If you see “Deleted product variant” on a subscription order, it means the product variant was deleted in Shopify. The subscription can still be processed, but fulfillment apps may encounter issues since the product variant ID is no longer available.
When does this happen?
This typically happens when:
A product variant in Shopify is deleted (not just out of stock).
If you add a variant to a product that originally had none, Shopify deletes the original product and re-creates it with the new variants.
If you replace a product variant with a similar one and delete the old one, assuming subscriptions will auto-match.
What should I do if a subscription has a deleted variant?
If you run into this issue, you’ll need to manually update the subscription to swap the deleted variant for your new one. For multiple subscriptions, you can use Skio’s Bulk Operations tool to reassign affected subscriptions to the correct, active variant.
If you replaced the original variant with a new one, the bulk operations tool makes it easy to map subscriptions to the replacement variant. Learn how to swap a deleted product variant in existing subscriptions with Bulk Operations in our guide here.
Does Skio block orders with deleted variants from processing?
No, Skio does not block orders with deleted variants. This behavior aligns with how Shopify handles deleted variants. When a variant is deleted in Shopify, the object is no longer accessible via the API, but the variant ID still exists. This lets you use Skio’s bulk operations tool to reassign subscriptions from the deleted variant to a new one.
Can Shopify still process orders with deleted variants?
Yes, Shopify allows processing of orders with deleted variants if those orders were created before the variant was deleted.
Orders retain the original variant details.
You can fulfill, refund, or manage these orders in the Shopify admin.
However, you cannot modify the deleted variant or its details.
How are deleted variants different from a product being “out of stock”?
A deleted variant is permanently removed from Shopify’s product catalog. It’s not the same as an item being out of stock, which is controlled by inventory settings.
Out of Stock | Deleted Variant |
|---|---|
Still exists in Shopify | No longer exists in Shopify |
Controlled by Inventory Policy | Not controllable, must be resolved manually |
Skio can still reference the variant | Skio can’t access the variant apart from its ID, but the order will still process. |
How to prevent this in the future
Avoid deleting product variants if they're tied to active subscriptions.
If you need to change a product variant, use Skio’s bulk operations tool to do a bulk swap instead of deleting and recreating the product.
Set up internal workflows to review changes in your Shopify product catalog.