Unpublished App May no longer can not de installed

[dhara_gajjar]

Hi There,

We got the email today regarding the Unpublished App as below:

Effective immediately, merchants may no longer install your unpublished app due to inactivity. Merchants may only install Public or Custom apps directly from Shopify.

We (Klevu) have a couple of Unpublished apps (attaching screenshot in zip) and we use them for QA/UAT env but to use them for QA, we install those apps on stores created within the same partner account. So After this change, will we be able to utilise the unpublished App, if not, please suggest how we would be able to perform the QA further?

Regards

Tejas / Klevu

[Auspient]

We got the same email and use our app in the same way. I'm also unclear on how to proceed. Our app simply reads and writes data from the Shopify API to perform fulfillment services for a select group of our clientele.

[Judah]

We have the same questions since we use the api to fulfill orders for our clients. we could create an unlisted listing but it's a private app that is not for use of the general public.

[FinerWorks]

We are in the same situation. We have users that install it their account on our website so they can we can retrieve their orders for fulfillment. The app is "unpublished" so I think we just need to switch it over to a "custom" app but I can't figure out how to change an unpublished app and make it a custom app.

[Lachlan2]

We also use our app only for pulling data from the client.

I have been trying to go through the review process and it is very painful. It makes no sense that I need icons, screenshots, public facing descriptions for an app that is not public!

To add to that, we need to provide an admin section where the app can be configured (and installed by anyone which for us is a problem as our app should only be installed by our clients).

They also insist that we use the Polaris styleguide, which is hard as it is built on React and our app isn't.

What is everyone's plan here? Custom app might be the way to go but it's a pain in the ass to install for our clients.

[edwardupton]

I agree with Shopify's policy to remove unlisted apps. We also use our app for data syncing but it's more secure and reliable for stores if it is reviewed by Shopify.

But the issue Klevu, Littledata and others have raised is that we can't test our UAT/ staging apps even on our partner test stores. This is a blocker for any serious software developer.

[John_Schulz]

We have the same problem.  The dev version of our app is, of course, unpublished.  I saw messaging from Shopify saying that customers would no longer be able to install unpublished apps but I was certainly not aware this would pertain to our own dev stores.

We are testing and getting ready to roll out an enormous app change.  Lots of small things to test.  How do you propose we do this now...?

Is there a solution to this problem yet???

[John_Schulz]

Ok, so it looks like we found a solution that does work.  You can create a new app in your partner account and choose to create it as a Public app.  You will not have to actually submit for app approval.  I had to create a new app, couldn't use the existing one.  But no code changes are necessary, aside from the new app API key and API secret key.

It was also suggested to me by partner support chat that if we don't need the Billing API or the need to install it on multiple stores, there is a new type of app status:  Custom Apps that are much like the old Private App.  That might work as well.

Hope this helps someone else out there!

[IODrDave]

John - Wanted to follow up on your solution. Will a Custom App that doesn't use the Billing API still work after the old unpublished apps are deprecated at the end of June?  Or did you have to switch to using the Billing API?

[jschulz]

Hello @IODrDave I believe it should still work but not 100% sure since we migrated the newly created app to be our main published app (and yes it does use the Billing API).

[JoshHighland]

I agree. Very confusing. 

We also use a QA version of our app, on a development store with test data.

I'm wondering is they mean that unpublished apps will not be able to be installed on non-development stores.

There has to be a way to create apps without publishing them.

The messaging around this is not as clear as it should be.

[edwardupton]

This is really poor development relations from Shopify. I understand they want to limit unapproved apps but we all need test / staging apps for QA.

Also they announced this change would happen later in 2022... and then went ahead anyway.

Why can't they just restrict unapproved apps to affiliate / development stores?

[jagthedrummer]

This is a huge problem. How are we supposed to have a development and/or QA version of the app if we can't install it anywhere?

[Oky]

Are there any updates from Shopify on some of the use cases presented here?

[PlusApps]

I am getting this message when try to test(normal to test any shopify app development) the app on the dev store! Shopify is getting crazy!