Error 402 CLI on Shopify dev account

Retired Boards Appdev Authentication

Topic summary

Issue: After switching from a trial shopify.com account (where CLI worked) to a shopify.dev account using the same email, running the Shopify CLI command to develop a theme consistently returns “[402] API request client error” after the browser login step.

Context: User created a new store under the dev account and attempts to run shopify theme dev --theme https://shopify-dev-site.myshopify.com. The command opens the login flow, but the CLI fails with the 402 error.

Technical note: Shopify CLI (command-line interface) is used to develop themes locally. The error code 402 is reported by the API as a client error in this scenario.

Expectation: Dev accounts should allow theme development without payment info.

Status: No resolution yet. User is asking what causes the 402 error and what steps are needed to restore a working dev environment.

Central artifact: The exact CLI command is key to understanding the failure.

Summarized with AI on January 23. AI used: gpt-5.
1

Hi All,

I initially created a normal shopify.com account, and was able to get up and running editing via the CLI.

However after the trial ended, i realised shopify.dev exists - So signed up there with the same email address.

Ive logged out, and back in with the Shopify CLI - Created new stored under the dev account, but whenever running:

shopify theme dev --theme https://shopify-dev-site.myshopify.com

It opens the browser to login, as expected, but then in CLI it always returns [402] API request client error.

Its a dev account to create new dev themes etc, so shouldnt need any payment info.

Whats happening here? And what steps do I need to take to get the dev environment running correctly again?