My Shopify connection says read-only
If your dashboard shows a banner that says Shopify connection is read-only — reconnect Shopify to grant write access, here's what it means and how to fix it.
Why it happens
Every Shopify connection made before 2026-04-22 was created with a read-only scope. Those tokens can pull your catalog and order history so the Today list stays grounded, but they can't write back to Shopify. A confirmed SAGE action that would change alt text, an SEO title, or a product meta description will therefore stop with a clear error rather than silently fail.
Starting 2026-04-22, new Shopify connections request write_products in the OAuth scope so supported catalog actions work immediately after you confirm them. Existing connections need a one-time reconnect to upgrade their token.
How to fix it
- Click Reconnect Shopify in the dashboard banner. (You'll also see a Reconnect button on the Shopify tile in your Connections panel.)
- You're sent to Shopify, which shows the updated scope request including write access for products.
- Click Update app. Shopify upgrades the permissions on the existing app install — you don't have to re-enter your store subdomain or re-install anything.
- You land back on the dashboard. The banner is gone, and the Shopify tile now shows Connected (write).
Nothing else changes. Your Today-list history, completed work, and connections to other providers are all preserved. Only the Shopify token is swapped for a higher-privileged one.
What the banner doesn't mean
It doesn't mean your connection is broken. The Today list still grounds itself in Shopify data. It doesn't mean your data is at risk — SAGE never writes back to Shopify without you confirming that specific action. The banner appears because the next supported Shopify change would need the updated permission.
If the reconnect flow fails
The most common cause is the Shopify store subdomain having changed since the original connection, or the original installer no longer being an admin on the Shopify store. Disconnect and reconnect from scratch in that case — your Today-list history is preserved either way.