Create apps using the Dev Dashboard

The Dev Dashboard provides a simplified interface for creating apps and integrating them with the Shopify admin. This makes it the best choice for quick integrations, such as connecting an existing system to Shopify.

Anchor to What you'll learnWhat you'll learn

In this tutorial, you'll learn how to do the following tasks:

• Create and configure a new app using the Dev Dashboard
• Install your app on a dev store
• Authenticate your app to make API requests

Anchor to RequirementsRequirements

• You're a user with app development permissions.
• You're using the latest version of Chrome or Firefox.

Anchor to Step 1: Create a new appStep 1: Create a new app

You can create a new Shopify app right from your Dev Dashboard.

1. From the Dev Dashboard, be sure you're on Apps in the left-panel navigation and select Create app in the top, right corner of the screen.
2. Select Start from Dev Dashboard.
3. Name your app, then select Create.

Anchor to Step 2: Create a versionStep 2: Create a version

Once you've created the app, you can create a version. A version is a snapshot of your app's current configuration, URLs, and settings. Your app must have at least one version before it can be installed on a store.

From the Versions tab of your app in the Dev Dashboard, complete your desired fields, including:

1. Defining your app URL. If your app isn't embedded in the Shopify admin, you can use the default URL https://shopify.dev/apps/default-app-home.
2. Selecting a Webhooks API version (typically the newest version).
3. Entering or selecting your app scopes. These define the data and features your app can access within the Shopify platform. Note that access to protected customer data or other sensitive information requires approval.
4. Select Release.

Versions enable you to track changes to your app configuration over time and roll back to previous configurations if needed. When you update scopes in a new version of your app, updates are not applied automatically to the stores your apps are installed in.
Merchants still need to manually approve new scopes within your Admin.

Anchor to Step 3: Install your appStep 3: Install your app

Complete the following steps to install your app on a store:

1. From your app, select Home in the left-panel of the Dev Dashboard.
2. Scroll down and select Install app.
3. Select or create the store for your app.
4. Select Install.

Your app is now installed. To start making API calls, you'll need to authenticate your app as described in the next step.

Anchor to Step 4: Authenticate your appStep 4: Authenticate your app

To make API requests, your app needs an access token. If you're building apps for your own store, you can use the client credentials grant:

1. From your app in the Dev Dashboard, select Settings.
2. Copy your Client ID and Client secret.
3. Use these credentials to programmatically request an access token from Shopify's OAuth endpoint. Tokens expire after 24 hours—your code can request a new one when needed.

For code examples, response details, and troubleshooting, see Get API access tokens.

Anchor to Next stepsNext steps

• Start building with the Admin API to read and write store data.
• Configure webhooks to receive real-time notifications about events in your store.
• Use the Dev Dashboard to monitor your app's performance.