> [!NOTE]
> **Note:** This API is available only to enabled Shopping partners.

The Content API's [`accounts.link`](https://developers.google.com/shopping-content/reference/rest/v2.1/accounts/link)
method allows a Google Shopping partner to programmatically flag a relationship
between their own Merchant Center account and those of other merchants. This
link describes the services that the partner provides to those linked merchants.
The list of services can include features such as product data management for
Shopping ads or order management for Buy on Google. The full list of supported
services can be found on the [Requesting Links page](https://developers.google.com/shopping-content/guides/flagging/request).

After a partner sends a link request via the Content API, merchants can [manage
their account links](https://support.google.com/merchants/answer/9440376) in the
Google Merchant Center user interface.

> [!NOTE]
> **Note:** Flagging accounts via [`accounts.link`](https://developers.google.com/shopping-content/reference/rest/v2.1/accounts/link) does not automatically make a merchant's account part of a partner's [multi-client
> account](https://support.google.com/merchants/answer/188487).

## Request and approval workflow

Flagging a relationship between partner and another merchant with a
[`link`](https://developers.google.com/shopping-content/reference/rest/v2.1/accounts/link) is a multi-step
process. To initiate a link, a partner first sends a request to a merchant.
After the request is received, the merchant must then approve it.

The link flagging process can be managed using the Content API and generally
comprises the following steps. The subsequent sections of this guide describe
each step in more detail.

1. Partner [sends an account link request](https://developers.google.com/shopping-content/guides/flagging/request).
2. Both merchant and partner can [view a list of existing and pending links](https://developers.google.com/shopping-content/guides/flagging/list).
3. Merchant [accepts the link](https://developers.google.com/shopping-content/guides/flagging/approve).
4. Either merchant or partner can [remove a link](https://developers.google.com/shopping-content/guides/flagging/remove) at any time.

The [next section](https://developers.google.com/shopping-content/guides/flagging/request) describes how a partner sends a link flagging request.