App-owned metaobjects can be used without access scopes
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
App-owned metaobjects, identified by types such as $app:example, including those created using declarative metaobject definitions, can now be utilized by their owning app without requiring any access scopes. This change simplifies the process for developers by eliminating the need to request additional access scopes, thereby reducing potential merchant friction. If you are considering using declarative metaobjects in your app, you can now proceed without worrying about additional access scope requests. Ensure you are using Admin API version 2026-04 or later to read or write app-owned metaobjects without the need for additional access scopes. Working with merchant-owned metaobject types still requires specific access scopes, such as read_metaobjects or write_metaobject_definitions, to be granted.
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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