Shopify product says sold out? Inventory tracking, locations and overselling
A product that shows Sold out when you know you have stock is almost always an inventory setting, not a bug. Here’s how Shopify decides, and what to change.
How Shopify decides a product is sold out
Shopify says an item is out of stock when inventory is tracked and the inventory level is zero or below. By default, customers can’t add it to their cart until you add more stock.
So three settings matter: whether the product’s inventory is tracked, how many units are recorded, and where those units are.
Fix 1: the quantity is at the wrong location
If you use more than one location, the stock has to be at the location that fulfills online orders. Shopify says you need to add stock there for customers to be able to buy the product — units sitting at another location (a shop, a warehouse that doesn’t ship online orders) don’t help your online store.
Open the product, check the Inventory section per location, and move or add stock to the one that fulfills online orders.
Fix 2: the quantity is simply zero
After a sale, an import, a POS sale or an app sync, the quantity may have reached zero. Check each variant — one size or color can be sold out while others aren’t. Update the available units and save.
Fix 3: the product shouldn’t be tracked at all
Shopify suggests not tracking inventory for:
- digital products (ebooks, music, digital art);
- services (consultations, classes, appointments);
- made-to-order items;
- gift cards.
If one of these shows sold out, turn off Track quantity in its Inventory section.
Selling when out of stock (preorders, backorders)
If you want customers to keep buying after stock runs out:
- Make sure inventory tracking is on for the product or variant — the option is only available when tracking is on.
- In the product’s or variant’s Inventory section, select Continue selling when out of stock.
Two things to know:
- It doesn’t apply to Shopify POS orders; POS warns staff before they sell an item that isn’t available.
- Tell customers the shipping time in the description, so a backordered item doesn’t turn into a complaint.
If products are in stock but still missing from a collection, see Shopify product not showing in collection.
Moved off Stocky? Purchase orders, receiving and stock counts are now built into Shopify — see Shopify Stocky replacement.