Adjusting inventory quantities
You can update your inventory quantities by specifying where inventory is coming from and where it's going. Every update is recorded in your adjustment history, creating a complete audit trail that helps you track discrepancies, maintain accurate records for accounting, and prevent stock level errors.
When you click an editable inventory quantity, such as a quantity in the Available, On hand, or Total column, you can choose from the following two methods:
- Set to: Set the quantity to a specific number. Use this when you know the exact inventory quantity, such as after a physical count.
- Adjust by: Add or subtract from the current inventory quantity. Use this when receiving new stock, moving items to unavailable states, or removing items.
You can use these methods to manage your inventory in the following ways:
- Set inventory to an exact quantity after a physical count
- Add new inventory from suppliers
- Remove damaged, lost, or expired items
- Move inventory to unavailable states such as damaged, quality control, or safety stock
- Track who made inventory changes, when, and why
On this page
Updating inventory quantities
You can update and manage inventory from three different pages in your Shopify admin. Each inventory adjustment is saved in two steps: click the 
icon to set the adjustment as pending, and then click Save to apply all pending adjustments. You can make multiple adjustments across rows, products, and locations before you save. If you navigate away from the page before saving, then your pending adjustments are discarded.
Review the following table to learn more about where you can update your inventory.
| Location | Use case | Available inventory types |
|---|---|---|
| Inventory page | Update multiple products across different locations in a single view. | Available and On hand states |
| Product details page | Update inventory for a specific product across multiple locations. | Available and Total states |
| Variant details page | Update inventory for a specific product variant across multiple locations. | Available and Total states |
Learn more about the different inventory states.
Setting new inventory levels
You can set inventory to a specific quantity at a location from your desktop or the Shopify mobile app. This is useful when you know the exact count, such as after a physical inventory count. Your inventory changes are saved as pending until you click or tap Save.
Set new inventory levels from the Inventory page
Desktop
From your Shopify admin, go to Products > Inventory.
From the location picker, select the location that you want to update inventory for.
In the Available or On hand column, click the product quantity that you want to update.
In the Set to field, enter the inventory quantity that you want to set.
Optional: To record why you're making this adjustment, click
Add reason, and then select a reason.Click the
icon.Review the pending changes that are displayed in the relevant table cells.
Click Save.
Mobile
From the Shopify app, tap the
icon.Tap Products > Inventory.
Select a location from the location picker.
Tap the quantity for the product that you want to update.
Select On hand or Available.
Enter the new quantity, or use the
+and-buttons to adjust the quantity.Tap Save.
Set new inventory levels from the Product details page
Desktop
From your Shopify admin, go to Products.
Click the product that you want to update.
In the Inventory section, in the Available or Total column, click the product quantity that you want to update.
In the Set to field, enter the inventory quantity that you want to set.
Select the location for the inventory.
Optional: To record why you're making this adjustment, click
Add reason, and then select a reason.Click the
icon.Review the pending changes that are displayed in the Inventory section.
Click Save.
Mobile
From the Shopify app, tap the
icon.Tap Products.
Tap the product that you want to update.
In the Inventory section, tap the quantity that you want to update.
Select On hand or Available.
Enter the new quantity, or use the
+and-buttons to adjust the quantity.Tap Save.
Set new inventory levels from the Variant details page
Desktop
From your Shopify admin, go to Products.
Click the product that contains the variant you want to update.
In the Variants section, click the variant that you want to update.
In the Inventory section, in the Available or Total column, click the product quantity that you want to update.
In the Set to field, enter the inventory quantity that you want to set.
Select the location for the inventory.
Optional: To record why you're making this adjustment, click
Add reason, and then select a reason.Click the
icon.Review the pending changes that are displayed in the Inventory section.
Click Save.
Mobile
From the Shopify app, tap the
icon.Tap Products.
Tap the product that contains the variant you want to update.
Tap the variant that you want to update.
In the Inventory section, tap the quantity that you want to update.
Select On hand or Available.
Enter the new quantity, or use the
+and-buttons to adjust the quantity.Tap Save.
