Heads Up! Your Shopify Metafields Just Got a Privacy Upgrade (Action May Be Required!)

Introduction

Remember all that talk about simplifying metafield access on Shopify? Well, the future is officially here, and it brings a significant shift for how your apps interact with metafields and metaobjects. As of May 19, 2025, public access for app-owned metafields and metaobjects through the Admin GraphQL API has been disabled.

This isn't a drill, folks! If your custom app relies on other applications being able to read or write to your app-owned metafields and metaobjects, you've got some crucial steps to take.

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What Exactly Happened?

In a nutshell, Shopify has tightened the reins on data access for app-owned metafields and metaobjects. Here's the breakdown of the changes across all API versions:

• Goodbye PUBLIC_READ_WRITE, Hello MERCHANT_READ_WRITE: Any metafields or metaobjects you previously set to PUBLIC_READ_WRITE are now automatically configured as MERCHANT_READ_WRITE. This means they are still accessible to the merchant and their storefront, but not to other apps by default.

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• PUBLIC_READ Becomes MERCHANT_READ: Similarly, if your metafields or metaobjects were PUBLIC_READ, they are now MERCHANT_READ. The same principle applies – accessible to the merchant and storefront, but not publicly to other apps.

Why the Change?

This move is all about enhancing security and simplifying data access management within the Shopify ecosystem. By restricting public access to app-owned metafields and metaobjects, Shopify is ensuring that data remains within the intended scope of your app and the merchant. It encourages more intentional and secure data sharing practices.

Okay, So What's the "Action Required" Part?

This is where you come in! If your app's functionality depends on other applications being able to access the metafields or metaobjects that your app owns, you must migrate them.

The key is to understand the difference between a reserved namespace and a custom namespace:

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• Reserved Namespace: This is the namespace automatically assigned to your app when you create metafields or metaobjects. With the new changes, anything in your app's reserved namespace is now effectively privatized to your app and the merchant.

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• Custom Namespace: This is what you need! A custom namespace allows for broader access options. By moving your metafields and metaobjects to a custom namespace, you can then define the desired access levels for other apps.

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In simpler terms: If you want other apps to see or modify your app's data, don't keep it in your app's "private" reserved attic. Move it to a "shared" custom room!

What Do You Need to Do?

Identify Affected Metafields/Metaobjects: Go through your app's code and identify any metafields or metaobjects that were previously set to PUBLIC_READ_WRITE or PUBLIC_READ and are intended for access by other applications.

Migrate to a Custom Namespace: For these identified metafields and metaobjects, you will need to:

• Create new metafields/metaobjects in a custom namespace. Make sure this namespace is unique and descriptive (e.g., my_app_shared_data).
• Migrate existing data from your app's reserved namespace to the newly created metafields/metaobjects in the custom namespace.
• Update your app's code to interact with the new custom namespace.

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Define Access: Once in a custom namespace, you can then configure the appropriate access settings (e.g., READ_WRITE, READ) for other applications as needed.

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You can find more details about the update from Shopify here:

https://shopify.dev/changelog/public-access-for-app-owned-metafields-and-metaobjects-is-now-disabled

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Don't Delay!

While the change officially happened on May 19, 2025, proactive migration is crucial to avoid any disruptions to your app's functionality or your users' experience. This is a positive step towards a more secure and streamlined Shopify ecosystem, but it requires your attention.

Make sure to reach out to the developers of any third party apps your store is using that might be affected!

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