How to Bulk Import Shopify Metaobjects: Complete Guide

Managing custom data on a Shopify store can be complex, especially as your store grows. Shopify’s metaobjects feature gives merchants powerful flexibility to store and display custom information beyond standard fields.

However, performing Shopify import metaobjects may lead to many challenges, especially for those without coding experience. Moreover, Shopify metaobject data migration across multiple stores can be error-prone and time-consuming.

But don’t worry, this will help you overcome these hurdles by providing you with 2 methods to import metaobjects into Shopify. Let’s dive right into it!

What are Metaobjects in Shopify?

Metaobjects are custom data structures that help you store additional information for your store, like containers that hold groups of related content. Instead of just importing product details one by one, you can create a whole set bundled together, which makes managing complex data much easier.

Each metaobject is built from a template called a metaobject definition. This template tells Shopify what kind of information to expect and how it should be organized. Once you have a template, you can create many entries following that structure. 

For example, the Color metaobject can include fields such as Label, Image, Base color, etc.

This helps you manage information that doesn’t fit neatly into products or pages, like a list of designers, services, or locations. You can link these metaobjects to products or other parts of your store, so the same information appears wherever you want, all at once.

Merchants often mistake metaobjects with metafields. They both let you add custom data in Shopify, but they work differently.

• Metafields are simple fields attached directly to products, collections, or other resources to store individual pieces of information, like color or size
• Metaobjects, however, are more advanced. They let you create reusable, structured data with multiple fields inside one object, like a mini-database. You can create one metaobject and link it to many products or pages.

This makes metaobjects better for managing complex or repeatable content across your store, while metafields work well for simple, item-specific details.

Different Methods to Import Metaobjects into Shopify

Executing a Shopify import metaobjects workflow effectively requires choosing the right vehicle for your data. Unlike standard products, metaobjects rely on complex, structured definitions.

Therefore, moving this data requires precision. Generally, merchants have three distinct paths: utilizing the native admin tools, building custom solutions via the Shopify API, or leveraging specialized third-party applications.

To help you decide which approach fits your technical resources and budget, we have broken down the three methods below:

Method	Definition	Pros	Cons
Shopify API	Using Shopify’s GraphQL API to write custom scripts that push data programmatically into your store.	• Full Control: Limitless customization and logic. • Integration: Can connect to any external ERP or database. • Scalable: Handles massive datasets efficiently.	• High Barrier: Requires advanced coding skills (or hiring a developer). • Maintenance: You must manage rate limits, errors, and script updates. • Costly: High initial development cost.
Third-Party Apps	Specialized software designed to simplify the import process with visual interfaces, mapping tools, and automation.	• User-Friendly: No coding required; intuitive UI. • Flexible: Accepts Excel, Google Sheets, JSON, etc. • Automation: Supports scheduling and auto-syncing.	• Subscription: Usually requires a monthly fee. • Dependency: Relies on the app developer for support and uptime.

So, which method should you choose?

For developers or enterprise-level stores with dedicated tech teams, the Shopify API is the standard for flexibility. However, for most merchants who need efficiency without writing code, using third-party apps offer the best return on investment.

This is where BulkFlow stands out. BulkFlow allows you to import directly from Excel (.xlsx format), Google Sheets, or FTP.

It features a smart field-mapping interface that aligns your file columns with Shopify’s metaobject definitions automatically.

Furthermore, BulkFlow solves the “manual” problem by offering scheduling tools, ensuring your metaobjects are always up to date.

With a free plan that supports up to 1,000 metaobjects and paid tiers for unlimited growth, it is the recommended choice for merchants who want to professionally manage their Shopify import metaobjects tasks without the technical headache.

How to Import Metaobjects on Shopify with BulkFlow?

Now that we have identified that using a third-party app is often the most efficient choice, let’s walk through the practical steps. In this guide, we will use BulkFlow as our example tool, as it handles the complex structure of metaobjects better than API methods.

Follow this step-by-step process to ensure a smooth and accurate import.

Step 1: Create metaobject definitions in Shopify

You cannot import data until Shopify knows where to put it. Before opening the app, you must create a “container” for your data within Shopify.

Why this matters: These definitions act as templates. The data you import in the next steps must match these fields exactly.

