Cannot enable protected customer data for my own Dev Dashboard app on my own dev store

Authentication & Access
1

My app WAGenie (app ID 443140669441, client ID afc5cd182838fa738ea7b1c83c2a58e5) is installed on my development store wagenie-test.myshopify.com in my own organization 244872564. I cannot subscribe to the webhooks CHECKOUTS_CREATE, CHECKOUTS_UPDATE, ORDERS_CREATE, ORDERS_UPDATED, ORDERS_PAID and ORDERS_CANCELLED. Shopify answers: “This app is not approved to subscribe to webhook topics containing protected customer data.” The Dev Dashboard has no protected customer data page, and the Partner Dashboard App distribution page has no way to choose a distribution. I also tried the Install app button in the Dev Dashboard and the answer is the same. How do I enable protected customer data access for this app on my own development store?

2

Hi @Shaikh_Parvez ,

It’s more than likely that your app is in the Undecided state. Apps in this state don’t receive the protected customer data access required by those checkout and order webhooks.

Open WAGenie in the Dev Dashboard and go to Home → Distribution → Select distribution method. This choice can’t be changed later.

Custom app

For an app used only on your own store:

  1. Select Custom.
  2. Generate an install link for wagenie-test.myshopify.com.
  3. Ensure the active app version declares the required API scopes.
  4. Retry the webhook registration.

If needed, reinstall the app using the generated Custom install link.

Custom apps receive Level 1 and Level 2 protected customer data access automatically. No separate request or review is required.

Public app

For an app distributed to multiple unrelated stores:

  1. Select Public in the Dev Dashboard.
  2. Go to Partner Dashboard → Apps → WAGenie → API access requests.
  3. Under Protected customer data access, select Request access.
  4. Select and justify the protected data and any identifying fields required: name, address, email, or phone.
  5. Complete the data protection details.
  6. Release any scope changes, reinstall or re-authorize the app, and retry the webhooks.

An app installed only on development stores can use the saved access without waiting for review. Production access requires Shopify’s approval.

If the Distribution card is missing in the correct organization, please share a screenshot and a fresh x-request-id or shopify app deploy --verbose output.