I have reproduced the issue on the latest CLI version.
Yes, I am on the latest version
I have searched existing posts and this report is not a duplicate.
Yes, this isn’t a duplicate
In which of these areas are you experiencing a problem?
App
Expected behavior
shopify app dev should start the development server without throwing a configuration validation error. The shopify.app.toml is valid and unchanged from a previously working state.
Actual behavior
shopify app dev fails immediately with:
App configuration is not valid
Validation errors in shopify.app.toml:
• [definitions]: Required
The error occurs before any extension files are read, after the fetchSpecifications GraphQL request to https://app.shopify.com/app_management/unstable/graphql.json completes. The issue is org-specific — running shopify app dev against an app in a different Shopify organization succeeds without error. Reproduced on CLI versions 3.85.0 and 3.86.0.
Reproduction steps
Have a valid shopify.app.toml linked to an existing app
Run shopify app dev
Observe the [definitions]: Required validation error
For deeper diagnosis, run shopify app dev --verbose — the relevant section is the fetchSpecifications GraphQL request to https://app.shopify.com/app_management/unstable/graphql.json. The request ID from the failing run is 019ee367-c941-7a6a-99b3-cbf8800463f8-1781931690, which Shopify’s backend team can use to retrieve the actual response payload and identify which specification’s validationSchema.jsonSchema changed to require a definitions field.
Verbose output
PS C:\Users\lenwh\repos\b2b-plus-app> shopify app dev --verbose
2026-06-20T06:12:34.857Z: Running command app dev
2026-06-20T06:12:34.869Z: Running system process:
· Command: C:\Program Files\nodejs\node.exe C:\Users\lenwh\AppData\Roaming\npm\node_modules@shopify\cli\bin\run.js notifications list --ignore-errors
· Working directory: C:/Users/lenwh/repos/b2b-plus-app
2026-06-20T06:12:34.882Z: Notifications to show: 0
2026-06-20T06:12:34.901Z: Reading cached app information for directory C:/Users/lenwh/repos/b2b-plus-app…
2026-06-20T06:12:34.902Z: Reading the content of file at shopify.app.toml…
2026-06-20T06:12:34.907Z: Reading the content of file at shopify.app.toml…
2026-06-20T06:12:34.911Z: Ensuring that the user is authenticated with the App Management API with the following scopes:
2026-06-20T06:12:34.912Z: Getting session store…
2026-06-20T06:12:34.914Z: Getting current session ID…
2026-06-20T06:12:34.915Z: Validating existing session against the scopes:
[
“openid”,
“https://api.shopify.com/auth/shop.admin.graphql”,
“https://api.shopify.com/auth/shop.admin.themes”,
“https://api.shopify.com/auth/partners.collaborator-relationships.readonly”,
“https://api.shopify.com/auth/shop.storefront-renderer.devtools”,
“https://api.shopify.com/auth/partners.app.cli.access”,
“https://api.shopify.com/auth/destinations.readonly”,
“https://api.shopify.com/auth/organization.store-management”,
“https://api.shopify.com/auth/organization.on-demand-user-access”,
“https://api.shopify.com/auth/organization.apps.manage”
]
For applications:
{
“appManagementApi”: {
“scopes”:
},
“businessPlatformApi”: {
“scopes”:
}
}
2026-06-20T06:12:34.915Z: - Token validation → It’s expired: false
2026-06-20T06:12:34.918Z: Sending “BusinessPlatform” GraphQL request:
query UserInfo {
currentUserAccount {
uuid
email
organizations(first: 2) {
nodes {
name
__typename
}
__typename
}
__typename
}
}
With request headers:
- User-Agent: Shopify CLI; v=3.86.0
- Keep-Alive: timeout=30
- Sec-CH-UA-PLATFORM: win32
- Content-Type: application/json
to https://destinations.shopifysvc.com/destinations/api/2020-07/graphql
2026-06-20T06:12:34.958Z: Sending “App Management” GraphQL request:
query ActiveAppReleaseFromApiKey($apiKey: String!) {
app: appByKey(key: $apiKey) {
…AppVersionInfo
__typename
}
}
fragment ReleasedAppModule on AppModule {
uuid
userIdentifier
handle
config
target
specification {
identifier
externalIdentifier
name
managementExperience
}
}
fragment AppVersionInfo on App {
id
key
organizationId
activeRoot {
clientCredentials {
secrets {
key
}
}
grantedShopifyApprovalScopes
}
activeRelease {
id
version {
name
appModules {
…ReleasedAppModule
}
}
}
}
With variables:
{
“apiKey”: “*****”
}
With request headers:
- User-Agent: Shopify CLI; v=3.86.0
