account and all of your accounts are in good standing; a separate account used to get around a suspension or restriction is not allowed.
- Creating or rewriting documents: Invoices and similar documents must be original and unaltered, and documents issued by the seller or digitally altered are not accepted. For documents you don't have, ask your supplier to reissue them with content that matches the actual transaction.
- Just closing or deleting listings and waiting to see what happens: This does not address the violation, and the record of the violation remains.
- Missing the deadline in a notice: Help explains that for a "Critical" violation, or when repeat violations of the same policy reach the limit, the account will be suspended unless you respond within three days (in some cases it may be suspended immediately).
If you consult us
Our case studies include one in which several products had been removed following complaints from rights owners; identifying the type of right involved and showing that sales of the affected products had stopped, together with preventive measures, led to the restrictions being lifted (Case studies: Intellectual property). This is only one example and is not a promise of the same result.
We take on engagements in cases where only your listings have been stopped and your account has not, and we also accept consultations on listing restrictions and on applying for listing approval. The policy violations explained in our articles are generally within the scope of our consultations and engagements.
Our role is to review the notice you received and the documents you provide, prepare submission drafts for Amazon, and advise on revisions. We do not log in to your account or file appeals, submit, or communicate with Amazon; you do these yourself.
If we believe reinstatement or the lifting of a warning will be difficult in your case, we will tell you accurately, based on what we can assess at that point, before you engage us. You can contact us even at the warning stage, before your account is stopped. Consultations are free, as often as you need.
Our fees are the same for every engagement: an initial fee of JPY 80,000 plus a success fee of JPY 80,000 (both tax included). The initial fee is payable regardless of the outcome, and the success fee is charged when the purpose of your engagement, such as reinstatement of your listings or obtaining listing approval, is achieved. Whether that purpose is achieved depends on Amazon's review, and if it is not achieved, no success fee is charged. For details, see our pricing page.
Frequently asked questions
Q. I haven't received any notice from Amazon, but my listings show as "Inactive."
A. Listings also become "Inactive" through the vacation setting or the "Close listing" action. First, check whether your Store status is set to "Inactive" and whether you have closed that listing. If neither applies, look at the reason shown for the inactive listing in Manage Inventory, as well as Product Policy Compliance and Performance Notifications, to check whether Amazon has taken any action. Notices are sometimes sent only to a particular staff member's address, so it is also a good idea to check the past 30 days of notifications and where they were sent in the Notification Center (通知管理センター).
Q. How long does it take for a listing suspension to be lifted?
A. As far as we could confirm in the official Help pages, no fixed number of days is given for how long it takes for a listing suspension to be lifted. The figures that are given are guidelines for specific situations, such as the "24 hours" to wait after fixing a listing stopped for suspected trademark infringement, "within 30 days" for a review that checks the delivery status of merchant-fulfilled orders, and "up to about two days" for a response to an account appeal. None of these is a promise of reinstatement, so proceed while checking the deadline in your notice and the "Next steps."
Q. If I turn on the vacation setting, will that resolve a suspension by Amazon?
A. No. The vacation setting temporarily hides your listings; it does not lift a suspension by Amazon. While it is on, your FBA listings stay active, and you still need to respond to return requests and buyer emails within 24 hours. The monthly subscription fee for the Professional selling plan is also still charged. We cover the steps for the vacation setting, and how it differs from switching to the Individual plan if you also want to stop the monthly fee, in switching from the Professional to the Individual plan.
Summary
- The "Inactive" status also appears with the vacation setting or "Close listing." First confirm who initiated it, using the reason for inactivity in Manage Inventory, Product Policy Compliance, and any notices from Amazon
- If it is an action by Amazon, the entry point for your appeal depends on how far things have stopped: individual listings, merchant-fulfilled listings, or the entire account
- For listing-level removals, identify the reason from the policy name in the notice, and choose whether to proceed with a reconsideration, a dispute, or a correction to the listing
- Deleting a listing doesn't remove the violation. Don't try to get back to selling through another account or with altered documents
If you can't tell why your listings were stopped, gather the full text of the notice and what your screens show, and check the deadline before you act.
When you can't tell why your listings were stopped
You can send us the text of the notice you received from Amazon on LINE (a screenshot is fine). Consultations are free, as often as you need. We are not an official Amazon contact channel. We prepare submission drafts and advise on revisions, and you file the appeal with Amazon yourself.
Please do not send your login ID, password, or verification code.
Free consultation, 24/7 *This article provides a general explanation. The appropriate response in individual cases depends on the circumstances.
Further reading
From Amazon account suspension to an appeal: reviewing the notice and planning your response Read article → 
When Amazon disables merchant fulfillment: checking restrictions and reinstatement requirements Read article → 
Distinguishing Amazon seller account suspension from closure: notices and reinstatement inquiries Read article →