- Short answer
- Apps see only the last 60 days of orders by default; older ones need the read_all_orders scope, which Shopify must approve for App Store apps.
- Who applies
- For an App Store app, the developer requests read_all_orders in the Partner Dashboard and explains why.
- Before uninstall
- Export what you need first: some apps store data you can't recover after uninstalling.
- After uninstall
- For App Store apps, 48 hours later Shopify sends shop/redact so the developer can erase your store's data.
- As of
- Shopify.dev access-scope and privacy-compliance pages plus the Help Center app uninstall page, read September 25, 2026.
How much order history can a Shopify app see by default?
The limit sits in Shopify's order permissions, not in the backup app:
These scopes cover orders created within the last 60 days. For older orders, add read_all_orders, which you must request access to.
Why does a backup app ask to see all your orders?
With read_orders alone, orders older than 60 days are out of reach, so an app that copies your full history needs read_all_orders.
For an app from the Shopify App Store, Shopify grants that scope app by app. The developer applies in the Partner Dashboard and explains why the app needs it; after Shopify approves, the developer can add read_all_orders alongside read_orders or write_orders.
A copy of old orders isn't the same as getting them back: see why backed up is not the same as restorable.
What happens to the copied orders if you remove the app?
Export what you need first. Shopify's uninstall guide warns: "Some apps store data that you can't recover after uninstalling." Then go to Settings > Apps, open the app's menu and click Uninstall.
For App Store apps, Shopify's privacy compliance rules say it sends shop/redact 48 hours after you uninstall, so the developer can erase your store's data from their database. Among Shopify's app-uninstall and privacy-compliance pages we read on September 25, 2026, none says that removing an app by itself erases the copy it already made, or gives you a way to confirm it was erased. More on what happens to your customer data after you uninstall.
This article was written entirely by AI under human editorial direction. The editor sets the topic and structure, runs multi-stage validation on facts, links, and interactive elements, and verifies the output is useful from a business perspective. All claims are checked against official Shopify sources. Details may change — always confirm critical data at shopify.com.
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