metafieldDefinitionUpdate missing ability to update validations

Topic summary

Main issue: Updating metafield validations via the Admin GraphQL API appears inconsistent. The Shopify frontend uses an internal MetafieldDefinitionEditMutation that accepts a validations array (e.g., choices list), but using validations with the public metafieldDefinitionUpdate mutation can throw errors.

Requests and impact:

  • Developers ask for parity between Create and Update inputs so validations (e.g., choices for a list of single_line_text_field) can be added/modified without recreating definitions.
  • Current limitations force deleting/recreating definitions and potentially wiping existing product data.
  • Calls to make the internal Edit mutation or equivalent capabilities publicly available.

Workarounds/observations:

  • One user reports successfully updating the choices list using metafieldDefinitionUpdate.
  • Removing validations is possible by setting validations to an empty array .

Status:

  • No official confirmation or roadmap shared. Mixed reports suggest partial/unstable support for updating validations via the public API.
  • Open questions: Will Admin API fully support updating/removing validations, or expose the Edit mutation? Clear guidance needed on supported patterns for validations changes.
Summarized with AI on January 13. AI used: gpt-5.

Looks like i figure out how to remove the validations. need to be set as an empty array