Use “Ignore previous rules” to create an exception

Use Ignore previous rules to create ShipWith shipping rule exceptions. This action is useful when a broad rule should apply to most checkouts, but a specific checkout case needs to start again from Shopify's original delivery options.

The reset applies only when the rule containing it meets its conditions. It does not bypass conditions, create a missing rate, change a price, or create a shipping discount.

What the action resets

For the current delivery group, Ignore previous rules removes all effects produced by earlier ShipWith actions and rules:

• It unhides delivery methods hidden by earlier actions.
• It clears earlier delivery method renames.
• It unlocks delivery methods that earlier move, reorder, or cost-sort actions locked.
• It restores Shopify's original delivery method order for that group.

The reset does not stop processing. Actions below Ignore previous rules in the same rule run from the restored state. Later matching rules also apply from that state.

Shopify can split a cart into multiple delivery groups. ShipWith evaluates and resets each group independently. The original options and order can differ between groups, so check every group at checkout.

Example: hide Express except for tagged customers

Suppose Express should usually be hidden, but customers tagged VIP should be allowed to use it.

Create the broad rule

1. Create a rule named Hide Express by default.
2. Select a Function input that provides the fields needed by both rules in this recipe.
3. Under When the rule runs, select Always.
4. Under Actions, select Hide specific delivery method(s).
5. In Delivery method titles, enter Express.
6. Set Priority to 1, set Status to Live, and select Save.

Create the exception rule

1. Create a rule named Allow Express for VIP customers.
2. Select the same Function input as the broad rule.
3. Under When the rule runs, select When set conditions are met.
4. Add the condition that matches customer tag VIP.
5. Make Ignore previous rules the first action.
6. Add any actions that should apply after the reset below it. For example, add Rename delivery method(s) to rename Express for VIP customers. If no further change is needed, use only Ignore previous rules.
7. Set Priority to 2, set Status to Live, and select Save.
8. Wait for Shopify sync to show Synced before testing.

The priority 1 rule hides Express first. For a VIP checkout, the priority 2 exception matches and restores the delivery group's original methods, names, move locks, and order. Its later actions then apply fresh. For other customers, the exception condition does not match, so its reset does not run and Express stays hidden.

Priority and action placement

Lower Priority numbers run first, but that ordering is guaranteed only for active rules using the same Function input. Use the same Function input and distinct priorities for the broad rule and its exception. Do not rely on priority to order rules that use different Function inputs, because Shopify does not guarantee their order.

Place Ignore previous rules after every effect that you want to clear and before every action that should apply to the exception. Within one rule, put it above the exception's other actions. Anything above the reset is cleared; anything below it runs from the restored state.

See Understand rule priority and action order for the complete ordering behavior.

Test the exception

After both rules are Live and Synced, test these cases:

1. Check a non-VIP checkout. Confirm that Express is hidden in every delivery group.
2. Check a VIP checkout with the same products and destination. Confirm that Express is restored wherever Shopify originally supplied it.
3. If the exception has actions below the reset, confirm that their rename, hide, or ordering changes appear.
4. Test a cart that Shopify splits into multiple delivery groups. Confirm each group resets independently to its own original methods and order.
5. Test a VIP checkout where Shopify does not supply Express. Confirm that ShipWith does not create it.

If the exception does not run, confirm that both rules use the same Function input, the exception has the higher numeric priority, its conditions match, Ignore previous rules is above its later actions, and both rules are Synced. Also confirm that Shopify supplied the expected delivery method in that delivery group.