Shopify Flow / AI Toolkit / Developer Changelog

Shopify Flow automations:
create, fix, and stop them by asking an agent

With the AI Toolkit, external agents can now create, update, delete, enable, and disable Flow workflows in your own store. You can also call it from the CLI. Using the API directly requires the Shopify-approved write_automations scope.

On this page
  1. What's changing (in 30 seconds)
  2. How it works: three entry points and Flow
  3. Five operations agents can perform
  4. Comparison by entry point (AI Toolkit / CLI / API)
  5. Getting started (with the AI Toolkit)
  6. Limitations and caveats
  7. 5 key points for developers
  8. 3 business use cases
  9. One-line summary for proposals

1What's changing

Until now, Shopify Flow workflows were built in the Flow editor in the Shopify admin.
Now,you can manage your own store's Flow from external agents via the AI Toolkit.

Before: built by hand in the admin

A person assembles triggers, conditions, and actions on screen in the Flow editor.

Now: ask an agent

Through the AI Toolkit's shopify skill, you can ask an agent to "create this automation" or "stop it." It can also be called from the CLI.

2How it works: three entry points and Flow

① AI Toolkit External agent + shopify skill ② CLI shopify store execute ③ Direct API access write_automations (requires Shopify approval) Flow automation APIs Underlying API Flow workflows in your own store Create / Update / Delete Enable / Disable Get one / List all .flow → JSON conversion / Get tasks and paths Not available for direct use by third-party apps
This release is for managing workflows in your own store. It explicitly states that third-party apps are prevented from using the underlying APIs directly.

35 operations the agent can perform

CRUD

Create, update, delete

Create, update, or delete workflows.

ON / OFF

Activate, deactivate

Activate or deactivate workflows.

READ

Get one or list all

Retrieve a single workflow or a list of workflows.

.flow { } PARSE

Convert .flow files to JSON

Parse .flow files into JSON that can be used directly with the API.

For BUILD

Get automation tasks and environment paths

Retrieve the automation tasks (available tasks) and environment paths (referenceable paths) needed to build a workflow. This tells the agent what it can combine.

4Comparison by entry point (AI Toolkit / CLI / API)

Entry pointHow to usePrerequisitesIntended users
AI Toolkit Ask your agent in natural language Get AI Toolkit running in your agent, then install or update the shopify skill People managing their own store
CLI shopify store execute to call the API directly Not specified (the article doesn't include detailed CLI steps) Developers who prefer the command line
Direct API Call the automation APIs from a Shopify app write_automations Request the scope and getShopify's approval Approved apps

5Getting started (AI Toolkit)

1

Run AI Toolkit in your agent

If you're new to AI Toolkit, first get it running in your agent of choice.

2

Install or update the shopify skill

Existing users may already have the skill available. If not, ask your agent to update it.

3

Ask for automation operations

Ask your agent to perform Flow operations such as creating, updating, or activating workflows.

Prompt from the article (ready to use)

>Install or update the shopify skill from Shopify AI toolkit so that I can manage Flow automations

Meaning: "Install or update the shopify skill from the Shopify AI toolkit so I can manage Flow automations"

6Limitations and caveats

In scope

Your own store only

This release is intended for managing your own store's workflows through the AI Toolkit.

Out of scope

Third-party apps

Third-party apps are prevented from using the underlying APIs directly.

Approval required

write_automations

Using the API directly requires this scope, which needs approval from Shopify.

Supported plans, approval criteria, rate limits, and the list of supported agents arenot covered in the article. For details, check the Shopify Flow help center, developer reference, and automation APIs documentation.

75 key points for developers

skill

1. The main entry point is the AI Toolkit shopify skill

Flow management features are included in the shopify skill. Existing AI Toolkit users may be able to get started just by updating the skill.

2. The CLI is shopify store execute

A CLI is provided for calling the API directly without going through an agent. It's an easy entry point to build into scripts.

3. Direct use is restricted by an approval-gated scope

write_automations is a scope that requires Shopify's approval. Third-party apps are prevented from using it directly, sodon't design around shipping this as a feature of a public app.

{}

4. Migrate existing assets via .flow → JSON

There's an operation that parses .flow files into JSON usable by the API. It bridges existing workflow definitions into API-based management.

5. Fetch tasks and paths first to learn the available building blocks

Because automation tasks and environment paths can be fetched, an agent can check which tasks are available and which paths it can reference before creating a workflow.Fetch → create → activateis the natural sequence. Since creating and activating are separate operations, you can add a review step before turning a workflow on.

83 practical use cases for your business

USE CASE 1

Ops staff build automations "in plain language"

Problem
There are automations they want, but they aren't comfortable assembling triggers, conditions, and actions in the Flow editor, so creating them keeps getting put off.
Approach
Describe what you want to an agent with the AI Toolkit shopify skill installed and have it create the workflow.
Impact
Even without Flow editor experience, it becomes easier to start building automations.
Technical note
Creating and activating are separate operations. It's safer to review the workflow via a list or single fetch after creating it, then activate it.
.flow { }
USE CASE 2

Bring local .flow files under API management

Problem
Workflow definitions exist as local .flow files, but changes are applied manually in the admin.
Approach
Parse the .flow file into JSON, then use that JSON to create or update the workflow.
Impact
You can manage workflow definitions as files and apply them from agents or the CLI.
Technical notes
With the CLI, use shopify store execute to call the API directly. The article doesn't cover the .flow file format or the JSON schema details, so check the developer reference.
USE CASE 3

Audit and pause workflows in bulk

Challenge
As workflows pile up, it's hard to tell which ones are running. You may also want to pause some of them temporarily, for example during a sale.
Approach
Have an agent fetch the workflow list and summarize their status, deactivate the ones you want to stop, then activate them again after the period ends.
Impact
You no longer have to toggle workflows one by one in the admin, and it's harder to forget to switch one back on or off.
Technical notes
Activate and deactivate are separate operations. You can also delete workflows you no longer need.

9One-line summary for proposals

"Through the AI Toolkit, Shopify Flow automations can now becreated, fixed, and paused by agents.
It works only on your own store and can also be called from the CLI. Direct API use requires write_automations , which Shopify must approve."