Shopify CSV variants not importing? Check these rows
A variant is a version of a product, such as a small shirt or a blue mug. One product can use several rows in a Shopify CSV.
Why the same product appears more than once
The Handle or URL handle column tells Shopify which rows belong to the same product. A repeated handle is often correct.
The first row has the product name and its first size or color. Later rows can add other versions or extra images. Those later rows can leave the product name blank.
| Handle | Title | Option1 Name | Option1 Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| cotton-shirt | Cotton Shirt | Size | Small |
| cotton-shirt | Size | Large |
A made-up example showing two sizes of one shirt. This is not a complete file to upload.
'Options are not unique'
Check for two rows that describe the same version of a product. A small red shirt and a large red shirt are different. Two small red shirts under the same handle may be duplicates, even if their product codes or prices differ.
- Make a copy before investigating.
- Find the rows for the product named in Shopify's error.
- Compare all its options together, such as size and color. Ignore rows that only add an image.
- Check the option names too: use the same name, such as Size, for the same option.
- If you confirm a duplicate or a wrong detail, correct it in the original file. Keep the original row order.
Don't delete rows just because the handle repeats or the title is blank. Don't sort a single column by itself; that separates details from their products.
Missing names or mixed-up columns
A new product needs a name on its first row. Extra rows need the right handle so Shopify knows which product they belong to.
If values have slipped into the wrong columns, check for missing commas or quotation-mark problems. Don't fill every blank cell to make the sheet look complete.
How CSV Spruce helps
Our free check can flag missing product names and some row problems. We leave repeated handles and blank cells unchanged. We don't detect or fix duplicate size/color combinations or fill in missing options.
All import errors · Missing Title column · TRUE/FALSE answers · Quotation-mark errors
More help from Shopify
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