Shopify & DecoNetwork Integration Part 1: Prepare Your Shopify Store for DecoNetwork Integration

Before connecting your Shopify store to DecoNetwork (DN) for order fulfillment, several setup steps must be completed in Shopify. These steps ensure that DecoNetwork can securely connect to your store, access product data, and receive orders for production.

The first step is to create a Shopify Partner account using your existing Shopify merchant login. This gives you access to the Shopify Dev Dashboard, where new custom apps are now created and managed.

One of the most important steps in this process is creating a Shopify custom app. This app provides the secure connection used by the DecoNetwork integration.

Starting January 1, 2026, Shopify no longer allows the creation of new legacy custom apps. New custom apps must now be created and managed in the Shopify Dev Dashboard. Existing legacy custom apps will continue to work, but any new setup must follow the current Dev Dashboard workflow.

This guide (Part 1 in the Shopify integration series) walks you through the complete Shopify-side setup required before connecting your store to DecoNetwork, including creating your Partner account, setting up the custom app, and preparing your products for fulfillment.

In this article

• Prerequisites
• Why prepare Shopify before connecting to DN?
• Step 1: Create a Shopify Partner account
• Step 2: Open the Partner Dev Dashboard
• Step 3: Create a new custom app
• Step 4: Configure API permissions
• Step 5: Install the app on your Shopify store
• Step 6: Create product metafields for production files
• Step 7: Upload design files to products
• Step 8: Configure product inventory for the DN location
• Step 9: Set up shipping methods & rates to match DN
• Best-practice tips
• Troubleshooting
• FAQs
• Additional resources

Prerequisites

Why prepare Shopify before connecting to DN?

• Accurate production mapping: Metafields ensure front/back designs are correctly linked to DN decoration areas.
• Seamless fulfillment flow: The custom app securely passes orders to your DN FC.
• Inventory correctness: Products must be stocked at the DN location for Shopify to assign fulfillment properly.
• Transparent shipping: Aligning Shopify rates with DN avoids margin surprises and customer confusion.
• Faster onboarding: Doing these steps now prevents rework and integration delays later.

Step 1: Create a Shopify Partner account

Before you can create a new custom app in the Shopify Dev Dashboard, you need access to a Shopify Partner account. If you already have a Shopify merchant account, you can use that same login to create your Partner account instead of creating a separate login.

Once your Partner account is created, you can use the Shopify Dev Dashboard to create the custom app required for the DecoNetwork integration.

1. Open your web browser and go to the Shopify Partners website. On the landing page, click Become a partner on the left or the Sign up in the top-right corner.

   

   On the Shopify Partners landing page, click Become a partner or Sign up to begin creating your Partner account.

2. On the Create an account page, enter the email address for your existing Shopify merchant account, then continue.

   

   Use your existing Shopify merchant account email so your store and Partner access stay connected under the same account.

3. Enter your existing Shopify merchant account password, the click Log in.

   

   Use your existing Shopify merchant account password so your store and Partner access stay connected under the same login.

   When prompted with How would you like to get started as a partner?, click Create and set up a new partner organization.

   

   Select Create and set up a new partner organization to create your own Partner workspace.

    

4. On the What’s your main focus as a Shopify partner? screen, select Build apps, then click Next.

   

   Select Build apps so Shopify sets up the Partner account for app development tools.

5. Choose your Country/region and, if required, your State, then click Next.

   

   Enter your business location details so Shopify can configure your Partner organization correctly.

6. Enter your business contact details, including:

   • Business name
   • Address
   • City
   • Zip/postal code
   • Business email address

   Then tick the checkbox to accept the Partner Program Agreement and click Create partner organization.

   

   Complete the business details form, accept the agreement, and click Create partner organization.

7. After the Partner account is created, Shopify opens the Partner Dashboard. From here, you can continue to the app development workflow needed for the DecoNetwork integration.

   

   After setup is complete, the Shopify Partner Dashboard opens. You are now ready to create the custom app.

Step 2: Open the Partner Dev Dashboard

1. In the left sidebar of the Partner Dashboard, click App distribution.

   

2. On the App distribution page, click Visit Dev Dashboard.

   

   The Dev Dashboard opens in a new tab.

   

   The developer tools on the Dev Dashboard allow you to create private apps that can securely connect your Shopify store to external systems like DecoNetwork.

