Shopify Install Auth

---
name: shopify-install-auth
description: 'Install and configure Shopify app authentication with OAuth, session
  tokens, and the @shopify/shopify-api SDK.

  Use when setting up a new Shopify app, configuring API credentials,

  or initializing authentication for Admin or Storefront API access.

  Trigger with phrases like "install shopify", "setup shopify",

  "shopify auth", "shopify OAuth", "configure shopify API".

  '
allowed-tools: Read, Write, Edit, Bash(npm:*), Bash(pnpm:*), Bash(npx:*), Grep
version: 2.7.0
license: MIT
author: Jeremy Longshore <jeremy@intentsolutions.io>
tags:
- saas
- ecommerce
- shopify
compatibility: Designed for Claude Code
---
# Shopify Install & Auth

## Overview

Set up Shopify app authentication using the official `@shopify/shopify-api` library. Covers OAuth flow, session token exchange, custom app tokens, and Storefront API access.

## Prerequisites

- Node.js 18+ (the `@shopify/shopify-api` v9+ requires it)
- A Shopify Partner account at https://partners.shopify.com
- An app created in the Partner Dashboard with API credentials
- A development store for testing

## Instructions

### Step 1: Install the Shopify API Library

```bash
# Core library + Node.js runtime adapter
npm install @shopify/shopify-api @shopify/shopify-app-remix
# Or for standalone Node apps:
npm install @shopify/shopify-api @shopify/shopify-app-express

# For Remix (recommended by Shopify):
npm install @shopify/shopify-app-remix @shopify/app-bridge-react
```

### Step 2: Configure Environment Variables

Create a `.env` file (add to `.gitignore` immediately):

```bash
# .env — NEVER commit this file
SHOPIFY_API_KEY=your_app_api_key
SHOPIFY_API_SECRET=your_app_api_secret
SHOPIFY_SCOPES=read_products,write_products,read_orders,write_orders
SHOPIFY_APP_URL=https://your-app.example.com
SHOPIFY_HOST_NAME=your-app.example.com

# For custom/private apps only:
SHOPIFY_ACCESS_TOKEN=shpat_xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

# API version — use a stable quarterly release
# Update quarterly — see shopify.dev/docs/api/usage/versioning
SHOPIFY_API_VERSION=2025-04
```

```bash
# .gitignore — add these immediately
.env
.env.local
.env.*.local
```

### Step 3: Initialize the Shopify API Library

```typescript
// src/shopify.ts
import "@shopify/shopify-api/adapters/node";
import { shopifyApi, LATEST_API_VERSION, Session } from "@shopify/shopify-api";

const shopify = shopifyApi({
  apiKey: process.env.SHOPIFY_API_KEY!,
  apiSecretKey: process.env.SHOPIFY_API_SECRET!,
  scopes: process.env.SHOPIFY_SCOPES!.split(","),
  hostName: process.env.SHOPIFY_HOST_NAME!,
  apiVersion: LATEST_API_VERSION,
  isEmbeddedApp: true,
});

export default shopify;
```

### Step 4: Implement OAuth Flow (Public Apps)

Express-based OAuth flow that redirects to Shopify and handles the callback token exchange.

See [OAuth Flow](references/oauth-flow.md) for the complete Express route implementation.

### Step 5: Token Exchange (Embedded Apps)

For embedded apps, use session token exchange instead of traditional OAuth:

```typescript
// Token exchange — converts session token (JWT) to API access token
import shopify from "../shopify";

async function exchangeToken(
  shop: string,
  sessionToken: string
): Promise<Session> {
  const { session } = await shopify.auth.tokenExchange({
    sessionToken,
    shop,
    requestedTokenType: RequestedTokenType.OfflineAccessToken,
  });
  return session;
}
```

### Step 6: Custom App / Private App Auth

For custom apps installed on a single store, use a permanent access token with no OAuth needed.

See [Custom App Auth](references/custom-app-auth.md) for the complete setup.

### Step 7: Verify Auth is Working

```typescript
// Quick connectivity test
async function verifyShopifyAuth(session: Session): Promise<void> {
  const client = new shopify.clients.Graphql({ session });

  const response = await client.request(`{
    shop {
      name
      email
      plan {
        displayName
      }
      primaryDomain {
        url
      }
    }
  }`);

  console.log("Connected to:", response.data.shop.name);
  console.log("Plan:", response.data.shop.plan.displayName);
  console.log("Domain:", response.data.shop.primaryDomain.url);
}
```

## Output

- `@shopify/shopify-api` installed and configured
- OAuth flow or custom app auth operational
- Session with valid access token persisted
- Verified connection to the Shopify Admin API

## Error Handling

| Error | Cause | Solution |
|-------|-------|----------|
| `InvalidApiKeyError` | Wrong `SHOPIFY_API_KEY` | Verify in Partner Dashboard > App > API credentials |
| `InvalidHmacError` during callback | Secret mismatch or URL tampering | Check `SHOPIFY_API_SECRET` matches Partner Dashboard |
| `SessionNotFound` | Session not persisted | Implement `SessionStorage` (DB, Redis, or file) |
| `HttpResponseError: 401` | Token expired or revoked | Merchant uninstalled app — trigger re-auth |
| `InvalidScopeError` | Requested scope not approved | Only use scopes from the approved list in your app config |
| `ShopifyErrors.InvalidShop` | Malformed shop domain | Must be `*.myshopify.com` — use `sanitizeShop()` |

## Examples

### Shopify API Access Scopes Reference

| Scope | Grants Access To |
|-------|-----------------|
| `read_products` / `write_products` | Products, variants, collections, images |
| `read_orders` / `write_orders` | Orders, transactions, fulfillments |
| `read_customers` / `write_customers` | Customer data, addresses, metafields |
| `read_inventory` / `write_inventory` | Inventory levels across locations |
| `read_content` / `write_content` | Pages, blogs, articles |
| `read_themes` / `write_themes` | Theme files and assets |
| `read_shipping` / `write_shipping` | Shipping zones, carrier services |
| `read_fulfillments` / `write_fulfillments` | Fulfillment orders and services |

### Storefront API Access

The Storefront API uses a separate token with its own higher rate limits.

See [Storefront API Access](references/storefront-api-access.md) for the complete client setup.

## Resources

- [Shopify Authentication Overview](https://shopify.dev/docs/apps/build/authentication-authorization)
- [Shopify API Access Scopes](https://shopify.dev/docs/api/usage/access-scopes)
- [@shopify/shopify-api on npm](https://www.npmjs.com/package/@shopify/shopify-api)
- [Session Token Reference](https://shopify.dev/docs/apps/build/authentication-authorization/session-tokens)
- [Token Exchange](https://github.com/Shopify/shopify-api-js/blob/main/packages/shopify-api/docs/reference/auth/tokenExchange.md)