What's New in Shopify: Winter '25 Technical Updates Explained
Shopify's latest release marks a new milestone with over 150 technical improvements. These updates touch everything from API endpoints to platform architecture and substantially improve the platform's capabilities for both developers and merchants.
The Winter Edition 2024 packs major technical upgrades. Merchants can now benefit from automated tax filing, better fulfillment logic, and custom category metafields. The platform also has Shop Campaigns available on all plans and lets users customize their checkout process through the Checkout Blocks app.
This technical overview will get into the key platform changes, API updates, function modifications, and performance improvements that developers should know. We'll also look at integration requirements and compatibility factors that are the foundations of keeping your system running smoothly.
Key Platform Architecture Changes
Our technical analysis starts with the basic changes to Shopify's platform architecture. These modifications show a radical alteration in how developers work with and build upon the platform.
Updates to API Endpoints and Structures
The platform now uses a unified GraphQL approach as its main API interface. This change brings better data querying efficiency and integration flexibility. Key changes include:
- Complete GraphQL Admin API coverage for store management
- Streamlined theme file operations through unified endpoints
- Better documentation for REST to GraphQL migration
- Dynamic scaling support for larger cart operations
Performance Optimization Improvements
Performance metrics show major improvements across key user touchpoints. The cart infrastructure loads 50% faster, and the admin interface loads pages 25% faster. The platform also offers:
- Product pages load checkout buttons 58.8% faster
- Checkout customizations load asynchronously
- Cart capacity now handles up to 200 items
- Global storefronts have better query response times
Security Enhancement Implementation
The security framework has become stronger through several major updates. A new role-based access control (RBAC) model marks a big step forward in user management and operational security. The platform also has:
- Advanced encryption protocols to protect sensitive data
- Better tools to manage customer consent
- Better compliance tools for global data protection standards
- Unified fulfillment logic across all platforms
The platform connects smoothly with third-party tools and services through our API-centric approach. This includes enterprise systems like SAP, NetSuite, and Microsoft Dynamics, along with specialized services for tax calculation and fraud prevention.
Yes, it is these architectural changes show our steadfast dedication to maintaining a reliable and expandable platform. The updates focus on improving immediate data syncing and enabling dynamic responses to customer interactions through our better webhook and Functions APIs.
Critical API Updates and Deprecations
Let's get into the major changes coming to Shopify's API infrastructure. Our latest update represents a radical alteration in how developers interact with the platform.
New API Endpoints and Features
We have made several notable improvements to our API functionality. The platform now supports nullable minimumRequirement fields for both DiscountAutomaticBasic and DiscountAutomaticFreeShipping objects. We have also boosted our bulk operations with a new BulkOperationUserError object type that features an additional code field to handle errors better.
Key improvements include:
- Multiple hold placements on fulfillment orders
- Native support for HTTP request body as JSON_body
- Product handle uniqueness validation
- Better metafield administration capabilities
Deprecated API Endpoints
The REST Admin API has been marked as legacy since October 1, 2024. All new development should focus on GraphQL implementation. These endpoints are being phased out:
- PriceRule allocation methods
- Customer selection endpoints
- Entitled collection IDs
- Legacy shipping country endpoints
Migration Requirements and Deadlines
Here's our clear timeline for API transitions:
Organizations created after April 2025 will only use GraphQL for custom apps. Developers should note that all new public apps submitted to the App Store after April 2025 must employ GraphQL exclusively.
We have implemented field mappings within REST to help developers locate equivalent operations in GraphQL. This change makes the transition process smoother and reduces potential implementation challenges.
We maintain support for previous API versions for a minimum of 12 months. Developers have at least nine months of overlap between consecutive stable versions to test and migrate their applications effectively.
Here's what we recommend:
- Review current API implementations
- Identify deprecated endpoints in use
- Plan migration timeline
- Test GraphQL equivalents
- Implement updates systematically
These changes show our steadfast dedication to providing a more unified development experience. GraphQL as our standard API will enable precise queries, reduce overhead, and improve performance across the platform.
Function and Extension Updates
The latest Winter '25 release brings major improvements to Shopify Functions and Extensions with better capabilities and more integration options.
Changes to Shopify Functions
We've expanded our Functions capabilities by a lot. Our discount functions now support up to 25 automatic discounts, up from the previous limit of 5. The input query performance has doubled to 128kb. Functions can now handle carts with over 200 items.
Draft orders are now part of Functions. Your customizations built using Shopify Functions naturally apply to draft order checkouts. This gives users consistent experiences across different order types.
