Why you must upgrade your Shopify Plus checkout.liquid by August 13, 2024
Shopify's Big Checkout Change Is Coming
If you're a Shopify Plus merchant using checkout.liquid customizations, there's an important deadline you need to know about: August 13, 2024. After this date, all checkout.liquid customizations for in-checkout pages (Information, Shipping, and Payment pages) will no longer work.
Shopify is replacing checkout.liquid with their new Checkout Extensibility system—a more modern, app-based approach to checkout customization that promises to be upgrade-safe, easier to maintain, and better integrated with Shop Pay.
What Exactly Is Changing?
The change affects all Shopify Plus stores that have customized their checkout experience using the checkout.liquid file. Here's what's happening:
- Starting August 13, 2024: Customizations to in-checkout pages (Information, Shipping, and Payment) using checkout.liquid will stop working completely.
- Shops that haven't upgraded by the deadline will automatically be reverted to a default, non-customized Shopify Checkout experience.
- Post-checkout pages (Thank You and Order Status pages) can still use checkout.liquid for now, but will eventually move to the new system as well.
Why Is Shopify Making This Change?
Shopify's move to Checkout Extensibility offers several advantages over the legacy checkout.liquid approach:
- App-based customization: Makes checkout improvements more modular and easier to implement.
- Upgrade-safe: Your customizations won't break when Shopify updates their checkout.
- Better integration: Seamless compatibility with Shop Pay and other Shopify features.
- Higher conversion rates: Checkout Extensibility maintains Shopify's optimized checkout flow while allowing customization.
- Code-free options: Many customizations can be made through the checkout editor without coding.
What Happens If You Don't Upgrade?
If your store doesn't migrate from checkout.liquid to Checkout Extensibility by August 13, 2024, your checkout will automatically revert to Shopify's standard, non-customized checkout experience. This means all your current checkout customizations, branding elements, custom fields, and specialized features will be lost.
For stores with heavily customized checkouts, this could lead to:
- Decreased conversion rates as customers encounter an unexpected checkout experience
- Loss of important functionality that your business relies on
- Brand inconsistency at a critical stage of your customer journey
- Potential loss of data from custom checkout fields
How to Upgrade to Checkout Extensibility
The upgrade process will vary depending on how complex your current checkout customizations are:
1. Basic Customizations
For simpler changes like colors, fonts, logos, and basic layout adjustments:
- Use Shopify's new Checkout Editor in your admin panel
- Install Shopify-approved checkout apps from the App Store
- Many customizations can now be made without any coding
2. Advanced Customizations
For more complex features or custom functionality:
- You'll need to build or commission custom Checkout UI extensions using Shopify's new framework
- These extensions can be developed as private apps specifically for your store
- The development process uses React components rather than Liquid templates
Start Your Migration Plan Now
The August 13 deadline is approaching quickly, and depending on the complexity of your checkout, the migration process could take time. Here's what we recommend:
- Audit your current checkout: Document all customizations you currently have in your checkout.liquid file.
- Prioritize features: Determine which customizations are business-critical vs. nice-to-have.
- Explore the Checkout Editor: Many basic customizations can now be made through Shopify's interface.
- Research checkout apps: Look for extensions in the Shopify App Store that might replace custom code.
- Engage development help early: If you need custom extensions, get a developer involved as soon as possible.
Need Help With Your Checkout Upgrade?
At Cybersphere, we're already helping Shopify Plus merchants upgrade their checkouts to the new Extensibility framework. Our team has experience with both the legacy checkout.liquid system and the new approach, making us perfectly positioned to ensure a smooth transition for your store.
Don't wait until the last minute to start your checkout migration. The August 13, 2024 deadline will be here before you know it. Contact us today to discuss your checkout upgrade needs and ensure a smooth transition to Shopify's new Checkout Extensibility framework.
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