May I ask why the columns on the Shopify admin product page are different today, and why the usual last column for “Vendor” has disappeared? Is it not possible to customize it? It’s very user-unfriendly.
Topic summary
Shopify recently updated the admin product list view, removing the “Vendor” column and other customizable columns without prior notice. This change has significantly disrupted merchant workflows, as users relied on at-a-glance visibility of vendor information for efficient product management.
Key Issues:
- The column customization icon (typically a gear or three-line menu) is not visible for most affected users
- Support confirmed the vendor column was intentionally removed in the update
- No built-in option currently exists to restore this functionality
- Merchants must now click into individual products to view vendor information, adding unnecessary steps
User Impact:
- Increased workload and page loads
- Loss of essential day-to-day operational efficiency
- Excessive blank space remains on desktop layouts despite column removal
Current Status:
Shopify support has acknowledged the feedback and submitted it as a feature request to developers, but provided no timeline for restoration. One user reports using the third-party Ablestar app as a workaround. The community is calling for Shopify to either restore the customization options or provide clear justification for the removal.
9 Likes
Thanks for bringing this up — Shopify has recently updated the admin product list view, and the “Vendor” column may now be hidden by default.
You can re-enable it by clicking the column settings icon on the top right of the product list (usually looks like three lines or a gear), then check “Vendor” to make it visible again. Don’t forget to save the view if you want it to stick.
Also, just to confirm the best possible fix — which theme are you using? This helps determine if there might be theme-related overrides or custom apps affecting the admin display.
Hi - I have the same issue as OP.
Can you provide a screenshot of what the column settings icon should look like as I don’t have anything like that visible on my product list view?
I urgently need to add back our custom ‘product type’ rather than seeing the generic category. I can still filter by this option but I need to be able to see it at a glance.
Thank you.
10 Likes
Hi - I also have the same issue, and I contacted support because I couldn’t see the option to re-add the column. Below is the response.
I looked into our resources and you’re correct that the vendor column has been removed due to the recent update. I do understand how this could be a great addition to your store though, and I thank you for putting this into our attention. What I’ll do is submit this as a feature request to our developers, this way they may check on this and reconsider adding it to Shopify on future updates. Rest assured that we do track and consider all feature requests, I can attest to this as I have seen feature requests that I personally sent become available in Shopify.
We normally announce if there’s a new feature on our platform.
Yes, the support person was correct. It was a great addition that worked until the update. I guess we have to wait until it is re-introduced as a paid feature. This is very disappointing.
8 Likes
The sudden disappearance of the “Vendor” and other columns in the Shopify backend is a significant setback for merchants. Customization is a basic, essential feature for efficient product management, and its absence is disruptive.
- Core Issue: Merchants need an at-a-glance view to manage products effectively. The current reliance on filters is not a viable solution for day-to-day operations.
- Lack of Communication: This change was implemented without prior notice or an option to opt out, leaving merchants unprepared.
- Desktop Layout: The product page now has excessive blank space, making the removal of columns even harder to justify.
I strongly urge Shopify to address this issue promptly by either restoring the “Vendor” column and other customization options or providing a clear explanation for the changes.
This is a critical feature that directly impacts the usability and efficiency of the Shopify admin interface.
Regarding to the theme, my shop is using Kalles version 4.3.1
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Hi, there is no gear or settings button available. As a comment below confirms, the developers did not give us the option to bring this feature back and this is a big problem for many of us.
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I suspect this will again fall on deaf ears, with no solution or even response. However, please undo this change. The vendor column was absolutely necessary for the work I do on my store. Removing it has only added to my workload, as I now have to click into each product to see who the vendor is. This also increases page loads for Shopify, which I’m sure costs them more money as well since everyone else is likely doing the same thing. So I’m not sure what the point of removing the column was at all.
If they’re introducing the ability to customise columns, that’s great! But please introduce the feature either at the same time as, or prior to, removing the features it’s intended to replace.
And for any Shopify reps who might see this: we’re talking about the main product page on Shopify, not on our websites. So our theme doesn’t matter.
9 Likes
What an annoying and useless update. Shopify, please stop “fixing” things for us we didnt ask for.
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I came here to also inquire about this and agree with everyone’s comments on how inconvenient and unnecessary this update is. I also do not have a view of the settings or edit column icons. Please change this back. It’s ridiculous to have to apply filters when the option to view these fields were literally already there. While they’re at it, maybe they can put the large search window back above the product list instead of the small “search and filter” icon clear across the other side of the page. My theme is an outdated Retina theme, but that shouldn’t alter the functionality of the admin dashboard.
10 Likes
Commenting to agree with others that this change was unnecessary, actively harmful to daily work, and frustrating.
Shopify: please bring back these customizations!
I also chatted with a Support Advisor and, when they were unable to restore these columns, requested an escalation. This was their response:
"I want to clarify that while I’m noting your concern for our developers, this isn’t an escalation in the traditional sense.
What this means is that I will bring this issue to their attention, but it doesn’t guarantee an immediate solution or changes to the current functionality. It’s important to understand that the Admin settings are typically fixed and may not be editable at this time."
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Maybe if every one who is annoyed by this update, removing the vendor, they will do somethin about it! It’s so frustrating, why would they remove a vital piece of information!!! Shopify fix this!
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I came here to ask the same question. Why was it removed? What’s the solution? I chatted with support today and they didn’t even appear to know it had been removed until they investigated. Shopify, we need this resolved!
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Put the vendor column back in. It’s a feature WE ALL PAID FOR and rely on, and Shopify made it disappear.
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Please fix this problem, it is adding so many more clicks to an already excessive click situation
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Same issue here ! The decision to remove the Columns button only seems baffling as long as you dont understand we profits from it : third party apps. I now use the Ablestar app to display the vendor in the Products list.
Agreed with the above users. This change has had a negative impact on my workflow and seems completely illogical. Shopify - please please please change it back!
Shopify has recently made updates to the products admin layout, which altered or removed a few columns such as “Vendor.” Usually, you can turn it back on by ticking the checkbox for the column after clicking the column icon (three horizontal lines) on the top right of the PRODUCTS LIST view. If it is not there, try to clear cache or switch to the new/product view.