Your Inventory page shows a number in the Incoming column, but the stock already arrived and Available hasn't moved. Or Incoming shows units you never expected. Both come from transfers and purchase orders that weren't moved through to the end. This guide explains how Incoming works, why it gets stuck and how to receive or clear it.
What Incoming means
Shopify defines Incoming as inventory on its way to your location from transfers, purchase orders or apps. Shopify states that incoming inventory isn't available to sell until it's received at the location, and once received, its state changes to Available automatically.
- Counts toward: Nothing you can sell yet
- Becomes: Available, after you receive it
- Where to see sources: Open the Incoming tab on the Inventory page and click a variant's incoming quantity
For all five states, see Shopify inventory states explained.
How transfer status moves stock
Each transfer status changes your numbers in a specific way. Most stuck stock is a transfer sitting in the wrong status.
| Status | What happens to inventory |
|---|---|
| Draft | Nothing is committed |
| Ready to ship | Committed at the origin (optional step) |
| In progress | Marked as incoming at the destination |
| Transferred | Received and available at the destination |
| Canceled | Committed items return to Available at the origin |
Common causes
If Incoming won't clear, look for one of these.
- Never received: The shipment arrived, but nobody received it in Shopify
- Partial receiving: Some units were accepted and the rest left open
- Wrong destination: Stock was received at a location that doesn't fulfill online orders
- Abandoned transfers: A transfer created by mistake and left In progress
Find the open transfers
Go to Products, then Transfers, and review anything that isn't Transferred or Canceled. Match each one against what physically arrived.
- Incoming tab: Click the incoming quantity to see which transfer or purchase order it belongs to
- Transfers list: Filter by status and check In progress first
- Ready to ship: These hold committed units at the origin, which also lowers Available there
Fix it step by step
Close each open transfer in the way that matches reality.
- Goods arrived: Open the transfer and receive the items, recording what you accept or reject
- Goods already moved without tracking: Use the menu and click Mark as transferred, which Shopify says creates and receives a shipment and makes inventory available at the destination
- Transfer won't happen: Cancel it so committed items return to Available at the origin
- Draft by mistake: Open it, click More actions, then Delete transfer. Shopify notes you can't delete a transfer that is ready to ship
Shopify also notes that a destination doesn't activate the product there. If you want the units to sell from that location, stock them while receiving or activate the product at the location.
Prevent it
- ✅ Receive transfers the day the stock arrives
- ✅ Add tracking and an expected arrival date to each shipment
- ✅ Review open transfers weekly
- ❌ Don't adjust Available by hand for stock that is still on an open transfer
Doing this at scale
Incoming stock only helps if it lands before you sell out. StockSense forecasts per-SKU demand with lead-time-aware safety stock, recommends a reorder point, quantity and date, and drafts purchase orders grouped by supplier. See StockSense.