# Troubleshoot Shopify writeback errors URL: https://support.starshipit.com/articles/90200000000210-troubleshoot-shopify-writeback-errors Canonical: https://support.starshipit.com/articles/90200000000210-troubleshoot-shopify-writeback-errors Markdown: https://support.starshipit.com/articles/90200000000210-troubleshoot-shopify-writeback-errors.md Updated: 2026-10-29 > For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://support.starshipit.com/llms.txt). > Fix Shopify fulfilment and tracking writeback errors, including missing parcel tracking numbers and customer notifications. Use this guide when Shopify fulfilment or tracking updates fail, parcel tracking numbers are missing, or customers do not receive a shipping notification. For orders that are not importing at all, see [Troubleshoot: Shopify orders not importing](/articles/troubleshooting/integrations/shopify-troubleshooting-import). ## Before you start - Log out of your Shopify account before performing the steps below. - Work from a web browser, not within the Shopify App window. - If issues persist, try in an Incognito or Private browser window. --- ## Writeback is not firing at all **Check 1: Is writeback disabled?** Go to **Settings > Integrations > Shopify > Advanced tab** and confirm that **Disable Writeback** is not enabled. If it is, enable writeback and save. **Check 2: Is the integration connected?** Go to **Settings > Integrations** and click **Test** on the Shopify integration. If the test fails, reauthorise the Shopify integration and try again. **Check 3: Does writeback fire on manifest instead of on label creation?** If you have enabled **Write back order updates on manifest**, writeback only fires after you manifest your orders — not immediately when the label is printed. Check whether the order has been manifested. --- ## Fulfillment location writeback error This error appears when Starshipit cannot fulfill the Shopify order because the selected location does not have stock allocated to it in Shopify. Shopify requires a valid fulfillment location with stock. If Starshipit uses the wrong location, Shopify rejects the fulfillment. **To resolve (Classic):** 1. Go to **Settings > Integrations > Shopify Settings**. 2. In the **Locations** field, click **Lookup** and select the correct Shopify location. 3. Click **Save**. **To resolve (Enhanced):** Enhanced writeback uses the Shopify assigned fulfillment location from when the order was imported. If that location has changed in Shopify, the writeback will fail. Open the order in Shopify and confirm which location holds the stock. ![Shopify Lookup location setting](/uploads/articles/troubleshooting/integrations/shopify-troubleshooting/image_9162452704271.png) --- ## "Fulfillment order has been completed or closed" error This error means Starshipit attempted to create a fulfillment in Shopify, but the fulfillment order was already closed or completed. **Likely causes:** - **Order already fulfilled** — The order was marked as fulfilled in Shopify before Starshipit attempted writeback. No further updates can be made. - **Third-party fulfillment service** — A third-party fulfillment service closed the fulfillment order before Starshipit wrote back. **To resolve:** 1. Open the order in Shopify and confirm its current fulfillment status. 2. If the order was fulfilled by another service, you do not need to take action in Starshipit. 3. If the order should not have been closed, contact your Shopify admin or fulfillment service. :::note For Classic merchants using a third-party fulfillment service: consider enabling **Do not create Shopify fulfillments after tag and note writeback** so Starshipit only appends tags/notes instead of attempting to create fulfillments. See [Write back tracking and fulfillment to Shopify](/articles/integrations/shopify/shopify-writeback#classic-writeback). ::: --- ## Only one parcel's tracking number appears in Shopify {#only-one-tracking-number} Starshipit writes back [multiple parcel tracking numbers](/articles/90200000000207-write-back-tracking-and-fulfilment-to-shopify#multiple-tracking-numbers) with both Shopify Classic and Enhanced. If only one number appears, compare the parcel details with the Shopify fulfilment: 1. Open the order in Starshipit and check that each outbound parcel has a tracking number. Parcels sharing one number will have that number listed once in Shopify. Return-label numbers are excluded. 2. Open the order in Shopify and check the tracking numbers on the corresponding fulfilment. If the order imported as separate Starshipit shipments, check each fulfilment separately. 3. If distinct outbound numbers are missing after writeback completes, contact [Starshipit support](https://help.starshipit.com) with the order reference and expected parcel tracking numbers so the team can check the affected update. If all numbers appear on the Shopify fulfilment but only one appears in the customer's email, review the Shopify shipping notification template. Custom templates need to display the full tracking-number list; see [Shopify's notification variables reference](https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/fulfillment/setup/notifications/email-variables#fulfillment-properties). Starshipit's own emails have a separate [multi-tracking notification option](/articles/206358536-set-up-email-notifications#multi-tracking-support). That setting controls how tracking details appear in Starshipit emails. --- ## Tracking URL defaults to Google or shows an incorrect link This happens when Shopify does not recognise the carrier Starshipit used. Shopify defaults to a Google URL or leaves the tracking link blank. This is a Shopify template issue, not a Starshipit error. To fix it, update the shipping confirmation email template in your Shopify admin to use the tracking URL provided by Starshipit directly. See [Shopify's help documentation](https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/fulfillment/fulfilling-orders) for guidance on editing notification templates. Common carrier tracking URL formats to use in Shopify templates: - **StarTrack:** `http://www.startrack.com.au/track-trace/?id={{tracking_number}}` - **CourierPost:** `http://trackandtrace.courierpost.co.nz/search/{{tracking_number}}` Replace the static tracking number in the URL with the Shopify tracking number variable appropriate to your template. --- ## Customer did not receive a Shopify shipping notification **Check 1: Is customer notification disabled in Starshipit?** Go to **Settings > Integrations > Shopify > Advanced > Writeback** and confirm that **Disable Shopify customer notification** is not enabled. If it is, Shopify will not send notification emails on writeback. **Check 2: Is writeback actually firing?** If writeback is disabled, Shopify never receives the update and cannot send a notification. See the "Writeback is not firing at all" section above. **Check 3: Are Shopify email notifications turned on?** In your Shopify admin, go to **Settings > Notifications** and confirm the relevant shipping notification templates are enabled. --- ## Fulfillment event writeback (transit status) is not working This applies when transit status updates (Out for delivery, Delivered) are not appearing in Shopify. Work through this checklist: 1. **Enable fulfillment event writeback** — Go to **Settings > Integrations > Shopify > Advanced** and confirm **Enable fulfillment event writeback** is on. 2. **Customer notification must be enabled** — If **Disable Shopify customer notification** is on, fulfillment event writeback will not function. Disable the "disable" setting. 3. **Writeback must be enabled** — Confirm **Disable Writeback** is not checked. 4. **Enable Shopify notification templates** — In your Shopify admin, go to **Settings > Notifications > Shipping** and enable the transit status notifications you want Shopify to send. 5. **Carrier must provide tracking events** — Transit status writeback depends on the carrier returning tracking events to Starshipit. Confirm the carrier and service you are using returns tracking events. --- ## Webhook subscription fails or webhooks are not working **To resolve:** 1. Go to **Settings > Integrations > Shopify Settings** and save your settings (even without changes). 2. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click **Subscribe to webhook**. 3. If the subscription still fails, reauthorise the Shopify integration and try again. :::note Classic and Enhanced use different webhook identifiers. If you have recently switched between versions, the existing webhook subscription may be stale. Save, reauthorise, and resubscribe. :::