Step 3: Create a new custom app

1. From the partner Dev Dashboard, click Create app located above the top-right of the Apps panel.

   

   A screen will appear allowing you to configure the app.

   

2. In the Start from Dev Dashboard section, enter a name for your app in the App name field.

   Example: DecoNetwork Fulfillment

   

3. Click Create.

   Shopify will create the new app version and open the Create a version configuration page.

   

4. In the URLs panel, enter your DecoNetwork website URL in the App URL field.

   
5. Untick the Embed app in Shopify admin checkbox.

Step 4: Configure API permissions

Before installing the app, you must grant the API permissions required by the DecoNetwork integration.

1. On the app configuration page, in the Access panel, click Select scopes located above the top-right of the Scopes box.

   

   A scope selection window opens over the page.

   

2. Scroll through the Admin API permissions list and tick the scopes required for the DecoNetwork integration:

   • read_assigned_fulfillment_orders
   • write_assigned_fulfillment_orders
   • read_fulfillments
   • write_fulfillments
   • read_inventory
   • write_inventory
   • read_locations
   • write_locations
   • read_merchant_managed_fulfillment_orders
   • write_merchant_managed_fulfillment_orders
   • read_orders
   • write_orders
   • read_product_listings
   • read_products
   • write_products
   • read_shipping
   • write_shipping

   Only enable the permissions required for the integration. Granting unnecessary permissions can reduce security.

3. After selecting the required permissions, click Done in the bottom-right corner of the selection window.

4. Scroll to the bottom of the app configuration page and click Release on the right to publish the version.

   A confirmation dialog titled "Release this new version?" appears.

   

5. Leave the optional fields blank and click Release in the confirmation dialog.

   After releasing, Shopify returns you to the Versions page, where the new version is shown as Active.

   

Step 5: Install the app on your Shopify store

After configuring permissions, the app must be installed on your Shopify store before it can access the API.

1. In the sidebar of the Partner Dev Dashboard, click on the name of the app you just created.

   

   The app Overview page will be loaded.

   

2. In the Distribution panel at the right, click Select distribution method.

   

   Shopify opens the Distribution setup page in a new tab. Here, you will see distribution options.

   

3. Select Custom distribution.

   This option is used to generate a private install link for your store.

4. Click the green Select button in the bottom-right of the Distribution box.

   

5. Click Select custom distribution in the confirmation popup.

   

6. Shopify then opens the Custom distribution form.

   

7. In the Store domain field, enter your Shopify store domain, for example your-store.myshopify.com.

   If you are using a Shopify store domain, you will find your Shopify store domain in the settings section of your Shopify admin (in the top left corner, beneath your store name).

   

   If your store uses a custom domain, find your Shopify store domain

   If your Shopify store uses a custom domain (for example, www.yourbrand.com), you will still need to use your store’s Shopify store domain when connecting to DecoNetwork.

   The Shopify store domain always ends in .myshopify.com. This is the internal domain Shopify assigns to your store and is required when setting up integrations such as DecoNetwork.

   Note: Even if customers access your store through a custom domain, the DecoNetwork integration must use the .myshopify.com store domain.

   How to find your Shopify store domain

   1. Log in to the Shopify Admin of your merchant account.
   2. In the bottom-left corner, click Settings.
   3. Click Domains.
   4. Locate the domain that ends with .myshopify.com. This is your Shopify store domain.
   5. Copy this domain and paste it into the Store domain field.
   The Shopify .myshopify.com domain can be found in Settings → Domains in the Shopify Admin.
   Tip: The store domain will look similar to yourstorename.myshopify.com. Use this exact domain when connecting Shopify to DecoNetwork.
8. Untick the Allow multi-store install for one Plus organization checkbox, unless you use Shopify Plus and need the app installed across multiple stores within the same organization.

9. Click Generate link.

   

10. Click Generate link in the confirmation popup.

    

    Shopify creates the install link for the specified store.

    

11. Click Copy next to the custom distribution install link.

    

12. Open a new tab and paste the install link URL, then press Enter.

    Shopify opens the app installation page for your DecoNetwork store.

    

13. On the Install app page, click Install to approve the installation.

    

    You will be redirected to your DecoNetwork store.

