---
title: >-
  Storefront API now returns errors when adding a gift card to a cart with
  missing or invalid recipient details - Shopify developer changelog
description: >-
  Shopify’s developer changelog documents all changes to Shopify’s platform.
  Find the latest news and learn about new platform opportunities.
source_url:
  html: >-
    https://shopify.dev/changelog/posts/storefront-api-now-returns-errors-when-adding-a-gift-card-to-a-cart-with-missing-or-invalid-recipient-details
  md: >-
    https://shopify.dev/changelog/posts/storefront-api-now-returns-errors-when-adding-a-gift-card-to-a-cart-with-missing-or-invalid-recipient-details.md
metadata:
  effectiveApiVersion: 2026-01
  affectedApi:
    - displayName: Storefront API
      handle: storefront-graphql
  primaryTag:
    displayName: API
    handle: api
  secondaryTag:
    displayName: Update
    handle: update
  indicatesActionRequired: false
  createdAt: '2025-10-29T14:49:09-04:00'
  postedAt: '2025-12-19T12:00:00-05:00'
  updatedAt: '2025-12-15T10:23:02-05:00'
  effectiveAt: '2025-10-31T12:00:00-04:00'
---

December 19, 2025

# Storefront API now returns errors when adding a gift card to a cart with missing or invalid recipient details

DateDecember 19, 2025

Version[2026-01](https://shopify.dev/changelog?api_version=2026-01)

FlagsUpdate

SurfacesAPI

Affected APIs[Storefront API](https://shopify.dev/changelog?api_type=storefront-graphql)

As of API version `2026-01`, the Storefront API returns a `GIFT_CARD_RECIPIENT_INVALID` error when adding a gift card to a cart with missing or invalid recipient details, such as in [this example](https://shopify.dev/docs/storefronts/themes/product-merchandising/gift-cards#create-a-form-to-collect-recipient-information).

Previously, when adding a gift card to a cart using either the `cartCreate` or `cartLinesAdd` mutations, an empty cart and empty `userErrors` would be returned if any of the recipient details were invalid, such as a missing email address. With this change a `GIFT_CARD_RECIPIENT_INVALID` error is returned for both [`cartCreate`](https://shopify.dev/docs/api/storefront/2026-01/mutations/cartcreate#returns-userErrors.fields.code.GIFT_CARD_RECIPIENT_INVALID) or [`cartLinesAdd`](https://shopify.dev/docs/api/storefront/2026-01/mutations/cartlinesadd#returns-userErrors.fields.code.GIFT_CARD_RECIPIENT_INVALID) mutations, so that you can use the information to surface gift card recipient errors back to the client.