Shopify’s latest developer changelog removes a long‑standing bottleneck: you no longer need to email support to take an app off the Shopify App Store. With a few clicks in the Partner Dashboard you can schedule a sunset, communicate with your existing merchants, and clean up subscriptions—all on your own timeline. This self‑service option gives developers full control over the end‑of‑life process while keeping merchants informed and protected.
What’s New – Self‑Service Sunset
In the Partner Dashboard, navigate to Apps > Your App > Distribution and you’ll see a brand‑new “Remove from App Store” button. After selecting it, you must choose a sunset date that’s at least 30 days away. Shopify removes the listing instantly, meaning new merchants can no longer discover or install the app, but existing installations stay active until the date you set. The removal is permanent; to relist you must submit the app as a brand‑new submission and undergo a fresh review.
Who Needs to Pay Attention
The change primarily affects app developers and partners who manage public or custom apps on the Shopify App Store. Merchants who have already installed the app are indirectly impacted—they will continue to use it until the sunset date, after which the app will stop functioning. If you’re a merchant who relies on a third‑party app, it’s a good idea to watch for sunset notices from the app’s developer.
Step‑by‑Step: Remove Your App from the Store
Communicating with Existing Merchants
Shopify does not send any emails on your behalf, nor does it cancel charges or uninstall the app. All merchant‑facing communication is your responsibility. Recommended best practices:
• Send an initial sunset announcement as soon as the removal is scheduled, outlining the timeline and suggesting alternatives.
• Follow up with a reminder one week before the sunset date.
• Provide clear instructions for data export or migration if your app stores merchant data.
• Offer support channels (e.g., a dedicated help‑desk email) for merchants to ask questions.
Technical Cleanup: Cancel Subscriptions & Uninstall
Even after the store listing is gone, any active billing or installed instances remain until you act. Use the following GraphQL or REST calls to clean up:
// Cancel a recurring subscription (REST example)
await fetch(https://{shop}.myshopify.com/admin/api/2024-07/app_subscriptions/${subscriptionId}.json, {
method: 'DELETE',
headers: { 'X-Shopify-Access-Token': accessToken }
});
# Cancel a subscription via GraphQL
mutation CancelSubscription($id: ID!) {
appSubscriptionCancel(id: $id) {
userErrors { field message }
appSubscription { id status }
}
}
// Uninstall the app from a merchant store (REST example)
await fetch(https://{shop}.myshopify.com/admin/api/2024-07/app_uninstallations.json, {
method: 'POST',
headers: { 'X-Shopify-Access-Token': accessToken }
});
Run these calls for every active store before the sunset date. If you have a large merchant base, automate the process with a background job that queries the AppInstallation or AppSubscription endpoints, iterates through the list, and performs the cancellations.
What Happens After Removal
Once the sunset date arrives, Shopify automatically disables the app on all stores where it’s installed. Merchants will see an error message if they try to open the app, and any webhook or API calls from the app will stop returning data. Because the removal is irreversible, you cannot simply re‑enable the same app listing; you must submit a new app version as a fresh listing if you decide to bring the functionality back.
Key Takeaways
• The new “Remove from App Store” button gives developers immediate control over app sunsetting.
• A minimum 30‑day sunset window is required—use it to inform and assist merchants.
• Shopify does not handle billing cancellations or uninstallations; you must do it via the API.
• After the sunset date, the app is fully disabled and can only be relaunched as a new submission.
• Communicating early and clearly reduces churn and protects your reputation as a developer.
Ready to retire an app or just want to test the new workflow? Log into your Partner Dashboard today, schedule a sunset, and follow the checklist above to ensure a smooth transition for your merchants. Need help crafting sunset emails or automating the cleanup scripts? Drop a comment or reach out to our developer community—we’re here to help you make the process painless.
