Removing deprecated PRIVATE and PUBLIC_READ enums on metaobject definitions

Shopify Deprecates PRIVATE and PUBLIC_READ Enums in MetaobjectAdminAccess

Shopify has deprecated two values in the MetaobjectAdminAccess enum: PRIVATE and PUBLIC_READ. The platform confirms these values are obsolete and no longer returned by the API.

What This Means for App Developers

The deprecation removes ambiguity in metaobject access control. According to Shopify, the deprecated values “do not accurately reflect the intended access behaviors,” which could lead to confusion when developers work with metaobject definitions through the Admin API.

Metaobjects allow merchants to create custom data structures in Shopify. The MetaobjectAdminAccess enum controls who can access these definitions, making it a critical component for apps that create or manage custom data types.

Action Items and Implications

Shopify states no immediate code changes are required. The deprecated values are already absent from API responses, meaning apps currently receiving metaobject data will not encounter these enums.

However, developers should audit their codebases for any hardcoded references to PRIVATE or PUBLIC_READ in MetaobjectAdminAccess contexts. Removing these references prevents potential issues if the values are fully removed in a future API version.

Apps that create metaobject definitions programmatically should verify they use the current, supported enum values. Developers can check the Admin API documentation for the complete list of valid MetaobjectAdminAccess values.

This update follows Shopify’s pattern of cleaning up deprecated API elements to maintain a clearer, more predictable developer experience across API versions.

Read the full announcement →