This topic aims to address a very common question regarding the deletion of Products/SKUs in a VTEX store.
According to our documentation, available at this link: Delete a product from the store, it is not possible to delete Products/SKUs once they have already been integrated with other modules on the platform — something that happens relatively quickly after a Product/SKU is created.
For deactivation, there are a few options available:
-
Manual deactivation can be done by following the guidance in the documentation: Deactivate SKUs and products from the store.
-
There is the option to swap the product linked to a SKU, where it is possible to assign a SKU that was created incorrectly to a product where that SKU could be used. If the fields are completely different, simply edit the SKU information so that it fits the new product. The step-by-step instructions for swapping are described in the following documentation: How to swap the product of a SKU.
-
In cases where mass deactivation of Products/SKUs is required, it is recommended to do so via spreadsheet. To follow this option, simply go to Catalog > Import and Export, export the list of active SKUs you wish to deactivate, and when opening the spreadsheet, set the ActivateSkuIfPossible column to NO. This will uncheck the “activate SKU if possible” flag in the catalog.
Below is the documentation that explains the spreadsheet fields in more detail:
- Deactivation can also be done via the SKU update API, available for reference at the following link: Update SKU. To do this, simply set both fields below to “false” in the API call.
- If it is necessary to delete all products, the option would be a full database cleanup of the store, which is not recommended. If your store has Subscriptions, the cleanup can cause various issues, including breaking the UI. The step-by-step instructions for this option are described here: Database Maintenance (Full Cleanup).
If you still have any questions on the topic, feel free to ask here!
Flávio Pontes
Field Software Engineer | VTEX