Key takeaways
- To add a block, find the section in the Theme Editor’s left sidebar and click Add block under its existing blocks.
- Available block types depend on the section - each section defines which blocks it supports.
- Blocks are the individual content items inside a section: text, images, buttons, icons, slides.
- Some sections have a maximum block limit - the “Add block” option disappears when the limit is reached.
- For block types your theme doesn’t support, Fudge can build custom sections from a plain English description.
To add a block to a Shopify section, open the Theme Editor, find the section in the left sidebar, click Add block under its existing blocks and pick a block type. Blocks are how you grow content inside a section: more feature items, more testimonials, more slides.
Why you can trust us
We’ve built and customised hundreds of Shopify storefronts. We also built Fudge, the AI operator for Shopify stores, with a 4.9 rating on the Shopify App Store.
How to add a block to a Shopify section
- Go to Online Store > Themes > Customize.
- Navigate to the page containing the section you want to add a block to.
- In the left sidebar, find the section and expand it to see its blocks.
- Click Add block under its existing blocks.
- A menu appears showing the available block types for that section. Click the block type you want to add.
- The new block appears in the sidebar and in the preview. Click into it to edit its content.
- Click Save when you’re done.
To copy a section along with its blocks, see Duplicate a Section in Shopify.
What block types are available?
Block types vary by section. Each section in your theme is built to support specific blocks. Examples:
| Section type | Typical block types available |
|---|---|
| Features grid | Feature item (icon, heading, text) |
| Slideshow | Slide (image, heading, button) |
| Testimonials | Testimonial (quote, name, rating) |
| Image with text | Button, text overlay |
| Product tabs | Tab (heading, content) |
If you don’t see the block type you need, that section doesn’t support it. Your options are to use a different section, or build a custom section.
To build one, see Build a Custom Section in Shopify.
Block limits
Many sections have a maximum number of blocks. For example, a three-column features section might cap at three feature blocks. A slideshow might allow up to ten slides.
When a section has reached its limit, the “Add block” button disappears. If you need more blocks than the section allows, you’d need a different section type or a custom implementation.
To change the order of blocks, see Move Blocks Within a Shopify Section.
Adding blocks to specific section types
Adding slides to a slideshow
- Click the slideshow section in the sidebar.
- Click Add block > Slide.
- Set the image, heading, and button for the new slide.
- Reorder slides by dragging their drag handles in the sidebar.
Adding items to a features or benefits section
- Click the features section.
- Click Add block > Feature (or whatever the section calls it).
- Set the icon, heading, and description.
- Drag to reorder.
Adding buttons to a hero section
- Click the hero section.
- Click Add block > Button.
- Set the button label and link.
- Most hero sections support one or two buttons maximum.
What if there’s no “Add block” option?
Some sections don’t use a block-based structure. They have a fixed layout with a set number of content fields - no blocks to add or remove.
If you don’t see “Add block” under the section in the sidebar, the section has a fixed structure. To add more items, you’d need to either:
- Use a different section type that does support blocks.
- Build a custom section via code or Fudge.
When you need a block type the theme doesn’t offer
Shopify themes define what blocks each section supports. If you need a block type that doesn’t appear in the “Add block” menu, the theme doesn’t include it.
This is one of the most common limitations merchants hit. Common examples:
- A countdown timer block inside a hero section
- A product comparison table block
- A video block inside a features section
- A custom icon block in a testimonials section
For these, Fudge, the AI operator for Shopify stores, can build the block from a description, such as “Add a comparison table block to the features section on our product template”. Tell Fudge what you need and where you need it - Fudge generates the Liquid code and adds it to your theme as a draft for you to review.
Quick recap
- Add a block: find the section in the left sidebar > “Add block” under its blocks > choose type
- Block types are set by the section - you can only add what the section supports
- Reorder blocks by dragging their drag handles in the sidebar
- Remove a block by clicking it and choosing “Remove block” at the bottom of its settings
FAQ
Why is the "Add block" option missing from my section?
Three possibilities: (1) the section was built without block support and only has fixed settings, (2) the section has hit its max_blocks limit and "Add block" disappears until you remove one, or (3) the section was built only to accept app blocks (you'll see an "Apps" entry but no theme blocks).
Can I add the same block type multiple times to a section?
Yes, by default. Most sections allow you to add as many of the same block as you want, up to the max_blocks limit. To add another testimonial, click "Add block → Testimonial" again. If a particular block can only be added once, the section's schema explicitly limits it.
Can I move a block from one section to another?
No. Blocks are scoped to their section's settings. To recreate a block in a different section, manually copy the content (text, image URL, link) and create a new block of the matching type in the destination section.
What's the difference between a section and a block?
A section is a top-level chunk of a page (a hero, a feature grid, a testimonials section). A block is a single item inside a section (one testimonial, one slide, one feature item). Sections sit on the page; blocks sit inside sections.
Can I add a custom block type to an existing theme section?
Not without code. Each section's schema defines which blocks it accepts. To add a new block type to an existing section, you edit the section's .liquid file: add a new entry to the "blocks" array in the schema, then add the corresponding Liquid output. Or describe what you want to Fudge and have it modify the section. Newer themes built on theme blocks can share block types across sections; check whether yours has a blocks/ folder.
