Why returnable Fulfillments GraphQL Query is not working for fulfilled order?

Shopify Plus

Topic summary

A developer is encountering a blank response when attempting to query returnable fulfillments for an order using Shopify’s GraphQL API.

Their workflow:

  • Create order from admin
  • Fulfill the items
  • Mark order as delivered
  • Attempt to run returnableFulfillmentsQuery

The issue: The query consistently returns empty results despite following what appears to be the correct process.

Proposed solution: One respondent suggests that the Shopify API only returns fulfillments that haven’t been fully processed yet. The developer may need to initiate a return for the order first before the returnableFulfillments query will populate with data.

Current status: The issue remains unresolved, with the developer seeking clarification on where their process might be incorrect. This appears to be their first time implementing return functionality in Shopify.

Summarized with AI on November 1. AI used: claude-sonnet-4-5-20250929.
1

I am attempting to create a return using the query below after fulfilling an order, but I keep receiving a blank response.

First i am creating a order from admin, fulfilled the items and then mark the order as delivered and then i am trying to run a return fulfilment but every time i am getting blank response.

Could you please help me identify where I might be going wrong? This is my first time processing a return.

Here’s a reference image for your review:

mwoptimize · Shopify GraphiQL App · Shopify (1).png
mwoptimize · Shopify GraphiQL App · Shopify (1).png1608×906 81.5 KB

query returnableFulfillmentsQuery {
  returnableFulfillments(orderId: "gid://shopify/Order/1", first: 10) {
    edges {
      node {
        id
        fulfillment {
          id
        }
        # Return the first ten returnable fulfillment line items that belong to the order.
        returnableFulfillmentLineItems(first: 10) {
          edges {
            node {
              fulfillmentLineItem {
                id
              }
              quantity
            }
          }
        }
      }
    }
  }
}
2

Initiate a return for the Order. Shopify API will only return Fulfillments that have not been fully processed