Shopify has introduced a new 'Unlisted' product status, offering merchants greater flexibility in managing product visibility. This feature allows products to be accessible via direct links while remaining hidden from general searches, recommendations, and sales channels. This update aims to provide more granular control over how products are discovered and sold on the platform.
Key Takeaways
- New 'Unlisted' Status: Products can now be set to an 'Unlisted' status.
- Selective Visibility: Unlisted products are hidden from store search, recommendations, collections, sales channels, internet searches, and Shopify Catalog.
- Direct URL Access: Customers can still access unlisted products if they have a direct URL.
- API Integration: The status is available through the 2025-10 GraphQL Admin API, REST Admin APIs, and Webhooks API.
- Storefront API & Liquid: Unlisted products will appear in Storefront API and Liquid only when referenced individually by handle, ID, or metafield reference.
- Backward Compatibility: Older versions of Admin APIs will display unlisted products as 'ACTIVE'.
Deeper Dive into the 'Unlisted' Status
The 'Unlisted' status provides a nuanced approach to product management. Merchants can leverage this to offer exclusive items, manage pre-launch products, or control access to specific inventory without completely removing them from their online store.
This new status is integrated into Shopify's core APIs, including the GraphQL Admin API, REST Admin APIs, and the Webhooks API, ensuring seamless integration for developers and merchants utilizing these tools. For storefront interactions, the 'Unlisted' status means that while the product won't appear in general browsing or search results, it remains accessible to anyone possessing its unique URL.
Furthermore, the 'Unlisted' status will be reflected in the Storefront API and Liquid templates, but only when a product is specifically queried using its handle, ID, or a metafield reference. This ensures that while the product isn't broadly discoverable, it can still be programmatically accessed or displayed in targeted scenarios.
It's important for merchants to note that previous versions of Shopify's Admin APIs will continue to report unlisted products with an 'ACTIVE' status. This distinction is crucial for maintaining compatibility with existing integrations and workflows.