- Keep-Alive: timeout=30
- Sec-CH-UA-PLATFORM: win32
- Content-Type: application/json
to https://app.shopify.com/app_management/unstable/graphql.json
2026-06-20T06:12:35.630Z: Request to https://app.shopify.com/app_management/unstable/graphql.json completed in 672 ms
With response headers:
- content-type: application/json; charset=utf-8
- server-timing: processing;dur=182, verdict_flag_enabled;desc=“count=3”;dur=0.085, _y;desc=“66dce8d8-90c3-4c93-8cba-ce3b0fbd15ea”, _s;desc=“6d9e8d3a-e258-4df4-8400-ee9e2923b787”
- x-request-id: 99251375-50d4-478e-a001-ad3d45fc3edc-1781935955
2026-06-20T06:12:35.643Z: Sending “BusinessPlatform” GraphQL request:
query FindOrganizations($organizationId: OrganizationID!) {
currentUserAccount {
organization(id: $organizationId) {
id
name
__typename
}
__typename
}
}
With variables:
{
“organizationId”: “Z2lkOi8vb3JnYW5pemF0aW9uL09yZ2FuaXphdGlvbi8xODgxMDE3MDY=”
}
With request headers:
- User-Agent: Shopify CLI; v=3.86.0
- Keep-Alive: timeout=30
- Sec-CH-UA-PLATFORM: win32
- Content-Type: application/json
to https://destinations.shopifysvc.com/destinations/api/2020-07/graphql
2026-06-20T06:12:35.677Z: Sending “App Management” GraphQL request:
query fetchSpecifications($organizationId: ID!) {
specifications(organizationId: $organizationId) {
name
identifier
externalIdentifier
features
uidStrategy {
appModuleLimit
isClientProvided
__typename
}
validationSchema {
jsonSchema
__typename
}
__typename
}
}
With variables:
{
“organizationId”: “gid://shopify/Organization/188101706”
}
With request headers:
- User-Agent: Shopify CLI; v=3.86.0
- Keep-Alive: timeout=30
- Sec-CH-UA-PLATFORM: win32
- Content-Type: application/json
to https://app.shopify.com/app_management/unstable/graphql.json
2026-06-20T06:12:36.954Z: Request to https://app.shopify.com/app_management/unstable/graphql.json completed in 1276 ms
With response headers:
- content-type: application/json; charset=utf-8
- server-timing: processing;dur=722, verdict_flag_enabled;desc=“count=8”;dur=0.767, _y;desc=“e538165f-8fea-4c10-8936-814f6afe2565”, _s;desc=“5097a819-f398-416f-8767-632e81f8d218”
- x-request-id: 989d3d88-85ed-4846-b5cd-25155f200b5f-1781935956
2026-06-20T06:12:36.970Z: The following extension specifications were defined locally but not found in the remote specifications: tax_calculation
2026-06-20T06:12:36.970Z: The following extension specifications were found in the remote specifications but not defined locally: admin_app, app_link, app_nav_item, bulk_action, checkout_script_tag, flow_action_definition, flow_trigger_definition, flow_trigger_discovery_webhook, manage_marketplaces, marketing_action, marketing_activity_extension, merchandising_create_publication, merchandising_fulfillment_variant_details, ping_message_callback, pos_link, product_configuration_link, resource_publication_settings, retail_cart_promotion, retail_product_recommendation, subscription_link
2026-06-20T06:12:36.976Z: Reading the content of file at shopify.app.portalsphere-PPD.toml…
2026-06-20T06:12:36.976Z: Reading the content of file at shopify.app.portalsphere.toml…
2026-06-20T06:12:36.979Z: Reading the content of file at .gitignore…
2026-06-20T06:12:36.983Z: Reading the .env file at .env
2026-06-20T06:12:36.983Z: Reading the content of file at .env…
╭─ error ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╮
│ │
│ App configuration is not valid │
│ Validation errors in shopify.app.toml: │
│ │
│ • [definitions]: Required │
│ │
│ │
╰──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╯
2026-06-20T06:12:37.385Z: Running system process:
· Command: npm prefix
· Working directory: C:/Users/lenwh/repos/b2b-plus-app
2026-06-20T06:12:37.387Z: Reading the content of file at extensions/b2-b-plus-upsell/shopify.extension.toml…
2026-06-20T06:12:37.387Z: Reading the content of file at extensions/b2b-shipping-visibility/shopify.extension.toml…
2026-06-20T06:12:37.388Z: Reading the content of file at extensions/buyer-group-editor/shopify.extension.toml…
2026-06-20T06:12:37.388Z: Reading the content of file at extensions/b2b-volume-discount/shopify.extension.toml…
2026-06-20T06:12:37.388Z: Reading the content of file at extensions/draft-order-discount/shopify.extension.toml…
2026-06-20T06:12:37.388Z: Reading the content of file at extensions/buyer-group-cart-requirement/shopify.extension.toml…
