What should I do when products are archived unintentionally during a feed update?

If your products are suddenly archived after a feed runs, it means a Remove Feed or Update Feed mechanism was triggered. Stock Sync compares your store data with your reference file, and based on your configuration, applies rules to archive or delete products.

To resolve this issue, you first need to understand the two different methods Stock Sync uses to remove items, as their logic is completely opposite.

Step 1: Bulk Restore Your Products in Shopify

Before adjusting your feed settings, you can quickly restore your inventory directly in your eCommerce platform:

1. Go to your Shopify Admin > Products.
2. Filter for Archived products.
3. Select all affected products, click Bulk Actions (or the three dots), and select Set as Active.

Step 2: Identify the Removal Method Used

Check which feed ran right before the issue occurred. The unexpected archiving happens for one of two reasons depending on the setup method:

Method A: The "Upload File" Method

• The Logic: This method treats the uploaded file as a "blacklist" or a direct hit-list. It will archive or delete any SKU that appears in both the store and the uploaded reference file.
• The Mistake: If you uploaded your entire supplier inventory file using this method, the system will assume you want to delete everything listed in that file.
• The Fix: Only upload a file containing the specific SKUs you want to remove, or switch to the Auto Clear method described below.

Method B: The "Auto Clear Discontinued" Method

• The Logic: This method acts as a cleanup tool. It searches your store and archives any SKU that is missing from your supplier's file.
• The Mistake (Multi-Vendor Conflict): If you have multiple suppliers or use multiple update feeds, an unfiltered Auto Clear feed will look at your entire store. Because Supplier B's products are obviously missing from Supplier A's file, the feed will mistakenly archive Supplier B's products.

Step 3: How to Correct Your Feed Settings

If you are using Auto Clear Discontinued:

1. Ensure the Remove Feed is explicitly linked to the correct corresponding Update Feed so it references the right data source.
2. Use a Store Product Filter (Crucial for Multi-Vendor Stores): Go to your Remove Feed settings and add a filter (e.g., Vendor or Tag). Set it to match only the specific supplier tied to that file.

Example: By adding a filter where Vendor EQUALS Supplier A, the Remove Feed will only check and clean up Supplier A's missing items, leaving the rest of your store's inventory completely untouched.

Updated on: 21/05/2026