Shopify inventory CSV import: current vs new quantities

Updated 2026-10-23

Use when an inventory import changes nothing, you are tempted to clear the current quantity, or a product CSV re-import changes stock unexpectedly.

Keep the original export and edit a separate copy. For quantity updates, start with Shopify's All states inventory CSV, not a product CSV. The free Shopify inventory import preview compares the original and proposed files in your browser, with nothing uploaded.

What do On hand (current) and On hand (new) do?

On hand (current) records stock at that location when you exported. It is the expected starting quantity used for Shopify's overwrite check. On hand (new) is the quantity you want to set, not an amount to add. To change 12 units to 15, keep current at 12 and enter 15 in new. Changing current alone does not request that stock update. [1]

Shopify introduced these column names on 2025-08-25. A spreadsheet or script built around the older On hand header needs updating. Export a fresh file rather than assuming an old template still fits. [2]

Why not clear current to force the update?

With both columns populated, Shopify checks the expected starting stock against stock at import time. If stock changed after export, affected rows do not import; Shopify says it emails you about the failed validation. Clearing On hand (current) skips that validation and removes protection against accidental overwrites. [1]

For example, if an order reduces 12 units to 11 while you edit, an unguarded target of 15 can replace that newer quantity. Instead of clearing the guard as a routine fix, export again and reconcile your intended count with intervening sales, receipts and adjustments.

Why can an import report success but change nothing?

A completed import is not proof that every intended quantity changed. Check the actual target cells, Shopify's email and the exact variant and location:

• Blank new quantities: no quantity update is requested. Editing current or a read-only inventory-state column does not set the new quantity. [1]
• The same target: setting the quantity to its existing value produces no visible difference. It is still a quantity write, not the same instruction as leaving new blank.
• Failed guard validation: affected rows do not import when stock has moved since export. Check Shopify's validation email rather than interpreting an overall completion message as row-level confirmation. [1]

Is a blank quantity the same as zero?

No. Blank On hand (new) leaves quantity unchanged; 0 requests zero stock. A numeric target equal to the snapshot is still a write. Blank current removes the guard; current 0 expects zero and is a real guard value. Not stocked is a separate state, not zero. Missing rows are not instructions to delete inventory or zero it. [1]

Why can re-importing a product CSV reset stock?

A product CSV has different overwrite rules. Shopify documents a default of 0 for its Inventory quantity field when no value is entered; that field applies to single-location stores. This does not mean every re-import resets stock. Inspect the quantity field and import settings rather than treating it like blank On hand (new). [3]

With product overwriting enabled, blank non-required columns can clear existing values; omitted non-required columns normally preserve them, subject to column dependencies. Changing option values can delete existing variant IDs and create new ones. For stock-only edits, use the inventory CSV and preserve variant identity. The preview does not accept or diagnose product CSV imports. [4]

1. Export All states inventory. Keep the original as Before; edit a separate CSV as After, preserving current guards.
2. Open or paste both files and select Compare snapshots.
3. Review cell differences, blank versus zero targets, duplicates and Writes without matching guards. Matching uses exact Handle, all option values and case-sensitive Location, not SKU. An unknown SKU or location means absent from your baseline, not necessarily absent from Shopify.
4. Download the full JSON or review CSV if useful. Reports are not Shopify import files. Review your proposed import in Shopify separately, then verify the resulting stock. Clear removes the page's working copies, not downloaded reports.

What the preview cannot tell you

All states CSV only, UTF-8, up to 5 MB and 10,000 data rows per file. These are preview limits. Available-format and older-header files are rejected, not converted. Bin-level quantities are retained but not interpreted. Duplicate identities stay unpaired.

This is a snapshot comparison only. “Matches snapshot” does not verify live stock or guarantee Shopify will accept the import. Cell differences are not necessarily applied changes. Inventory tracking, bins, packed dimensions, customs metadata and live availability need separate review in Shopify. A partial baseline can also explain missing items.

Official Shopify sources

All references checked 2026-10-23. Shopify can change its formats and import rules.

1. Exporting and importing inventory with a CSV file — quantities, All states, overwrite validation and blank targets.
2. Prevent accidental inventory overwrites with improved CSV workflow — published 2025-08-25.
3. Using CSV files to import and export products — Inventory quantity defaults and product column dependencies.
4. Importing products with a CSV file — overwriting blank fields and changing variant option values.

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