Troubleshooting Shopify App Visibility Problems After Switching App Models


Troubleshooting Shopify App Visibility Problems After Switching App Models


If you're a Shopify app developer, transitioning your app from one model to another—like from a custom app to a public one, or from a public to a custom/private model—can lead to unexpected visibility issues in the Shopify admin, App Store, or even in the merchant's dashboard.

If you’ve made the switch and now your app doesn’t appear where it should, here’s a complete breakdown of what you might be missing.

Understanding Shopify App Models

Before diving into the visibility issues, it's important to clarify the three main types of Shopify apps:

  • Public Apps: Listed on the Shopify App Store; available to all merchants.
  • Custom Apps: Built for a single Shopify store without needing Shopify approval.
  • Private Apps (now deprecated): Previously used for custom integrations, being phased out in favor of custom apps.

Common Visibility Issues After Model Shift

1. App Not Showing in App Store

If you converted your custom/private app to a public one:

  • Make sure the app is approved by Shopify and is actually published.
  • Check if your Shopify Partner dashboard shows the app status as “Published.”
  • Confirm that listing details like description, media, and pricing are complete and accepted.

2. App Not Visible in Merchant Admin

Even if your app is live, it may not show up in the merchant’s admin dashboard because:

  • The app wasn’t re-installed after switching models.
  • The Shopify OAuth scopes were changed and not correctly re-authorized.
  • You're testing using an unlisted/unapproved app, which might need a direct install link.

3. App Install Link Errors

When the app model changes, the install URL may change:

  • If you previously used a custom/private install link, you’ll now need a public install URL.
  • Make sure your app's redirect_uri and whitelisted URLs in the partner dashboard match the new setup.

4. App Store Search Visibility

  • After making a public app, Shopify's App Store SEO and indexing takes time.
  • It may take up to 48 hours for your app to appear in search results.
  • Ensure your keywords, categories, and tags are properly configured.

What You Might Be Missing

Here’s a checklist of what developers commonly overlook when switching app models:

  • Re-submitting the app for approval (required when changing from custom/private to public).
  • Updating API scopes to match the new app type.
  • Clearing old OAuth tokens and generating new ones.
  • Testing install flows in a different development store.
  • Not informing existing users about the switch—manual reinstallation may be needed.
  • Not checking App Bridge integration for embedded apps.

Best Practices When Switching Shopify App Models

  • Back up app settings and user tokens before the change.
  • Notify existing users via email or in-app message if reinstallation is needed.
  • Document all redirects and webhook endpoints that may have changed.
  • Use Shopify’s recommended app structure and follow their app review guidelines closely.

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