Collaborator "Develop apps" permission is useless with new Dev Dashboard (Jan 2026) - Can't install custom app on client's store

Shopify App Store
1

Hi everyone,

I’m a Shopify Partner with collaborator access to a client’s store. The store owner granted me the “Develop apps” permission, but I’m unable to install a custom app I created.

The Problem:

  1. I have collaborator access to my client’s store (argenlabplus.myshopify.com) with “Develop apps” permission
  2. When I click “Develop apps” in the store admin, it redirects me to the Dev Dashboard (dev.shopify.com)
  3. I created a custom app in the Dev Dashboard, configured scopes, and released a version
  4. When I try to install the app, I get this error:

“This app can’t be installed on this store. [App name] can only be installed on stores that are part of the same organization.”

The Issue:

With the legacy custom app system (deprecated January 2026), the “Develop apps” permission allowed collaborators to create apps inside the store admin. The app was tied to THAT store and could be installed directly.

With the new Dev Dashboard, apps are created in my Partner account’s organization, not the client’s store. Since my client’s store is not part of my Partner organization (and it’s not Shopify Plus), I cannot install the app.

This makes the “Develop apps” collaborator permission completely useless with the new system.

My Questions:

  1. Is this expected behavior or a bug/oversight in the new Dev Dashboard?
  2. How are Partners supposed to create custom apps for clients who are NOT on Shopify Plus?
  3. Is there any way to install a Dev Dashboard app on a store that’s not in my organization?
  4. Should the store owner create the app themselves from their own Dev Dashboard account?

Environment:

  • Store plan: Not Shopify Plus (regular plan)
  • Date: February 2026
  • Using new Dev Dashboard (legacy custom apps no longer available)

Thanks for any guidance!

1 Like
2

Hey @Luciano_Francisco_So,

You shouldn’t need collaborator access or access to the client’s Dev Dashboard for this. As a partner, you should use Custom distribution instead:

  1. Create the app in your Dev Dashboard (your organization)
  2. Click “Select distribution method” under Distribution (links to Partner Dashboard)
  3. Choose “Custom distribution” and generate an install link for the client’s store
  4. Send the link to your client to install