Shopify Flow upgrades to GraphQL Admin API v2026-01 – what it means for automations
Shopify Flow now uses version 2026-01 of the GraphQL Admin API, bringing enhanced capabilities that help developers and merchants build smarter, more flexible workflows.
This update introduces several meaningful improvements that expand what Flow can do behind the scenes:
🔍 Advanced Metafield & Metaobject queries
The new API version greatly expands querying power. You can now filter and compare metafield values more flexibly – including using greater than, less than, prefix matching, and logical operators like AND, OR, NOT. Plus, extra resources such as Companies and Company Locations are now supported in metafield queries.
Details: https://shopify.dev/changelog/advanced-metafield-metaobject-querying
📦 Better handling for returns
Access to transaction data on the Return object has been introduced, giving workflows more context when processing return-related triggers. In addition, a new ReturnReasonDefinition type allows for more granular categorization of return reasons — helpful for deeper analytics or custom return flows.
📞 Order updates get more flexible
The orderUpdate mutation now includes the customer phone field, allowing workflows that call this mutation (such as in a Send Admin API request action) to overwrite the phone number on an order — useful for contact updates or data syncing.
These enhancements make Flow’s integrations with Shopify’s backend stronger and more adaptable, empowering merchants to automate complex business logic with greater precision. For developers, this also means fewer workarounds and more direct access to key business data via the GraphQL Admin API.
All these update make using WorkflowMail for sending transactional emails from Shopify Flow workflows even more useful.
Want to dig deeper? Visit the Shopify developer changelog and Flow docs for full technical details.