Product REST API shows old association between variants and images

Shopify Discussion

Topic summary

Issue: After updating a product variant’s assigned image via the Shopify Admin REST API (PUT on product image), the storefront correctly shows the new image, but a subsequent REST API GET of product images still returns the old variant_ids association.

Observations:

  • PUT request returns the expected response and the visual change is reflected on the storefront when the variant is selected.
  • GET request for all product images shows outdated variant_ids even after waiting several minutes.

Key terms:

  • variant_ids: the field listing which product variants are associated with a given image.
  • REST API PUT/GET: endpoints to update and retrieve product image data.

Open questions:

  • Are GET responses cached, causing stale data?
  • Is there a way to bypass caching or force fresh data?
  • Could this indicate another underlying issue with synchronization?

Status: No resolution yet; the user seeks guidance on caching behavior or troubleshooting steps.

Summarized with AI on January 14. AI used: gpt-5.
1

I’m using the REST API PUT to change the image assigned to a product variant.

I receive the expected response, and the change happens. When refreshing the storefront page the new image is shown when selecting the variant.

But if I later call an API GET of all the images, the “variant_ids” fields still show the previous association, even after waiting several minutes.

Are API results cached somehow? Any way to bypass that? Or is it another issue?

Thanks