Key takeaways
checkout.liquidis only available on Shopify Plus (and Shopify POS Pro). Standard plans cannot access it.- Access it at: Online Store → Themes → Actions → Edit code →
layout/checkout.liquid.- Shopify is deprecating checkout.liquid in favor of Checkout Extensibility — new customizations should use the new approach.
- Checkout Extensibility (checkout UI extensions + Shopify Functions) is the supported long-term path for all Plus checkout customization.
The checkout is the highest-stakes page in your store. A custom checkout layout, added trust signals, or a well-placed upsell can meaningfully improve your conversion rate. On Shopify Plus, you have the tools to build this — but the landscape is changing.
Who can access checkout.liquid?
Shopify Plus merchants only. The checkout.liquid file does not appear in the code editor for Basic, Shopify, or Advanced plan stores. Standard plans can only modify the checkout via Settings → Checkout (limited visual settings) and the “Order status page” additional scripts field.
Note for POS Pro: checkout.liquid is also accessible on Shopify POS Pro, but this guide focuses on online checkout customization.
Accessing checkout.liquid
- Go to Online Store → Themes → Actions → Edit code
- Look for the
layout/folder - Find
checkout.liquid— it’s only visible on Plus plans
If you don’t see it, your store is not on Shopify Plus.
Always duplicate your theme before editing checkout.liquid. An error in checkout.liquid can break your entire checkout flow, stopping all purchases.
What you can customize with checkout.liquid
Adding trust content
The checkout is where purchase anxiety peaks. Adding trust signals in checkout.liquid can reduce abandonment:
<!-- Add to the checkout header or sidebar area -->
<div class="checkout-trust-bar">
<span>🔒 Secure checkout</span>
<span>Free returns on all orders</span>
<span>Delivery in 2-3 business days</span>
</div>Shopify’s checkout Liquid has specific zones where custom content can be inserted: content_for_header, content_for_main, and others. Check Shopify’s checkout.liquid documentation for the current list of supported variables.
Custom checkout header and footer
By default, your checkout inherits a simplified version of your theme’s header (logo only) and a generic footer. In checkout.liquid, you can add brand elements, custom navigation links, and footer content that matches your brand.
Adding custom CSS
<!-- In checkout.liquid <head> section -->
<style>
.checkout-trust-bar {
display: flex;
gap: 24px;
justify-content: center;
padding: 12px;
background: #f5f5f5;
font-size: 12px;
}
</style>The important warning: checkout.liquid is being deprecated
Shopify announced that checkout.liquid will be deprecated in August 2024 for the thank-you and order-status pages, and the deprecation for other checkout pages is coming. New checkout customizations should be built using Checkout Extensibility, not checkout.liquid.
If your store is still using checkout.liquid for functionality, it will continue working until Shopify’s specific deprecation date — but you should plan to migrate.
Checkout Extensibility — the new approach
Checkout Extensibility is Shopify’s current checkout customization platform. It consists of:
Checkout UI Extensions — React-based components that render inside specific locations in the checkout. These are the equivalent of checkout.liquid HTML, but managed through Shopify’s Admin → Settings → Checkout → Customize.
Shopify Functions — server-side logic that runs during checkout processing (discount logic, payment customization, delivery customization).
What Checkout Extensibility can do
- Add custom UI blocks to the checkout: information banner, custom text, form fields
- Add upsell offers in the checkout sidebar
- Implement custom discount logic
- Customize payment method display
- Add post-purchase upsell pages
Accessing Checkout Extensibility
Settings → Checkout → Customize — opens the visual checkout editor. You can move elements, toggle sections, and add extension blocks here.
For building custom UI extensions, you need a developer and Shopify’s CLI to deploy extension code. This is more involved than editing checkout.liquid but is the supported, long-term approach.
What Fudge does and doesn’t do for checkout
Fudge builds and modifies pages within your Shopify theme — product pages, landing pages, collection pages, custom sections. Checkout customization is a separate system from the theme (governed by checkout.liquid and Checkout Extensibility).
For pre-checkout conversion elements — sticky ATC bars, upsells on product pages, cart drawer customization, countdown timers, trust badges — Fudge is the right tool. Describe what you want, Fudge generates the code as a draft.
For checkout-specific customization on Plus plans, use checkout.liquid (legacy) or Checkout Extensibility (new approach).
Thank you page / Order status page
The order confirmation page (the “thank you” page) is accessible on all Shopify plans via:
Settings → Checkout → Order status page → Additional scripts
This field accepts HTML and JavaScript and runs after a successful purchase. Common uses:
- Conversion tracking pixels (for platforms not using Customer Events)
- Post-purchase survey embeds
- Referral program prompts
- Custom thank-you messages
With Checkout Extensibility, Shopify has rebuilt the thank-you page as a proper extension target with a visual editor at Settings → Checkout → Customize.
