Unsupported apps

Some of the apps that you use on your store might stop working because of changes to Shopify's APIs. When an app in your store uses an unsupported API, a notification is shown in your Shopify admin. You can manage an unsupported app by contacting the app's developers or by finding a new app in the Shopify App Store to replace it. Learn more about managing unsupported apps.

If an app that you've already installed becomes incompatible with your store, then you'll get an app notification in the Shopify admin that explains what store settings are incompatible with the app.

How apps become unsupported

An app becomes unsupported if the app's developers don't keep it up to date with changes to Shopify's APIs. An API (application programming interface) is a system that allows apps to communicate with Shopify. The apps that you install on your store use Shopify APIs to get and update data on your store and help you run your business.

New versions of Shopify APIs are released every three months. These versions can introduce new features or change and remove existing features. Each version of a Shopify API continues to work for a year before app developers must update their apps to use a newer version.

If a certain version of a Shopify API introduces a change that breaks an app, then we notify the developer of that app, and they have 9 months to update it. After 9 months, if the developer doesn't make the required changes, then the app becomes unsupported and might stop working as expected.

Managing unsupported apps

The developer of an unsupported app is responsible for updating their app. There are different ways to reach out to the app developer that depends on the type of app you're using.

Shopify notifies the developers of public apps and custom apps about breaking changes early, so that they have time to update their apps before they become unsupported.

If an app that you're using becomes unsupported, then you can contact the developer and request that they update the app. You can also look for other apps on the Shopify App Store in case you can't reach the developer, or you need to replace the app that you're using.

Because these apps are maintained by third-party developers, Shopify can’t make any changes or update these apps for you.

Unsupported custom apps

When you create a custom app in the Shopify admin, you associate a staff or collaborator account with it. To make sure the developer is getting these warnings, you can view and update the account associated with the custom app on the custom app's App settings page.

When a custom app that you're using becomes unsupported, you should contact the developer of that app to request that they update it. You should also forward any warnings that you get to the app developer as soon as you get them.

If you don’t have a contact email for your developer, or you don't know who developed a custom app created in your Shopify admin, then contact Shopify Support. If you can't contact the original developer of the app, then you can hire a Shopify Partner to help you make the required changes.

Learn more about hiring a Shopify Partner.

If a custom app becomes unsupported, and you aren't using it or don’t plan to update it, then you can delete the app to dismiss the warning in your Shopify admin.

Unsupported sales channels

Shopify notifies the developers of any third-party sales channels about breaking changes early so that they have time to update them before they becom unsupported.

If a sales channel you're using becomes unsupported, then contact the developer and ask them to update it. If you can't reach the developer, then you should uninstall the sales channel.

Because these sales channels are maintained by third-party developers, Shopify can’t make any changes or update these apps for you.

Installing unsupported apps

If you try to install an app that's unsupported, you might see a warning that the app might not work properly, or that you won't be able to install it. You can contact the developer to ask them to update the app, or you can look for other apps on Shopify App Store.

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