Import troubleshooting
Resolve duplicate Shopify variant options
Two rows can share a product handle for a good reason. Compare their complete option combinations before treating either row as a duplicate.
Documented error
Validation failed: options are not unique
Compare variants within one product
Group rows by handle, then compare Option1, Option2, and Option3 together. A shirt in blue/small and blue/large has two different combinations. Two rows that both say blue/small need investigation. An additional image row can share the handle while carrying no variant options.
- Find all rows for the affected product handle.
- Read each option name and value as a pair.
- Check whether a repeated combination is an accidental repeated export, a mistaken option value, or a legitimate image-only row.
- Correct the source-backed value. Keep a record of any deliberate row removal outside the repair tool.
Use SKUs as a clue, not permission to merge
Different SKUs on identical option combinations can reveal a mapping mistake. Matching SKUs alone do not tell you whether two records should be merged. Use the source catalog to decide which variant each row represents.
Worked example
Both records currently describe the same option combination
URL handle,Title,Option1 name,Option1 value,SKU
canvas-tote,Canvas tote,Size,Small,00051
canvas-tote,,Size,Small,00052No automatic after value is offered. Confirm whether SKU 00052 is a different size, another product, or an accidental duplicate.
What this check cannot establish
Golanto never deletes or merges variant rows to silence this finding. Editing existing option values can affect variant identity; compare with a fresh store export first.
Check your file
Start with a copy. Review changes before downloading your import file.
Open the Shopify CSV fixer