Important Update for Shopify Merchants
Checkout Extensibility is now the only supported way to customize Shopify checkout. If you still need to move legacy customizations, our Checkout Extensibility upgrade service can rebuild them for you. Checkout Extensibility is a suite of powerful features that makes checkout easy. It is a suite of APIs (apps and tools) that makes it easier for merchants to make low code or no code customizations and build custom checkout experiences.
Table of Contents
- What is checkout.liquid and checkout extensibility?
- Why the Need to upgrade to Checkout extensibility?
- Key Features of Checkout Extensibility
- Why Upgrade to Checkout Extensibility?
- Who Can Use Checkout Extensibility?
- Steps to Upgrade to Checkout Extensibility
- Need Help?
Understanding Checkout Extensibility and checkout.liquid:
If you are a Shopify Plus merchant, you may have customized your checkout through the checkout.liquid layout, which was only available on Shopify Plus. Mostly, merchants use it to integrate data, add new components, change the checkout look and feel, and create custom integrations with third party services. Checkout Extensibility replaces it with checkout UI extensions, Shopify Functions, web pixels, and branding tools that customize checkout without editing its code.
Why the Need to upgrade to Checkout extensibility?
checkout.liquid is deprecated and no longer supported. Shopify describes Checkout Extensibility as faster, more secure, and upgrade safe, so it has retired the old approach in stages. Here is where every deadline stands as of October 2026:
- August 13, 2024: checkout.liquid customizations stopped working on the Information, Shipping, and Payment pages. Checkouts that were not upgraded in time were automatically moved to the standard Shopify Checkout without their customizations.
- August 28, 2025: checkout.liquid, additional scripts, and script tags were sunset on the Thank you and Order status pages for Shopify Plus stores. The additional scripts section in Checkout settings also became view only for all stores.
- April 15, 2026: editing and publishing Shopify Scripts was no longer possible.
- June 30, 2026: all Shopify Scripts stopped running. Discount, shipping, and payment logic now has to run on Shopify Functions or apps.
- August 26, 2026: the deadline for stores on non Plus plans to upgrade their Thank you and Order status pages, and the date script tags on those pages were sunset for non Plus stores.
Every one of these deadlines has now passed. If your store relied on checkout.liquid, additional scripts, or Shopify Scripts, those customizations no longer run, and the job now is rebuilding them with Checkout Extensibility, Shopify Functions, and web pixels.
Key Features of Checkout Extensibility:
Moving from checkout.liquid to Checkout Extensibility will provide you following key features:
Using branding APIs and advanced customization options, you can enhance your brand's presence with Checkout Extensibility.
With Checkout Extensibility, you will have complete control over the entire checkout experience. Checkout editor is a drag and drop interface which can quickly and easily edit the look of your checkout (by adding your logo, changing the background color, updating the font etc.). You can not only just customize the checkout, but also thank you and order status pages.
You can increase the checkout user experience with apps. Simply head over to the Shopify App Store to install the apps that add the functionality you want to the checkout. These apps run inside Shopify Checkout, which Shopify says outpaces competing checkouts on conversion by an average of 15%.
ECOMZIER app developers use Shopify Functions to create apps that contain different functionality such as a new discount type. Merchants just need to install the app on their Shopify store, and the app will do the work. Shopify Functions are also the replacement for Shopify Scripts, which stopped running on June 30, 2026.
For making better marketing strategies, you need to track customer events. Checkout Extensibility has a feature for this called Shopify Pixels. Merchants can add and manage pixels by using Shopify pixels manager section.
A key issue with checkout.liquid was additional scripts, which let third party code run directly on checkout pages where customers enter personal and payment details. Shopify has replaced them with the Web Pixels API, which runs tracking code in a sandbox and makes checkout more secure.
Checkout Extensibility includes Checkout UI Extension and ECOMZIER, a Shopify Plus Expert agency, can build apps that provide the features your Shopify checkout needs. You can install these apps in Shopify Admin and use these apps for a better checkout experience.
On the upgraded checkout you have access to features like one page checkout, bundled product offerings, and stackable discounts. It gives you more flexibility.
Shopify Plus merchants can use all the Checkout Extensibility features and tools to build the checkout experiences they want.
Why Upgrade to Checkout Extensibility?
Here's why Checkout Extensibility should be on every Shopify merchant's to do list:
Customizations made through checkout.liquid are difficult to maintain but Checkout Extensibility works seamlessly. It can build custom elements for brand identity like progress bars, loyalty program integrations, and gift card options.
checkout.liquid let custom code run directly on checkout pages, which created security risk. Checkout Extensibility runs customizations through sandboxed, Shopify managed components and provides a safer shopping experience for your customers.
Performance improves too. Checkout Extensibility keeps your store on the current Shopify Checkout, including Shop Pay, which Shopify says delivers up to 50% higher conversion than standard checkout. Happy shoppers mean repeat business!
Who Can Use Checkout Extensibility?
The full feature set is reserved for merchants on the Shopify Plus plan. Checkout UI extensions for the Information, Shipping, and Payment steps and checkout styling are available only on Shopify Plus. Merchants on every plan can customize the Thank you and Order status pages with app blocks and track customer events with web pixels. If you run a high volume store and want to scale while providing a unique shopping experience, Shopify Plus is the best option.
Steps to Upgrade to Checkout Extensibility
You should finish the upgrade to Checkout Extensibility now if you have not already.
- Review Your Current Customizations: Check any checkout customizations you have made using checkout.liquid.
- Design Your New Checkout: Plan your perfect checkout process and what features you want in it.
- Create Your Custom Checkout: This could involve coding yourself or working with a Shopify Expert Partner.
- Replace Shopify Scripts: Use the Shopify Scripts customizations report to see which scripts you had, then rebuild that discount, shipping, and payment logic with Shopify Functions or apps.
- Test and Go Live: Test your new checkout thoroughly to make sure it works well for your customers.
Remember that all of the deadlines above have already passed. If you had checkout.liquid customizations, additional scripts, or Shopify Scripts, they no longer run, so rebuilding them with Checkout Extensibility is the way to restore that functionality.
The Official Shopify Checkout Upgrade Guide is an excellent starting point when preparing for the upgrade. To upgrade, you will need to replicate your checkout.liquid customizations in Checkout Extensibility. You might need help from a Shopify developer, and possibly some custom app development too.
Need Help? ECOMZIER can help in upgrading!
Upgrading your checkout can be a complex process. ECOMZIER, your trusted Shopify Plus expert, is here to help! We offer comprehensive consultation services to guide you through the entire process of migrating to Checkout Extensibility and creating a checkout experience that drives sales and customer loyalty.
You now have the opportunity to design your checkout process exactly how you want, while still benefiting from Shopify's secure and reliable system. Transitioning from the old checkout system (checkout.liquid) might seem challenging at first, but the advantages are definitely worth the effort.
You need to figure out what new tools can do and plan your switch carefully. This transition is a great chance for Shopify Plus merchants to enhance their checkout process, make it smoother, more personal and faster for customers. This change is not just about adapting but also about improving and optimizing the checkout process to better serve your needs.
Book a consultation with us or contact us today to ensure a smooth transition and to take full advantage of the new features available with Checkout Extensibility.