"GrapQL error: Invalid input" when selecting protected customer data

Shopify Apps
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Topic summary

Encountered “GraphQL error: Invalid input” when saving Step 1 (“Select your data use and reasons”) for Protected Customer Data in the Shopify Partners dashboard, blocking Customer object access in GraphiQL during app development (Shopify CLI Remix template).

Observed behavior:

  • Save fails with a red error but appears applied after refresh; status remains “draft.”
  • “Last updated” date seems incorrect; no approval email received.

Key terms:

  • GraphQL: query language used with Shopify Admin API; GraphiQL: in-browser IDE for GraphQL.
  • Protected Customer Data (PCD): gated access requiring declared data use and partner approval.
  • Event version (API version): app configuration setting (e.g., 2024-04) that affects compatibility.

Actions and outcomes:

  • Updating app “Event version” to the latest (2024-04) allowed saving PCD without the error and enabled customer endpoint queries.
  • Despite this, the PCD request still shows “draft.”

Alternative fix reported:

  • Completing the partner profile (add first and last name) can prevent the save error.

Current status:

  • Error resolved and customer queries work; approval remains in “draft,” with timing/next steps unclear.
  • Discussion suggests configuration and profile completion as fixes; formal approval process status is still open.
Summarized with AI on December 28. AI used: gpt-5.
1

I created an app using shopify cli in visual studio code with the remix template (and installed it on a development store). When I tried to make a graphQL request via the GraphiQL URL that was generated when running “npm run dev” command in visual studio code I got “This app is not approved to access the Customer object.” and a link to the partners dashboard for the current app. (My usecase is that I need to acces a specific metafield for multiple customers that is tagged with a specific tag).

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But when I try to do step 1 “Select your data use and reasons”, as I’m pressing the save button a red box appears at the bottom of the screen saying “GraphQL error: Invalid input” and my selection isn’t saved.

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But when I refresh the page the selection seems to have updated after all. But it still says “draft” and it’s been several days and no email from what I can tell.And it says last updated Mar 29, but I just now changed the selection, so that is also strange.

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What am I doing wrong, or is this some kind of bug? I have been googling for an eternity and I’m not able to find a solution to my problem, I am in much need of some assistance.

2

OMG, I don’t know if this will fix it for anyone else but in the partners dashboard under “configuration” (after selecting your app in your app list), then under “Event version” make sure that the latest is selected (as of now it’s 2024-04). I noticed that mine wasn’t set at the lastest and I changed that. After that I tried to save the changes for my protected customer data and I DID NOT recieve the error mentioned above, Instead I got a message saying it saved. But it is still marked as a draft for me. I just though that I should post this just in case this was the issue

EDIT- And now I can make queries for customer endpoints, YES!

3

For some reason if your profile isn’t complete, it gives error.

Add you first name and last name in profile. Then go back and save customer data protection step 1 and it won’t give error.