Taming the Shopify Bulk Editor: How to Save Your Column Views (and Why They Keep Resetting!)

Running a Shopify store means constantly managing your products. And let's be honest, the Bulk Editor is a lifesaver for making quick, widespread changes. But if you're like many store owners, you've probably hit a wall when it comes to keeping your column selections consistent. You set up your view, deselect a bunch of irrelevant columns, only to log in the next day and find them all back again. Sound familiar?

This exact frustration was recently voiced by Gladstonehifi in the Shopify community forums. They asked if there's a way to make custom column selections persist or a "deselect all" option. It's a common pain point, and the community discussion offered some really valuable insights into why this happens and what you can do about it.

The "Bookmark It" Workaround: Your First Line of Defense

The first, most common piece of advice, shared by jowel-66, is a clever workaround centered around how the Shopify Bulk Editor actually works. There isn't a "save view" button in the traditional sense. Instead, the columns displayed are dictated by a specific parameter in the URL itself: the edit= part.

This means you can manually craft a URL that includes only the columns you need and then bookmark it. When you open the bulk editor from that bookmark, it should load with your preferred view.

How to Set Up Your Bookmarked Bulk Editor View:

1. Go to Products: From your Shopify admin, navigate to Products > All products.
2. Initiate Bulk Edit: Select a few products (or all of them) and click the "Edit products" button.
3. Customize Columns: In the bulk editor, click the "Columns" button (usually top-right). Uncheck all the columns you don't want and check only the ones you need.
4. Refine the URL: Look at your browser's address bar. You'll see the URL includes an edit= parameter followed by a comma-separated list of column identifiers. For example, if you only want to see title, variant price, and SKU, ensure your URL looks something like this at the end:
   

   edit=title,variants.price,variants.sku

   You can even manually edit the URL directly in the address bar if needed, then press Enter to refresh the page.
5. Bookmark the Page: Once your desired columns are showing, bookmark that URL in your browser. Name it something descriptive like "Shopify Bulk Editor - Daily Price Update" or "Bulk Editor - SEO Fields."

Now, whenever you need to access that specific bulk editor view, just use your bookmark. jowel-66 also noted there's no single "deselect all" button, so you still have to manually uncheck unwanted columns initially.

The Deeper Truth: It's a Known Bug, Not Just a Missing Feature

Here's where VikashJ brought some critical clarity to the discussion. While the bookmark trick is helpful, it's important to understand its limitations. The column resetting issue isn't just about Shopify not having a "save view" feature; it's actually a known, actively tracked bug.

VikashJ explained that multiple merchants have reported the exact same problem Gladstonehifi faced: columns reappearing even when opening a bookmarked URL with the correct edit= parameter. This inconsistency, where the editor sometimes ignores its own URL, has been acknowledged by Shopify staff in their developer forums as a distinct bug with no current fix timeline. So, if your bookmarked view sometimes reverts, don't worry – it's not you, it's the bug.

Beyond Workarounds: What Else You Can Do

Knowing it's a bug changes our approach a bit. Here are the next steps you can take:

1. Report the Specific Bug to Shopify Support

This is really important for getting Shopify's attention. Since it's being tracked as individual reports, more specific feedback helps prioritize a fix. When you contact Shopify Support:

• Clearly state that columns are being added back even when you open a bulk editor link that you've bookmarked with specific edit= parameters.
• Mention that this isn't just the general "columns don't save" issue, but the bug where the editor fails to respect its own URL.
• If possible, include screenshots or a screen recording showing the issue.

2. Consider a Dedicated Bulk Editing App

For store owners managing thousands of products who need absolute reliability and advanced features, VikashJ suggested exploring third-party bulk editing apps from the Shopify App Store. These apps are often built with more robust "saved view" functionalities, custom templates, and greater consistency, offering a more powerful solution than the native editor's current state.

While it's frustrating to deal with these kinds of inconsistencies, it's great to see the community coming together to share solutions and clarity. The bookmark trick is a solid temporary fix, but understanding that it's a known bug empowers you to report it effectively and consider more robust solutions if your store's needs demand it. Hopefully, Shopify will roll out a permanent fix for this soon, making product management even smoother for all of us!