Feature Request: Archived products should be hidden by default

Shopify Apps

Topic summary

Users are requesting that Shopify change the default behavior of archived products in the admin interface. Currently, archived products appear in the “All” products view and various inventory sections, requiring manual filtering each time to hide them.

Key Issues Identified:

  • Archived products show in main product lists, inventory tabs, collection counts, and ABC product analysis
  • The filter setting doesn’t persist between sessions, requiring repeated manual filtering
  • Archived products appear in third-party apps (bundling, inventory management, wholesale apps)
  • This contradicts the archiving feature’s stated purpose of hiding products from admin view

Proposed Solutions:

  • Make archived products hidden by default (like archived orders)
  • Allow the system to remember filter preferences
  • Add a toggle option to show/hide archived products

Workarounds Shared:

  • Create custom views using the “Create View” button with sales channel filters
  • Use third-party apps like Ultimate Collection Manager (paid solutions)
  • Exclude products with zero inventory in collections

Community Sentiment:
Strong consensus exists that this should be fixed, with frustration growing over the 2+ year timeline since the original request. Users are skeptical Shopify will address this issue, with some considering switching platforms entirely due to this and similar unresolved basic functionality requests.

Summarized with AI on November 2. AI used: claude-sonnet-4-5-20250929.
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Also worth noting that archived (deactivated) products also show up in ANY app that imports products such as bundling apps, multi platform inventory mgmt apps, wholesale apps, and download apps. Suddenly, they’re live products again.

It’s a massive pain in the ass … Such a basic feature … you can rest assured it will NEVER be corrected by Shopify.

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