    

14. Close your DecoNetwork store tab and return to the Dev Dashboard to see the newly installed app.

    

Step 6: Create product metafields for production files

When setting up products in Shopify for fulfillment in a DN FC, it’s essential to configure metafile information that stores the design files used in production. These file metafields enable your designs in Shopify to be automatically matched to the correct decoration areas, namely the front and back, of the blank products in your DN store. Proper product configuration is crucial for smooth fulfillment, as explained in detail in our article "Configuring Products for DecoNetwork Fulfillment in Your Shopify Store." In this tutorial, we’ll walk you through the steps to create and configure these file metafields in your Shopify store.

1. Log in to the Shopify Admin of your merchant account.

2. In Shopify Admin, click Settings in the sidebar

   

3. Select Metafields and metaobjects from the settings options.

   

   

   Click the image to enlarge.

4. Select Products from the Metafield definitions list.

   

5. Click the Add definition button in the Product metafields definitions page.

   

   Create a metafield definition for product files.

   Shopify opens the metafield definition.

   

   Metafield configuration settings

   Properly setting up these metafields is essential for ensuring that DN can accurately map your design files to the correct areas of your products. Be sure to configure the validation rules to meet the specific requirements of your FC. Verify what file formats are supported in the FC and configure the validation rules accordingly. This step is critical; if the metafields are not set up correctly, it can cause delays in the design mapping process and potentially slow down production, as you will have to complete the mapping manually later on.

6. Enter a Name for your metafield that reflects its purpose, such as "Front Decoration File."

   Shopify will suggest a namespace and key below the Name field after you have entered a name. This helps in identifying and accessing the metafield later.

   

   If you enter a name that is not unique, the Namespace and Key field will become visible.

   

7. Enter a Namespace and key, if needed.

   Specify a unique namespace and key for your metafield using the format namespace.key. The namespace groups related metafields, while the key identifies the specific field within that group. Always separate the namespace and key with a period (.). For example, dn.front_decoration_file, where dn is the namespace and front_decoration_file is the key.

8. Click on Select type in the Type field and choose "File" from the list of options. This will allow you to upload design files.

   
9. Click Add description to display the Description field.

10. Enter a Description in the Description field.

    

    Add a description to clarify the purpose of this metafield, such as "File for front decoration" or "File for back decoration."

11. Set the validation rules.

    

    • Select the Any file type option if the product can be decorated with graphic and embroidery designs.

      

    • Select the Media files only if the product can only be decorated with graphic designs.

      

12. Click Save in the top toolbar to create the metafield definition.

    

Step 7: Upload design files to products

Upload the production-ready artwork into the metafields you created. These files are for production (not store visuals) and will be matched by DN during fulfillment.

1. Go to Products in the Shopify admin panel of your merchant account and select a product.

   

   

   Click the image to enlarge.

2. Scroll down to the Product metafields section on the product page.

   

   

   Click the image to enlarge.

3. Upload Files. For each metafield you created:

   • Click on the metafield.

     

   • Click Select file and choose the design file you want to add from your computer.

     

     Attach the correct production file to each metafield.

   Verify supported file formats and resolution requirements with your DN FC before uploading. Correct specs reduce manual mapping and speed up production.

4. Click Save in the top toolbar to apply the metafield file uploads.

Step 8: Configure product inventory for the DN location

For a product in Shopify to be eligible for fulfillment through DecoNetwork, its inventory must be properly configured. A crucial step is ensuring that the product is stocked at the location assigned to your DecoNetwork Fulfillment Center.

When trying to send an order to DecoNetwork, Shopify references the product’s inventory location. If the product is not stocked at the designated fulfillment location, Shopify will not be able to push the order to DecoNetwork for processing.

1. Log in to the Shopify Admin of your merchant account.

2. Go to Products in the Shopify admin panel and select the product you want to configure inventory for.

   

   

   Click the image to enlarge.

3. Scroll down to the Variants section on the product page.

   

   

   Click the image to enlarge.

4. Tick the Variant checkbox at the top of the variants list.

   

5. Click on the Bulk edit button.

   

6. For each SKU, double-click in the cell of the DN store location's Available column or On hand column.

   Make sure the Stock at this location checkbox is ticked.

   

   

   Confirm stock is tracked at the DN fulfillment location.

   Click the image to enlarge.

   After applying "Stock at this location" to the first SKU, you can quickly apply to other SKUs by clicking and dragging the bottom right corner of the blue selection box to cover all SKUs you want to apply the setting to.