Step 2: Prepare your import file

Once your definitions are ready, you need to structure your data file. Unlike standard product imports, metaobjects have a unique structure.

To avoid formatting errors, we recommend using the BulkFlow pre-made template.

Important note on structure:

The BulkFlow template organizes data by “rows per field.” This means a single metaobject entry might span multiple rows in your file.

For example, if your “Fabric Color” object has a Name and an Image, that single entry will use two rows in your file.

With this file, you need to fill in the important columns:

Column Name	Description	Value Format
Handle	Unique identifier/slug for the metaobject	Alphanumeric or hyphenated (e.g., peter-bloom)
Definition: Handle	A metafield for the metaobject	Alphanumeric and underscore (e.g., beekeeper_profile)
Fields	Type of metafield	Text (e.g., title)
Value	Content of the metaobject	Text (e.g., Peter Bloom)

Step 3: Set up your feed in BulkFlow

With your file ready, it is time to connect it to Shopify using the app.

Step 4: Preview, run and automate

Before finalizing, the app allows you to review your work to prevent mistakes.

1. Preview: BulkFlow will show a preview of how the data maps to your Shopify fields. Check this carefully to ensure columns are aligned correctly.
2. Start Import: Click Next step to launch the process.
3. Review Results: Once the import finishes, check the activity log. You will see three statuses:
   • Success: The item was imported perfectly.
   • Failed: The item was not imported (check the error message).
   • Warning: The item was imported but may need a small adjustment.

Pro Tip: If you need to update this data regularly (e.g., weekly inventory updates), use the Scheduling feature in BulkFlow.

This allows the app to automatically pull data from your Google Sheet or FTP server at set times, saving you from repeating this manual work in the future.

Bonus: Guide to Export and Sync Metaobjects Shopify 

Managing metaobjects effectively also includes exporting and syncing them, especially when you have multiple stores or need backups. Below are concise guides on how to export and sync Shopify metaobjects to help you keep control of your data.

How to handle Shopify export metaobject

Shopify export metaobject allows you to back up or transfer data efficiently. Here are a few key steps to export them using BulkFlow:

To begin, in your dashboard, click Create New feed > Export to set up an export feed. 

Then, give it a name and choose your export methods. Press Continue to go to the next step.

In the next step, you can customize your export by selecting specific columns or applying filters if needed.

Here, you can also schedule automatic Shopify export metaobjects in the future. When you’re done, click Next Step to start exporting.

After the export process, you can fix the schedule (if needed) and check Activity Log for export results.

How to sync metaobjects Shopify

When managing multiple Shopify stores, it’s important to maintain consistency. BulkFlow can help you sync metaobjects Shopify without manual duplicate work. The steps are:

• Export metaobjects from your store as described above.
• Prepare the exported data if needed to ensure compatibility.
• Import the metaobjects data into the target stores using BulkFlow (shared connection required).
• Use automation features to keep metaobject data in sync across stores regularly.

Shopify Product Metaobject Import Best Practices

Proper management of Shopify import metaobjects is critical for maintaining clean, consistent, and functional custom data across your Shopify store. Following these practices can help reduce errors, save time, and ensure smooth integration with your store’s structure.

• Test with a small batch: Begin your importing process with a small batch to catch and correct any data errors early without affecting a large part of your store.
• Use consistent names: Consistent naming reduces confusion during import and makes managing metaobjects easier in the long run.
• Backup data regularly: Maintain backups of your metaobject data to protect them against accidental loss or corruption during bulk imports or updates.

Shopify Import Metaobjects – FAQs

Final Words

Effective metaobject management is essential for any Shopify store aiming to deliver detailed, relevant, and well-structured information to customers. Properly organized metaobjects create a more dynamic and personalized shopping experience, increasing customer satisfaction and ultimately driving more sales.

Using BulkFlow for managing your metaobjects significantly simplifies the whole process. BulkFlow combines powerful bulk import and export capabilities with ease of use, supporting multiple file formats and automated scheduling, allowing thousands of Shopify import metaobjects without technical expertise.

Whether you need to import new/export data or sync across multiple stores, BulkFlow’s robust features help save time, reduce errors, and improve your store’s data consistency. Start optimizing your Shopify store today by taking full control of metaobjects with BulkFlow.