Customizing the Checkout
Short answer
Theme code cannot change the Shopify checkout (including the order status / thank you page). Shopify controls it entirely for security, PCI compliance, fraud prevention, and platform consistency. No theme (ours included) can bypass this.
1. Ownership & Limits
For security and compliance reasons, the entire checkout flow (cart → information → shipping → payment → order status) runs on Shopify's protected infrastructure. Themes load only on the storefront. Once a buyer enters checkout, theme Liquid, sections, CSS, JavaScript, and app blocks from the storefront no longer execute.
Because of this strict boundary:
- We cannot add code, scripts, CSS, or extra HTML into checkout.
- We cannot fix checkout bugs—only Shopify Support can.
- Any visual or functional issues inside checkout must be escalated directly to Shopify.
We cannot intervene
If a Shopify support agent redirects you back to the theme developer for a checkout issue, politely insist this is a checkout (not storefront) concern. Theme developers have zero access to protected checkout code.
2. Deprecated: checkout.liquid
You may encounter outdated articles referencing a checkout.liquid file (formerly available to some Shopify Plus merchants). That legacy override was deprecated in 2023 and was fully removed in late 2024. It is no longer exposed—there is no file to edit.
3. What Can Be Adjusted Today
Shopify offers a small set of appearance controls (logo, colors, typography, banner image, etc.) in the admin under Settings → Checkout. Review Shopify’s official guide: Customize your checkout appearance.
These settings are the only sanctioned design levers unless you use extensions (see below). They do not permit arbitrary layout changes or custom scripts.
4. Accelerated / Express Payment Buttons
Buttons for PayPal, Apple Pay, Shop Pay, Amazon Pay, etc. may appear early in the flow if those gateways are enabled. There is currently no supported method to hide or reorder them strictly for aesthetic reasons. If this is a business-critical request, submit feedback to Shopify via their support channels.
5. Adding Functionality: Checkout Extensions
Shopify introduced checkout extensions—modular app-powered blocks that can surface during checkout (e.g., delivery date picker, upsells, custom messages). Key notes:
- Primarily available / most powerful on Shopify Plus (general merchants have more limited placement/options).
- Implemented via apps, not theme customization.
- Explore compatible apps via curated guides like: Guide: Customize your checkout or consult Shopify Help Center.
If you need a capability (e.g., collecting extra data) and no extension or app supports it yet, only Shopify can expand those APIs.
6. When to Contact Whom
| Scenario | Who Can Help |
|---|---|
| Styling inside checkout beyond provided settings | Shopify Support |
| Removing express payment buttons | Shopify Support (feature request) |
| Order status page technical issue | Shopify Support |
| Adding custom field / upsell | App (checkout extension) or Shopify Plus app partner |
| Theme layout issue on product/home/cart pages | Our theme support |
7. Summary / Reality Check
- Themes do not and cannot inject custom code into checkout.
checkout.liquidhas been removed and is not coming back.- Appearance tweaks are limited to admin settings.
- Functional enhancements require checkout extensions (often Plus).
- All true checkout malfunctions = Shopify’s responsibility.