Add new inventory
You can add new inventory from suppliers or external sources to your Shopify admin. When you adjust inventory using the Adjust by method, you select an origin, where inventory is coming from, and a destination, where inventory is going to. When you receive stock from a source that isn't tracked as a location in Shopify, select Inventory addition as the origin. Your inventory changes are saved as pending until you click Save at the top of the page, which lets you review the changes before you apply them.
Steps:
Inventory page
From your Shopify admin, go to Products > Inventory.
In the Available or On hand column, click the product quantity that you want to update.
Click the Set to drop-down menu, and then click Adjust by.
Enter the inventory quantity.
Select Inventory addition as the origin.
Select the destination location for your inventory. The destination is set by default as the location that's currently selected in your view.
Optional: To record why you're making this adjustment, click
Add reason, and then select a reason.Click the
icon.Review the pending changes that are displayed in the relevant table cells.
Click Save.
Product details page
From your Shopify admin, go to Products.
Click the product that you want to update.
In the Inventory section, in the Available or Total column, click the product quantity that you want to update.
Click the Set to drop-down menu, and then click Adjust by.
Enter the inventory quantity.
Select Inventory addition as the origin.
Select the destination location for your inventory. The destination is set by default as the location that's currently selected in your view.
Optional: To record why you're making this adjustment, click
Add reason, and then select a reason.Click the
icon.Review the pending changes that are displayed in the Inventory section.
Click Save.
Variant details page
From your Shopify admin, go to Products.
Click the product that contains the variant you want to update.
In the Variants section, click the variant that you want to update.
In the Inventory section, in the Available or Total column, click the product quantity that you want to update.
Click the Set to drop-down menu, and then click Adjust by.
Enter the inventory quantity.
Select Inventory addition as the origin.
Select the destination location for your inventory. The destination is set by default as the location that's currently selected in your view.
Optional: To record why you're making this adjustment, click
Add reason, and then select a reason.Click the
icon.Review the pending changes that are displayed in the Inventory section.
Click Save.
Remove inventory
You can remove damaged, lost, or expired inventory. Your inventory changes are saved as pending until you click Save at the top of the page, which lets you review the changes before you apply them.
Steps:
Inventory page
From your Shopify admin, go to Products > Inventory.
In the Available or On hand column, click the product quantity that you want to update.
Click the Set to drop-down menu, and then click Adjust by.
Enter the inventory quantity to remove.
Select your store location as the origin.
Select Inventory removal as the destination.
Optional: To record why you're making this adjustment, click
Add reason, and then select a reason.Click the
icon.Review the pending changes that are displayed in the relevant table cells.
Click Save.
Product details page
From your Shopify admin, go to Products.
Click the product that you want to update.
In the Inventory section, in the Available or Total column, click the product quantity that you want to update.
Click the Set to drop-down menu, and then click Adjust by.
Enter the inventory quantity to remove.
Select your store location as the origin.
Select Inventory removal as the destination.
Optional: To record why you're making this adjustment, click
Add reason, and then select a reason.Click the
icon.Review the pending changes that are displayed in the Inventory section.
Click Save.
Variant details page
From your Shopify admin, go to Products.
Click the product that contains the variant you want to update.
In the Variants section, click the variant that you want to update.
In the Inventory section, in the Available or Total column, click the product quantity that you want to update.
Click the Set to drop-down menu, and then click Adjust by.
Enter the inventory quantity to remove.
Select your store location as the origin.
Select Inventory removal as the destination.
Optional: To record why you're making this adjustment, click
Add reason, and then select a reason.Click the
icon.Review the pending changes that are displayed in the Inventory section.
Click Save.
Managing unavailable inventory
If your store uses unavailable inventory states, then you can add new inventory directly to an unavailable state, move inventory between unavailable and available, and move inventory between unavailable states.
Unavailable inventory is on hand, but can't be sold. Review the following unavailable inventory states:
- Damaged: Inventory that's damaged.
- Quality control: Inventory that needs a quality check before it can be sold.
- Safety stock: Inventory that's being held in reserve.
- Other: Inventory that's unavailable for a reason that you've determined.
When you select an unavailable state as an origin or destination, the adjustment is recorded in your adjustment history under the matching activity.
Your inventory changes are saved as pending until you click Save at the top of the page, which lets you review the changes before you apply them.
Steps:
Inventory page
From your Shopify admin, go to Products > Inventory.
