Previously, Shopify allowed only one barcode to be assigned to each product variant. This could become a limitation when the same item had different identifiers depending on where it was used or sold. For example, a product might have a manufacturer’s EAN on its packaging, an internal UPC used for store operations, and another identifier assigned to its marketplace listing. In that situation, additional codes had to be tracked separately, such as in a spreadsheet, instead of being stored directly with the product variant.

Shopify now allows up to 20 barcodes to be added to a single variant. Each of these barcodes can identify the same product.

What you can do

Barcodes can be added, scanned, or removed directly from the variant details page. The same functionality is also available in the Shopify mobile app, making it possible to manage product codes directly from a phone.

Each barcode can be assigned a type, including UPC, EAN, ISBN, GTIN, or ASIN. Shopify validates the entered value against the format of the selected standard, helping catch an incorrect digit while the barcode is being entered. For internal codes that do not follow one of these standards, you can select Custom.

Multiple variants can also be updated at the same time through the bulk editor. This makes it easier to manage barcode information across a larger product catalogue without opening each variant individually.

The complete set of barcodes can be imported and exported through the product CSV. The relevant information is handled through the Variant Barcodes column.

Sales channels will continue to use the first barcode provided when they require a single barcode value.

POS can also now scan and locate variants using multiple barcodes as well as SKU.

What stays the same

There is no migration process required for existing products. Current barcodes remain in place automatically.

The first barcode assigned to a variant continues to be used wherever Shopify or an integrated system expects only a single barcode. This means existing labels, sales channel feeds, and apps continue to work according to the same logic as before.

In practice, Shopify has expanded the number of identifiers that can be stored for a single variant without changing how the first barcode is handled. This gives merchants more flexibility while keeping existing barcode-related workflows compatible.