Extension Framework Improvements
The Extension framework has received major updates. Developers can create custom return flows with the new Customer Accounts Return API. We've added these key improvements:
- B2B customer account extensions supporting features like:
- PDF invoice downloads
- Quote workflow management
- Admin UI extensions for discount apps with Shopify-hosted UI
Plus subscribers can now use checkout UI extensions with draft orders. This creates a unified experience across all order types, including draft orders when using API version 2024-07 or later.
Implementation Guidelines
Here's how to make the most of these updates:
- Function Implementation
- Set up automatic discounts within the new 25-discount limit
- Make input queries work better
- Test draft order integrations really well
- Extension Development
- Use Shopify-hosted UI for discount apps
- Add customer account extensions for returns
- Set up B2B-specific features as needed
Function execution limits now scale based on cart size for those with over 200 lines. This helps larger operations work better while keeping the system efficient.
The new admin extensions with Shopify-hosted UI remove the need for separate application infrastructure. This makes development easier and helps maintain consistent performance across the platform.
Developer Tool Enhancements
Our developer toolkit has grown better to help our developer community's changing needs. Let's look at the most important improvements to our core development tools.
CLI Tool Updates
We rebuilt our Command Line Interface (CLI) to work better and be more user-friendly. We added function logs and replay features right into the CLI to help build and debug Shopify Functions faster. The input size limit for Functions has doubled to 128kb, which stops problems when you work with bigger cart sizes.
The CLI now has:
- Better function debugging features
- Better asset management
- More efficient development workflows
Development Environment Changes
The development environment now gives users a more complete experience. The Theme CLI runs faster and works with GitHub-based theme editing in Visual Studio Code. This blend creates an uninterrupted development experience for our developers.
Here are the improvements we made:
The .dev Assistant now supports threads, which helps share context and refine queries better. This makes REST to GraphQL use cases easier and helps switch between API types smoothly.
New Testing Capabilities
The testing infrastructure now has advanced features to prove applications right and debug them. The platform supports:
- Function testing with bigger cart capacity
- Handles up to 200 line items
- Works with 25 automatic discounts
- Better debugging tools
- Function logs in CLI
- Replay features for testing
- Better error reporting
We added complete documentation and better guidance for GraphQL implementations. The references now have detailed query filters with a user-friendly design. We also added endpoint mappings to help developers find matching operations when moving from REST to GraphQL.
The Hydrogen framework now supports more features like gift cards and optimistic variant switching. These improvements make our headless commerce solutions stronger and more adaptable for developers who build custom solutions.
We launched the Built for Shopify (BFS) achievement standard to ensure quality. This certification will give applications that meet our platform's quality standards the ability to deliver reliable, secure, and adaptable solutions to merchants.
These tool improvements show our focus on developer efficiency and code quality. The changes match our steadfast dedication to providing a strong development environment that helps with both simple and complex implementation needs.
Performance Impact Analysis
Our Winter '25 release shows amazing results with better performance across the platform. Let's look at how these technical improvements have made things better for both users and our systems.
Frontend Performance Metrics
Recent measurements reveal outstanding improvements in how customers experience our platform. Cart loading runs 50% faster, which makes shopping much smoother. Customers now see checkout buttons load 58.8% faster on product pages. This speed boost makes buying products much easier.
Our improved cart system delivers these benefits:
- Global storefronts now have lower query times
- Checkout loads smoothly with async customization
- Better handling of larger cart operations
Backend Response Time Improvements
We made our backend systems faster across the platform. The original admin page loads 25% quicker because we improved how code bundles load. Desktop navigation runs 12.5% faster while the Shopify app shows a 60% speed boost.
Resource Utilization Changes
Our work on resource optimization has made the system much more efficient. The platform handles big operations better and scales dynamically for carts with over 200 items. In spite of that, we managed to keep the system stable while adding new features.
We improved our analytics with:
- Live performance tracking
- Better ways to explore data
- Faster reporting speed
These improvements removed skeleton screens during page changes. This reduces visual clutter and makes the Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS) metric better. The system only sends essential bundles needed right away, which uses resources wisely.
Merchants who work with multiple tabs will notice the admin runs smoother without slowing down. Most merchants can launch the Shopify app in under two seconds, which shows a huge improvement in mobile speed.
Time to First Byte (TTFB) numbers prove our platform sends data in less than a second. This creates a strong foundation for smooth buying experiences. Studies show retail websites that load fastest consistently get more sales.
