Update Customer language (locale) with Shopify Flow & Send HTTP Request

Shopify Plus
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Topic summary

Main issue: Update the customer “locale” (notification language) via Shopify Flow after customer imports default to English.

What was tried:

  • Flow “Send HTTP Request” to Admin GraphQL customerUpdate. Early attempts had syntax errors (duplicate fields, missing customer id, missing bracket). A working Postman example was shared, and a Flow-safe mutation noted (avoid Liquid {{ }} conflicts).
  • Despite Flow showing “succeeded,” locale didn’t change—likely due to using an app API token where errors aren’t surfaced (GraphQL returns 200 with userErrors). Scopes/privacy permissions for customer data were suspected.

Resolution (latest update):

  • Use Flow’s “Send Admin API request” action instead of “Send HTTP Request.”
    • Select the customerUpdate mutation and provide only the variables (e.g., {“input”:{“id”:“{{ customer.id }}”,“locale”:“sv”}}).
    • No URL or API key needed; avoids token/scope issues.
  • Confirmed working: tagged customers’ locales updated (e.g., to Swedish), and notifications send in the correct language.

Notes:

  • “locale” controls the language of customer notifications.
  • Screenshots showed Flow runs succeeding; images not required to apply the fix.

Status: Resolved. Remaining uncertainty only around the prior token/scope/privacy cause.

Summarized with AI on December 16. AI used: gpt-5.
21

You mean this:

I’d recommend creating an API key for the shop (Settings / App and sales channels / develop apps / create an app) and make sure that API key can read and write customers.

It’s what I did.

22

I think what is happening here is you need a privacy permission for that API key to access any customer data, but there doesn’t appear to be a way to get it via the UI. Or there is some scope issue. I could be wrong…without shop data I can’t really troubleshoot further. Mind if I convert this into a support ticket?

23

Sure it can be converted to a Support Ticket.

Thanks,

24

Looks like the community doesn’t have that feature any more…I think you need to submit the support ticket. Provide them with a link to this thread, a link to your workflow, and we should be good to investigate further.

25

Hi Paul!

I’ve found this solution and I’m trying to install for a client who has a need to amend all customer notifications to Swedish (sv). I’m nearly there with your solution i think, but to be honest confused as to where I find the URL of the HTTP request? Can you please assist?

26

Just use Send Admin API request now. It doesn’t require a URL or API key. Just select customerUpdate and enter the variables part (you’ll see the full JSON when you select that mutation…you can hand edit that to remove optional fields you don’t need)

27

THANK YOU SO MUCH! This has worked a treat and all customers tagged are now in the right language for their notifications