2026-06-20T06:12:37.388Z: Reading the content of file at extensions/portal-sphere-shipping-discount/shopify.extension.toml…
2026-06-20T06:12:37.388Z: Reading the content of file at extensions/payment-customization/shopify.extension.toml…
2026-06-20T06:12:37.389Z: Reading the content of file at extensions/for-you/shopify.extension.toml…
2026-06-20T06:12:37.394Z: Reading the content of file at extensions/b2b-volume-discount/shopify.extension.toml…
2026-06-20T06:12:37.395Z: Reading the content of file at extensions/b2b-shipping-visibility/shopify.extension.toml…
2026-06-20T06:12:37.395Z: Reading the content of file at extensions/buyer-group-editor/shopify.extension.toml…
2026-06-20T06:12:37.395Z: Reading the content of file at extensions/draft-order-discount/shopify.extension.toml…
2026-06-20T06:12:37.395Z: Reading the content of file at extensions/buyer-group-cart-requirement/shopify.extension.toml…
2026-06-20T06:12:37.396Z: Reading the content of file at extensions/portal-sphere-shipping-discount/shopify.extension.toml…
2026-06-20T06:12:37.396Z: Reading the content of file at extensions/for-you/shopify.extension.toml…
2026-06-20T06:12:37.396Z: Reading the content of file at extensions/payment-customization/shopify.extension.toml…
2026-06-20T06:12:37.650Z: Obtaining the dependency manager in directory C:\Users\lenwh\repos\b2b-plus-app…
2026-06-20T06:12:38.181Z: Request to https://monorail-edge.shopifysvc.com/v1/produce completed in 260 ms
With response headers:
- x-request-id: 91a3eae4-8c30-498b-87f4-65f2f3eb4a80
2026-06-20T06:12:38.182Z: Analytics event sent: {
“command”: “app dev”,
“time_start”: 1781935954858,
“time_end”: 1781935957361,
“total_time”: 2503,
“success”: false,
“cli_version”: “3.86.0”,
“ruby_version”: “”,
“node_version”: “20.20.2”,
“is_employee”: false,
“uname”: “windows amd64”,
“env_ci”: false,
“env_plugin_installed_any_custom”: false,
“env_plugin_installed_shopify”: “["@shopify/cli"]”,
“env_shell”: “powershell”,
“env_device_id”: “a8bffa1df6c004e12d1caac3fc1a4c8ff5235706”,
“env_cloud”: “localhost”,
“env_package_manager”: “npm”,
“env_is_global”: true,
“env_auth_method”: “device_auth”,
“env_is_wsl”: false,
“env_build_repository”: “Shopify/cli”,
“cmd_app_warning_api_key_deprecation_displayed”: false,
“cmd_app_all_configs_any”: true,
“cmd_app_all_configs_clients”: “{"shopify.app.portalsphere-PPD.toml":"2920deb7a8abffb75e7b2ae40476e2e9","shopify.app.portalsphere.toml":"fd1b68a896fed0df468106852c412297","shopify.app.toml":"980b0f44f8deb03356c6e48ed05b6dec"}”,
“cmd_app_linked_config_used”: true,
“cmd_app_linked_config_name”: “shopify.app.toml”,
“cmd_app_linked_config_git_tracked”: false,
“cmd_app_linked_config_source”: “cached”,
“cmd_app_linked_config_uses_cli_managed_urls”: true,
“cmd_all_timing_network_ms”: 1948,
“cmd_all_timing_prompts_ms”: 0,
“cmd_all_launcher”: “unknown”,
“cmd_all_topic”: “app”,
“cmd_all_plugin”: “@shopify/app”,
“cmd_all_verbose”: true,
“cmd_all_path_override”: true,
“cmd_all_path_override_hash”: “f7f4f15fa3a9026ebfeb7901c17445b2876f91bc”,
“cmd_app_dependency_installation_skipped”: false,
“cmd_app_reset_used”: false,
“cmd_dev_tunnel_type”: “auto”,
“cmd_all_last_graphql_request_id”: “989d3d88-85ed-4846-b5cd-25155f200b5f-1781935956”,
“cmd_all_timing_active_ms”: 554,
“cmd_all_exit”: “expected_error”,
“user_id”: “5b0faba4-12c2-44a8-9615-ab886e95da03”,
“request_ids”: [
“99251375-50d4-478e-a001-ad3d45fc3edc-1781935955”,
“989d3d88-85ed-4846-b5cd-25155f200b5f-1781935956”
],
“args”: “–verbose”,
“error_message”: “App configuration is not valid\nValidation errors in shopify.app.toml:\n\n• [definitions]: Required\n”,
“env_plugin_installed_all”: “["@shopify/cli"]”,
“metadata”: “{"extraPublic":{},"extraSensitive":{}}”
}
2026-06-20T06:12:38.201Z: Reporting handled error to Bugsnag: App configuration is not valid
Validation errors in shopify.app.toml:
• [definitions]: Required
2026-06-20T06:12:38.223Z: Running system process:
· Command: npm prefix
· Working directory: C:/Users/lenwh/repos/b2b-plus-app
2026-06-20T06:12:38.495Z: Obtaining the dependency manager in directory C:\Users\lenwh\repos\b2b-plus-app…
PS C:\Users\lenwh\repos\b2b-plus-app>
Operating system
Windows 11
CLI version
3.86.0
Shell
PowerShell
Nodejs version
v20.20.2
What language and version are you using in your application?
Node.js 20.20.2
thanks for flagging this.