   

7. Click Save to update the settings.

Step 9: Set up shipping methods & rates to match DN

DN does not directly sync Shopify shipping rates. You will need to manually create Shopify shipping profiles, zones, and shipping rates that mirror the methods and fees configured in DN.

1. Open your web browser and go to your Shopify merchant account Admin page.

2. Click on Settings in the bottom-left corner of the admin dashboard.

   

3. Select Shipping and delivery.

   

   

   Click the image to enlarge.

4. Click on Create custom profile in the Shipping panel.

   

5. Enter a name for the shipping profile in the Profile name field.

   

6. Click on Add products.

   

7. Select all the products that you want to be fulfilled in DN.

   
8. Click Done.

9. Click Save.

   

10. Click on the new profile you have just created.

    

11. Click on Add shipping zone at the bottom of the Fulfillment Locations panel.

    

    The Create new shipping zone popup is displayed.

    
12. Enter a name for the shipping zone in the Zone name field.
13. Select the countries and regions that you want to include in the zone.
14. Click Done.

15. Below the zone that you just created, click Add rate.

    

    The Add rate popup is displayed.

    

    Add rate popup.

16. Configure the settings to create a shipping rate that matches a rate offered in DN
17. Click Done, then click Save.

Best-Practice tips

• Use the same login for Shopify and Partner accounts: Always create your Shopify Partner account using your existing Shopify merchant login. This ensures seamless access between your store and the Shopify Dev Dashboard without needing to switch accounts.
• Create only one Partner organization per business: Avoid creating multiple Partner organizations unless required. Keeping everything under one organization simplifies app management and access control.
• Confirm Partner Dashboard access before proceeding: Make sure you can access the Partner Dashboard and see options related to app development before attempting to create your custom app.
• Use clear naming for your custom app: Choose a name that identifies the app as being used for DecoNetwork integration (e.g., DecoNetwork Integration) to avoid confusion later.
• Grant only required API permissions: When configuring the custom app, assign only the permissions needed for DN to function correctly to maintain security best practices.
• Keep metafield naming consistent: Ensure metafield names and namespaces match exactly with DN requirements to prevent production file issues.
• Align shipping methods with DecoNetwork: Make sure Shopify shipping rates closely match those configured in DN to avoid discrepancies during order import.

Troubleshooting

I don’t see the option to create a custom app in Shopify

• Solution: Make sure you have created and are signed in to your Shopify Partner account. Custom apps are now created via the Shopify Dev Dashboard, which requires Partner access.

I accidentally created a Partner account with a different email

• Solution: Log out and sign back in using your Shopify store owner email, then access the Partner Dashboard. Using multiple logins can cause access and permission issues during setup.

Cannot install the custom app

• Ensure the app has been created successfully in your Partner account before attempting to install it.

FAQs

Do I need a Shopify Partner account to create a custom app?

Yes. As of January 1, 2026, all new custom apps must be created through the Shopify Dev Dashboard, which requires a Shopify Partner account.

Can I use my existing Shopify login for the Partner account?

Yes. It is recommended to use your existing Shopify merchant login when creating your Partner account so both your store and Partner Dashboard are linked under the same credentials.

What if I already have a Partner account?

If a Partner organization already exists for your login, Shopify may skip parts of the setup process. You can proceed directly to creating your custom app in the Dev Dashboard.

Can I still use a legacy custom app?

Existing legacy custom apps will continue to function, but Shopify no longer allows the creation of new legacy apps. All new integrations must use the current Dev Dashboard workflow.

Why did Shopify remove legacy custom apps?

Shopify replaced legacy custom apps with the Developer Dashboard process to improve API security, standardize app management, and provide better long-term support for integrations.

Can I create multiple custom apps for my store?

Yes. A Shopify store can have multiple custom apps installed. However, it is recommended to create separate apps only when necessary to keep API access organized.

Can I edit permissions after the app is created?

Yes. You can return to the app configuration page and adjust API scopes. After changing permissions, you may need to reinstall the app for the changes to take effect.

Additional resources

• Shopify & DecoNetwork Integration Part 2: Enabling Integration in DN
• DecoNetwork Shopify Integration FAQ
• Configuring Products for DecoNetwork Fulfillment in Your Shopify Store
• Overview of DecoNetwork’s Fulfill Shopify Orders
• Configuring Automatic or Manual Fulfillment in Shopify