Integration and Compatibility
Shopify's Winter '25 Edition comes with major updates to how we handle integrations and what's needed for compatibility. These changes will affect both developers and merchants in several ways.
Third-party Integration Updates
The platform now works better with external platforms through better fulfillment and delivery options. We expanded our fulfillment system to handle orders from places like Facebook and Amazon. Merchants can now manage every type of order from one dashboard.
Here are the main improvements we made:
- Better B2B workflows with Customer Account Extensions
- New self-serve options in customer accounts
- Better category metafields that filter more precisely
- More features in Klarna payment integration
Version Compatibility Matrix
API version compatibility is vital to keep everything running smoothly. Here's how our versioning system works:
We support each stable version for at least 12 months. This gives developers enough time to update their applications without any disruption.
Required System Updates
The system updates focus on better performance and security. Here are the key changes you need to make:
- API Version Requirements:
- Switch to new GraphQL product APIs by February 2025
- Use only GraphQL for new apps after April 2025
- Complete custom app migration by April 2025
- Integration Requirements:
- New fulfillment logic setup
- Updated customer account extensions
- Different metafield settings for categories
B2B merchants can now use Customer Account Extensions that add powerful workflows and self-serve features. These changes turn customer account pages into central hubs for B2B buyers and reduce support team workload.
The Search and Discovery app works much better now. This free tool helps customers find products faster with better filtering options.
Merchants can now set up automated workflows through Shopify Flow to target specific audiences with their marketing. This helps create experiences tailored to each customer.
We've added automatic tax calculations and reporting systems. Shopify Tax now works in the EU and UK markets. It handles VAT calculations, tracks liability, and manages invoicing.
App developers should note our new compatibility rules. Public apps must work with supported API versions to stay in the Shopify App Store. Custom apps need regular updates to work with the latest features.
The Winter '25 Edition makes the entire Shopify ecosystem work better together. These updates give developers and merchants a simpler experience while keeping everything secure and fast.
Conclusion
Shopify's Winter '25 release brings the most important technical advancements to the platform. These updates are the foundations of GraphQL API adoption that boost performance metrics and expand development capabilities.
The platform delivers clear improvements:
- 50% faster cart loading
- 58.8% faster checkout buttons
- 25% quicker admin page loads
- Support for up to 200 cart items
- Better security through new RBAC implementation
Developers need to watch the critical migration deadlines. GraphQL adoption becomes mandatory by April 2025. This change works with expanded Function capabilities and better developer tools to create a more productive environment.
MLVeda helps developers and merchants apply these technical updates successfully. Our team provides specialized Shopify development support whenever you need it.
These platform improvements show Shopify's steadfast dedication to technical excellence and security. Better integration capabilities, stronger performance metrics, and expanded development tools propel development on the platform.
FAQs
Q1. What are the key performance improvements in Shopify's Winter '25 update? The update brings significant performance enhancements, including 50% faster cart loading, 58.8% faster checkout buttons on product pages, and 25% quicker initial admin page loads. The platform now also supports carts with up to 200 items and offers improved query latency for global storefronts.
Q2. How does the Winter '25 release affect API usage for developers? Shopify is transitioning to GraphQL as the primary API interface. By April 2025, all new apps must use GraphQL exclusively. Developers need to migrate to new GraphQL product APIs by February 2025, and custom apps must complete migration by April 2025. The REST Admin API will be considered legacy from October 1, 2024.
Q3. What changes have been made to Shopify Functions in this update? Shopify Functions now support up to 25 automatic discounts, up from the previous limit of 5. The input query capacity has doubled to 128kb, allowing Functions to handle carts with over 200 items. Additionally, Functions are now integrated with draft orders, ensuring consistent experiences across different order types.
Q4. Are there any new developer tools introduced in the Winter '25 release? Yes, the CLI tool has been rebuilt with enhanced functionality, including integrated function logs and replay capabilities for faster building and debugging of Shopify Functions. The Theme CLI now offers improved speed and GitHub-based theme editing capabilities in Visual Studio Code. There's also an enhanced .dev Assistant with thread support for better context sharing and query refinement.
Q5. How does the Winter '25 update improve third-party integrations? The update expands integration capabilities, particularly in fulfillment and delivery settings. It now supports orders from various sources like Facebook and Amazon, allowing merchants to manage all order types from a single dashboard. The platform also introduces enhanced B2B workflows with Customer Account Extensions, improved category metafields for precise filtering, and expanded Klarna payment integration.
