Clarification please: Deprecated API usage prevents store from having more than 100 variants?

Retired Boards Appdev New Graphql Product Apis

Topic summary

Clarification on whether using deprecated REST product APIs blocks a store from raising the per‑product variant limit beyond 100. Shopify staff confirms it does not: the store’s variant limit can be increased, but any custom/private apps still on deprecated REST will not function with products having more than 100 variants until they migrate to GraphQL.

Key context: “Variants” are product configurations (e.g., size/color). REST is the older Admin API; GraphQL is the newer, supported API.

Unanswered details:

  • Whether Shopify uses thresholds/heuristics (e.g., no deprecated calls for a period) before raising limits, or if apps must be uninstalled.
  • Any theme code patterns that would prevent limit increases.
  • Whether Storefront API requires changes beyond Admin API alignment.
  • If product options (more than 3) can increase independently of the variant limit.
  • Availability of reports to identify apps/themes making deprecated calls, especially for third‑party custom apps without token access.

Outcome/action: Only clear guidance is to migrate affected apps to GraphQL to support >100 variants.

Status: Open; several implementation questions remain unresolved.

Summarized with AI on December 16. AI used: gpt-5.
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In the docs it says:

Custom apps built on REST that do not need to support more than 100 variants can continue to use the deprecated REST product APIs, however it is important to note:> > …> > -Any merchant using custom apps built with these deprecated APIs will not be able to increase their variant limit past 100.

Does that mean if a store has any custom/private apps that are calling deprecated REST APIs, that Shopify will not increase their variant limit beyond 100?

If so, are there any thresholds/heuristics like Shopify checks that no deprecated API calls have been made for a week and then it increases the variant limit? Or does that app need to be uninstalled?

Similar question for theme code. Is there any specific theme code Shopify is looking for that will prevent the increase?

Also, I didn’t see any changes mentioned for the Storefront API. Seems like just need to follow the Admin API changes and it’s similar for the Storefront API or are there other changes needed?

If variants can’t be increased due to any of the above, are options still increased 3+? Or options is only increased if variants are increased?

Is there any report we can check for custom apps & themes that can make it easier to see which apps need to be updated? Mainly thinking of apps that we may not have developed and don’t have access to the access token to review the deprecated API calls report.

Thanks

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Bump

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Hi @etrolmos

Does that mean if a store has any custom/private apps that are calling deprecated REST APIs, that Shopify will not increase their variant limit beyond 100?

No

-Any merchant using custom apps built with these deprecated APIs will not be able to increase their variant limit past 100.

This means that the (merchants) app will not work with products that have more than 100 variants until they migrate to GraphQL

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