In the Available or On hand column, click the product quantity that you want to update.
Click the Set to drop-down menu, and then click Adjust by.
Enter the inventory quantity.
Select the origin for your inventory:
- If you're adding new inventory to an unavailable state, then select Inventory addition.
- If you're moving inventory from an unavailable state, then select the unavailable inventory state.
- If you're moving available inventory to an unavailable state, then select your store location.
Select the destination for your inventory:
- If you're moving inventory to an unavailable state, then select the unavailable inventory state.
- If you're moving inventory to available, then select your store location. The destination is set by default as the location that's currently selected in your view.
Optional: To record why you're making this adjustment, click
Add reason, and then select a reason.Click the
icon.Review the pending changes that are displayed in the relevant table cells.
Click Save.
Product details page
From your Shopify admin, go to Products.
Click the product that you want to update.
In the Inventory section, in the Available or Total column, click the product quantity that you want to update.
Click the Set to drop-down menu, and then click Adjust by.
Enter the inventory quantity.
Select the origin for your inventory:
- If you're adding new inventory to an unavailable state, then select Inventory addition.
- If you're moving inventory from an unavailable state, then select the unavailable inventory state.
- If you're moving available inventory to an unavailable state, then select your store location.
Select the destination for your inventory:
- If you're moving inventory to an unavailable state, then select the unavailable inventory state.
- If you're moving inventory to available, then select your store location. The destination is set by default as the location that's currently selected in your view.
Optional: To record why you're making this adjustment, click
Add reason, and then select a reason.Click the
icon.Review the pending changes that are displayed in the Inventory section.
Click Save.
Variant details page
From your Shopify admin, go to Products.
Click the product that contains the variant you want to update.
In the Variants section, click the variant that you want to update.
In the Inventory section, in the Available or Total column, click the product quantity that you want to update.
Click the Set to drop-down menu, and then click Adjust by.
Enter the inventory quantity.
Select the origin for your inventory:
- If you're adding new inventory to an unavailable state, then select Inventory addition.
- If you're moving inventory from an unavailable state, then select the unavailable inventory state.
- If you're moving available inventory to an unavailable state, then select your store location.
Select the destination for your inventory:
- If you're moving inventory to an unavailable state, then select the unavailable inventory state.
- If you're moving inventory to available, then select your store location. The destination is set by default as the location that's currently selected in your view.
Optional: To record why you're making this adjustment, click
Add reason, and then select a reason.Click the
icon.Review the pending changes that are displayed in the Inventory section.
Click Save.
Inventory adjustment reasons
When you update inventory quantities from your desktop, you can select a reason to document why you're making the adjustment, in both the Set to and Adjust by methods. When you use the Set to method, the reason that you select is displayed in your adjustment history under the Activity column. When you use the Adjust by method, the Activity column displays the movement between origin and destination. The Add reason option isn't available in the Shopify mobile app.
Review the following table to learn more about each available reason.
| Reason | Description |
|---|---|
| Correction | The default option when no other reason is selected. Use to correct an inventory error, or as a general reason. |
| Count | Use after counting physical stock, when there's a discrepancy between the actual quantity and the previously recorded quantity. |
| Received | Use when adding new inventory from a supplier or external source. |
| Return restock | Use when adding a returned item back to available inventory, when the item can be resold. |
| Damaged | Use when adjusting inventory because items are damaged. |
| Theft or loss | Use when adjusting inventory because of theft or loss. |
| Promotion or donation | Use when adjusting inventory for items that are used in promotions or as donations. |
Troubleshooting missing inventory edit fields
If unavailable inventory values, such as Safety stock, aren't directly editable inline, then your store might use a guided adjustment flow. For stores using this flow, missing inline edit fields for unavailable states can be expected behavior.
To adjust unavailable inventory quantities, use the Adjust by method documented in Managing unavailable inventory. Select an origin and destination to move quantities between a store location and unavailable states.
Managing inventory in external systems
If you manage inventory in an external system and sync it to Shopify, then you can continue adjusting inventory quantities using the bulk editor. When using the bulk editor, you don't need to specify the origin and destination for your inventory quantities. However, a record of your inventory movements isn't tracked when you use the bulk editor.