Shopify adds install thresholds and identity checks to App Store listings

Shopify has updated its App Store submission and listing policies, adding thresholds that developers must meet to submit apps and keep them listed. The changes, published November 10, 2026, apply to new app submissions, resubmissions of rejected apps, requests to list additional apps, and listed apps with zero installs.

The update makes four changes. Each existing app must have at least 10 installs on full-priced Shopify stores before a developer can list an additional app. Rejected submissions now face escalating cooldown periods, so each repeated rejection lengthens the wait before resubmitting. Identity verification is also a required step for developers submitting new apps, so merchants can see who is behind the software they install. Finally, apps with zero installs after six months are automatically removed from the Shopify App Store.

Shopify says the goal is to ensure that the apps listed in the store are the apps merchants actually use.

Why it matters

The rules raise the bar for developers who rely on listing several apps or resubmitting quickly. Merchants should see fewer unused or abandoned listings over time. Developers with low-adoption apps now face a real risk of automatic removal.

What to do

Developers should confirm they meet the adoption and identity verification requirements before submitting or resubmitting, and make sure any cooldown has ended. Review install counts for listed apps to spot any at risk of removal. Check the App submission review guide and the App usefulness check documentation on Shopify’s developer site for exact details.