Create subscriptions contracts without payment methods
Shopify developer change
MerchantDiff detected this entry in Shopify's official developer changelog on April 01, 2026.
This Shopify update is categorized as API, New, Admin GraphQL API, 2026-04.
What changed
In the API 2026-04 release candidate version, the paymentMethodId field is no longer required when creating a subscription contract using the subscriptionContractAtomicCreate and subscriptionContractCreate mutations. This allows you to migrate subscription contracts even if they have missing or expired payment methods. For implementation instructions, see our docs on how to build a subscription contract.
Who is affected
Apps using the affected Shopify GraphQL API surface should review this change.
What action may be needed
Review whether the new capability is relevant to your app. If you plan to use it, test the affected API or workflow before adopting it in production.
Use the official Shopify entry below as the source of truth for technical implementation details, affected APIs, migration instructions and deadlines.
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