Shopify import error: "Validation failed: You need to add option values"

How to fix it

1. Fill in the option value on every variant row the checker lists.
2. Check that each variant row carries the same URL handle as the product's first row.
3. Check the header row: the column must be spelled exactly Option1 value (or Option1 Value in older files).

Example

Title,URL handle,Status,Option1 name,Option1 value,Price,Inventory tracker,Inventory quantity,Continue selling when out of stock,Fulfillm...
Cotton Tee,cotton-tee,active,Size,S,20.00,shopify,5,deny,manual,
,cotton-tee,,,,20.00,shopify,5,deny,manual,

Once the listed rows are fixed, check the file again; the checker also looks for every other problem Shopify documents, so you do not trade one error for the next.

Questions

What does "Validation failed: You need to add option values" mean in Shopify?

The product has an option name, such as Size, but at least one of its variant rows has no value for that option. Shopify shows the option name at the end of the message, for example "You need to add option values for Size". A misspelled option value column in the header has the same effect, because Shopify then sees no values at all.

How do I fix it?

Fill in the option value on every variant row the checker lists. Check that each variant row carries the same URL handle as the product's first row. Check the header row: the column must be spelled exactly Option1 value (or Option1 Value in older files).

Other Shopify import errors

• Validation failed: options are not unique
• Validation failed: price can't be blank
• Inventory quantity can't be blank
• Inventory quantity is not a number
• Inventory policy is not included in the list
• Fulfillment service can't be blank
• All checks

Sources

• Shopify Help Center: Solutions to common product CSV import problems: https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/products/import-export/common-import-issues

Based on Shopify's help pages for product CSV import. Not tested on a live store.