Shopify CLI Deprecates —force Flag for App Deployment Commands

Shopify is deprecating the --force flag on the shopify app deploy and shopify app release commands in the Shopify CLI. The flag will be removed completely in a CLI release scheduled for May 2026.

What Changed

The --force flag currently skips all confirmation prompts during app deployment and release processes. Shopify is removing this flag because it bypasses safety checks for both low-risk operations like adding or updating extensions and high-risk operations like deleting extensions that can permanently remove data from installed shops.

The platform previously introduced the --allow-updates flag as a more targeted alternative that handles low-risk operations without exposing merchants to data loss risks.

Impact on Development Workflows

Developers using --force in CI/CD pipelines or automated deployment scripts need to update their workflows before May 2026. The blanket approach of skipping all confirmations will no longer be available.

Teams should audit their deployment automation to identify where --force is currently used and evaluate whether --allow-updates provides sufficient functionality for their use cases. For operations involving extension deletions, manual confirmation will be required to prevent accidental data loss on production shops.

Migration Path

Developers should replace --force with --allow-updates for automated deployments that only add or modify extensions. For workflows that include extension deletions, teams will need to implement explicit confirmation steps or separate these high-risk operations from automated processes.

The 18-month deprecation window provides time to adjust deployment tooling and internal processes before the flag is removed from the CLI.

Read the full announcement →