Exporting Returns
Export your returns (RMAs) — the requests to send items back — to a CSV or Excel file, across one store or all your connected stores at once. It's the quickest way to get a returns log out of Shopify: which order, its status, what came back, why, and when.
For the wizard itself — picking columns, formats, destinations, and schedules — see the exporting overview.
What you can export
In Simple mode you pick from a curated list of the fields merchants export most. The default set mirrors the Returns dashboard; these are the most useful fields:
| Field | What it is |
|---|---|
Return | The user-facing return name (e.g. #1001-R1). |
Order | The order name this return belongs to (e.g. #1001). |
Status | Return status: REQUESTED, OPEN, CLOSED, DECLINED, or CANCELED. |
Line Items | Count of return line items on this return. |
Total Qty | Sum of return line-item quantities. |
Decline Reason | Why the merchant declined the request (when DECLINED). |
Staff ID | The staff member who created the return, when present. |
Approved At | When the return request was approved. |
Closed At | When the return was closed. |
Created At | When the return was created. |
Store | The store the return belongs to. |
The per-item return reasons and notes live on the line items — include them to see why each item came back. The export can also pull fields from the parent Order (email, financial and fulfillment status, total, currency), and a Custom line-item summary column. Switch to Template (Advanced) mode for the full column tree.
One row per line item
Each return can cover several line items. As soon as you include any line-item column (title, SKU, variant, quantity, return reason, return reason note, image URL, refundable/refunded quantities), the export expands to one row per return line item, with the return-level fields (return, order, status, dates) repeated on each row. Without line-item columns it's one row per return — use the Line Items count or Line Items Summary custom column for a single-row view.
Filtering what you export
You can narrow a returns export to a common slice:
- Store — one store, several, or all of them.
- Status — Requested, Open, Closed, Declined, or Canceled.
- Order — a specific order name.
- Return — a specific return name.
- Created At / Updated At / Closed At — a date range.
The filter you set on an export in the wizard is part of that export and is independent of whatever filter you last used on the dashboard.
Exporting from the dashboard vs the wizard
From the Returns dashboard, the Export button (the Export Builder) is the quick path — it exports exactly what you're looking at, scoped to Current page, Filtered, Selected, or All returns across your stores. Use the Export Wizard (Exports → New export) when you want to combine returns with other entities in one run, or save the export on a schedule.
Scheduling
Any returns export can run on a recurring daily, weekly, or monthly schedule instead of once — useful for a standing returns report. See scheduled exports.
Tutorial: export open returns with reasons, one row per item
- Go to Exports → New export (
/exports/new). - In Step 1, tick Returns and click Next.
- In Step 2, keep the default Simple columns (Return, Order, Status are included), then open the Line Items section and tick Title, Quantity, and Return Reason to expand to one row per item.
- Add the Status filter and choose Open.
- In Step 3, choose Excel (or CSV) and a destination, then click Next.
- In Step 4, name it "Open returns", choose Run now, and download the file.
Permissions
- View Exports (
viewExports) — build and run return exports. - Download Exports (
downloadExports) — download the finished file.
Account owners have both. Grant them to team members from their permissions.
FAQ
Can I export returns to Excel? Yes — choose CSV or Excel (.xlsx) in Step 3.
A combined multi-entity workbook is always Excel.
Does the export include return reasons? Yes — each line item carries a Return Reason and a Return Reason Note; include the line-item columns to see them per item.
Why does one return span several rows? When you include line-item columns, the export expands to one row per return line item, repeating the return fields on each row. Without them it's one row per return.
Can I filter by return status? Yes — the Status filter covers Requested, Open, Closed, Declined, and Canceled.
Can I export returns from all my stores at once? Yes — an export spans every connected store by default; add a store filter to narrow it.
Can I schedule the export? Yes — save it as a daily, weekly, or monthly schedule and each run rebuilds from live data.