# Tag orders automatically with Shopify Flow

> Tag new Shopify orders automatically with a free Flow workflow: Order created, a condition (shipping method, customer tag, SKU) and the Add order tags action.

Page: https://lintelagency.com/resources/shopify-tricks/auto-tag-orders-with-flow

## In short

Shopify Flow, a free app on the Basic, Grow, Advanced and Plus plans, can tag every new order that matches a rule: start with the Order created trigger, add a condition such as “at least one shipping line title contains Express” or “customer tags contain VIP”, then the Add order tags action. Tagged orders are easy to filter, save as a view or hand to the warehouse. The template library has ready-made versions.

## Facts

- **App:** Shopify Flow (free)
- **Plans:** Basic, Grow, Advanced, Plus
- **Trigger:** Order created
- **Action:** Add order tags
- **Last checked:** 2 November 2026

## How to use it

1. Install Shopify Flow from the App Store if it isn’t already, and open it.
2. Create a workflow (or search the template library for “tag orders”), and choose the Order created trigger.
3. Add a condition: pick the variable (for example Shipping lines > Title), a list operator such as At least one of, and a field operator such as contains.
4. Add the Add order tags action with your tag, turn the workflow on and place a test order; check it under Recent runs.

## Code

### workflow.txt

```text
# Shopify Flow: tag express-shipping orders so the warehouse sees them first
Apps > Shopify Flow > Create workflow

Trigger    Order created
Condition  Order > Shipping lines > Title
           list operator:  At least one of
           field operator: contains  "Express"
Action     Add order tags   express-shipping

Turn the workflow on, place a test order and check it under Recent runs.

# Same pattern with other conditions (Order created trigger)
order.customer.tags   contains "VIP"     ->  Add order tags: vip
Line items > SKU      starts with "PRE-" ->  Add order tags: pre-order

# Then filter the order list by the tag
tag:express-shipping fulfillment_status:unfulfilled
```

## Limits and edge cases

- Tags are case sensitive in this action; settle on one spelling before you filter by them.
- If Flow says it added a tag but it’s gone, another app probably edited the order after Flow; Shopify’s help suggests asking that app or adding a Wait step.
- Staff need Flow permissions to create and turn on workflows.
- The Send HTTP Request action needs Grow, Advanced or Plus; tagging works on every Flow plan.

## Questions

### How do I automatically tag orders in Shopify?

Use Shopify Flow: Order created trigger, a condition, then the Add order tags action.

### Is Shopify Flow free?

Yes. It’s a free app on the Basic, Grow, Advanced and Plus plans.

### Can Flow tag orders that were placed before the workflow existed?

The Order created trigger only fires for new orders. For existing orders, filter the list and use a bulk action, or the tagsAdd mutation.

### Why did my Flow tag disappear?

Another app may have saved the order after Flow and overwritten the tags. Check the app, or add a wait before the tag action.

## Shopify documentation

- [Shopify Flow (plans)](https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/shopify-flow)
- [Add order tags action](https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/shopify-flow/reference/actions/add-order-tags)
- [Understanding conditions](https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/shopify-flow/getting-started/understanding-conditions)

## Related

- [Admin search syntax: filters, OR, NOT and ranges](https://lintelagency.com/resources/shopify-tricks/admin-search-syntax)
- [Test orders with the Test payment gateway (Bogus Gateway)](https://lintelagency.com/resources/shopify-tricks/test-orders-bogus-gateway)
- [Add tags to orders, customers or products in bulk](https://lintelagency.com/resources/graphql/bulk-add-tags)
- [When the app stack is the problem: auditing installed apps](https://lintelagency.com/journal/too-many-shopify-apps)

License: MIT. Free to use in your own store and in client work.