Key takeaways
- All cart text strings are edited in Online Store > Themes, under the three-dot menu (…) next to your theme, in Edit default theme content.
- Search for terms like “cart”, “subtotal”, or “checkout” to find the specific string.
- Structural changes to the cart drawer layout (new elements, different button styles) require Theme Editor or Fudge.
- Editing language strings is safe and doesn’t affect code.
To change cart drawer text in Shopify, go to Online Store → Themes, open the three-dot menu (…) next to your theme, then choose Edit default theme content. Search for “cart”, edit the string and save. No code is needed, whether you’re changing “Your cart” to “Your bag” or “Checkout” to “Secure checkout”.
Why you can trust us
We’ve worked on conversion-focused storefront customisation for hundreds of Shopify brands. We also build Fudge, the AI operator for Shopify stores, with a 4.9 rating on the Shopify App Store.
How to change cart text in Shopify
Step 1. From your Shopify Admin, go to Online Store > Themes.
Step 2. On your active theme, click the three-dot menu (…) and select Edit default theme content.
Step 3. The editor opens showing a searchable list of all text strings in your theme.
Step 4. In the search box, type the word you want to find. For cart-related text, try searching:
cart- finds “Your cart”, “Cart is empty”, etc.subtotal- finds the order subtotal labelcheckout- finds “Check out” and related buttons
Step 5. The matching strings appear with their current text and an editable field.
Step 6. Click into the field and enter your updated text.
Step 7. Click Save at the top right.
Changes appear immediately on the live store.
To change the same text in your other languages, see How to Translate Text Manually in Shopify.
Common cart text strings you might want to change
| Default text | Alternative examples |
|---|---|
| Your cart | Your bag / Your basket / Your order |
| Checkout / Check out | Secure checkout / Complete my order |
| Subtotal | Order total / Total |
| Continue shopping | Back to shop / Keep shopping |
| Cart is empty | Your bag is empty / Nothing here yet |
| View cart | See my bag |
| Add to cart | Add to bag / Get it |
The specific string names vary between themes. Use search to find the exact label.
How to edit cart drawer structural elements
Editing default theme content changes text. It doesn’t change layout, add new elements, or alter the cart drawer’s visual design.
For structural changes - adding an upsell section to the cart drawer, changing the button style, adding a trust badge row, showing a free shipping threshold - you need:
Theme Editor: Go to Online Store > Themes > Customize, navigate to the Cart page (some themes expose cart drawer settings here), and look for configurable blocks.
Fudge: For changes not available in Theme Editor settings, describe what you want to Fudge, the AI operator for Shopify stores, and its store editor builds it into your cart drawer as a draft. For example: “Update the cart drawer to show a free shipping progress bar at the top, and add three trust icons (secure checkout, free returns, fast shipping) above the checkout button.”
A free shipping bar or a cart upsell is meant to raise order value, so once it’s live, Fudge reports order value before and after the change.
For cart add-ons, see How to Add Cross-Sells in the Shopify Cart and How to Add Upsells in the Shopify Cart.
Can you edit cart text on Shopify without a developer?
Yes. Edit default theme content is a no-code tool anyone can use safely. It edits display strings only - it cannot break functionality.
Things you cannot do in Edit default theme content:
- Change the cart’s visual layout
- Add new functional elements (upsells, progress bars, gift messages)
- Remove elements from the cart (like the quantity stepper or remove button)
For anything beyond text changes, use the Theme Editor or Fudge.
How to change the “Add to cart” button text
The Add to Cart button text is also in the language file - it’s not a product-level setting.
Step 1. Go to Online Store > Themes, then the three-dot menu (…) next to your theme, then Edit default theme content.
Step 2. Search for add_to_cart or “Add to cart”.
Step 3. Update the string (e.g., “Add to bag”, “Get this product”, “Buy now”).
Step 4. Save.
Note: this changes the button text across all products. If you want different button text on specific products (e.g., “Pre-order” for upcoming products), that requires a code-level customisation or a theme setting that supports per-product button labels.
For other buttons, see How to Change Button Text in Shopify.
FAQ
Will changing cart drawer text affect my Shopify SEO?
No. Cart drawer text is interactive UI text, not content Google indexes for ranking. Cart pages are typically excluded from Google's index anyway (they're personal/dynamic). Changes are pure UX/branding decisions with no SEO impact.
Should I use "bag", "cart", or "basket" in the Shopify cart drawer?
Match your brand category. Apparel/fashion: "bag" feels premium and brand-aligned. Grocery/general merchandise: "cart" is conventional. UK-focused stores: "basket" is the local convention. Whatever you pick, use it consistently across cart, checkout, and email confirmations.
Why doesn't my updated cart text show on the mobile cart drawer?
Three usual causes: (1) you edited a draft theme but mobile is showing the live theme, (2) your store has multiple languages and you only edited the default one (your phone may be on a different language URL), or (3) browser cache — hard-refresh (Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+R) on mobile or test in incognito.
Can I A/B test Shopify cart drawer text?
Yes via experimentation tools (Convert, VWO, Shopify's native A/B testing where available). Test variants like "Add to cart" vs "Add to bag" or "Check out" vs "Secure checkout". Effect sizes are usually small — only worth testing on high-traffic stores where small lifts compound to meaningful revenue.
Can I have different cart drawer text per language?
Yes. Edit the default language in Edit default theme content and each other language in Translate & Adapt (Theme → Default theme content). To rename a string across every active locale in one pass (e.g., "Cart" → "Bag" in English + matching translations in your other locales), describe what you want to Fudge and it updates each locale's language file.
