Articles on: Order editing

Which orders can be edited

Most orders are editable inside your window. Some should not be. Settings → Editing restrictions blocks editing by order tag, product tag, fraud risk, payment status, or fulfillment state. Fulfilled orders are always locked, whatever you set here.

What this does

Editing suits most orders. It causes problems for a few. These settings mark the exceptions.

Where to find it

Settings → Editing restrictions. Every setting here applies store-wide.

Block by tag

Two settings, both tag-based:

Block order edits — Any order carrying one of your order tags
Block product edits — Any order containing a product with one of your product tags

For product tags you also choose what customers see:

Show it, but block edits — the item appears, without controls
Hide it from the customer — the item is not shown at all

Tags are the flexible option. Shopify Flow and your other apps can add tags on their own. So an order locks the moment it meets your rules.

Block items with custom details

Turn on Block edits on items with custom details. This locks any item with added text or a file. Engraving, a gift message, an uploaded photo.

Name the specific fields you want to block, or leave it empty to block every item that has them.

Why: these items go to the workshop early. A change after that means making it again.

Block risky orders

Fraud prevention locks orders that Shopify marks as high risk.

Using a fraud app as well? Connect it under Features → Integrations. Orders it flags are then locked too.

Why: an order can pass checkout, and then the address is changed to somewhere else.

Block by payment and fulfillment state

Restrict customers from editing paid orders — What it does: Orders marked Paid or Partially refunded stay locked — Default: Off
Allow customers to edit partially fulfilled orders — What it does: Editing continues after part of the order ships — Default: Off
Allow customers to edit free items and $0 orders — What it does: Zero-price items and fully discounted orders can be edited — Default: Off

Paid orders matters if your payment gateway takes the money right away. Some do this even when you only meant to hold it. Turn this on and those orders stay locked.

Partially fulfilled orders has two catches, and both are easy to miss:

Discounts are not worked out again
Reverse unpaid order edits does not run. Items a customer adds without paying stay on the order when the window ends.

Leave it off unless you have a reason.

Good to know

Fulfilled orders are always locked. Nothing here changes that. Once an order ships, editing stops.

These are store-wide. They apply to every customer and every feature. To limit a single feature instead, use its own settings — Add items, for example, can be limited by customer tag.

A blocked order looks normal. The customer sees their order with no edit buttons. They are not told why. Add a line to your confirmation email if that causes questions.

Check your tags first. A tag added by another app can lock more orders than you meant. Look at a few real orders before you save.

Troubleshooting

One order cannot be edited, others can — Why: A tag, fraud flag, or payment status matches — Fix: Open the order in Shopify and read its tags
Nothing can be edited — Why: An order tag matches every order — Fix: Check the tag list is what you meant
Customers cannot edit after part shipped — Why: Partially fulfilled editing is off — Fix: Turn it on, and read the two catches above
Free gifts cannot be changed — Why: Zero-price editing is off — Fix: Turn on Allow customers to edit free items and $0 orders
A fraud app's flags do nothing — Why: The app is not connected — Fix: Connect it under Features → Integrations
Personalised items are still editable — Why: Custom detail blocking is off — Fix: Turn it on, or add the property key

FAQ

Why can one customer edit and another cannot?

Compare the two orders. Tags, fraud flags, payment status and shipping state each block editing on their own. Order tags are the usual answer.

Can I block editing for certain customers?

Not directly here. Use customer tags on the individual feature instead — Add items can be limited that way.

Does blocking tell the customer why?

No. They see the order without edit controls and no explanation. Put a line in your confirmation email if that matters.

Should I allow editing on partially fulfilled orders?

Usually not. Discounts are not worked out again. Unpaid extras are never removed. Turn it on only if you split shipments often and accept both.

Do subscription orders work?

Yes. Account Editor handles orders from your online store, draft orders, subscriptions and point of sale. Orders made by another app are skipped.

Updated on: 21/08/2026

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