Shopify introduced Online Store 2.0 themes that are built on a framework that allows merchants to add an app to a theme or update an app, without altering a merchant's theme code. OptiMonk can now be added to any Shopify store as an app extension so that merchants can enjoy the benefits of Shopify's updated framework and Online Store 2.0 themes.

1. What is the Shopify app embed mode?

Shopify app embed mode is a way of adding OptiMonk to your Shopify store. Before the introduction of Online Store 2.0 themes, OptiMonk's script had been added to the theme code of your store.

The new system, however, packages code in modular blocks, giving merchants more control. Code is not only inserted or removed in an easier way, but this new framework also makes themes easier to support and troubleshoot.

On Shopify this is the only way OptiMonk is installed: there is no snippet to paste into your theme. In order to display the campaigns you need to enable the OptiMonk App Embeds on your Shopify store.

2. Who is the Shopify app embed mode available to?

Shopify app embed mode is available for all Shopify stores. You do not have to have an Online Store theme 2.0 installed.

3. How to enable the Shopify app embed mode

The app embed lives in your Shopify theme, but you can switch it on from OptiMonk — you do not have to find it in the theme editor yourself.

  1. Log in to OptiMonk, click your name at the bottom of the left sidebar and choose Settings.

  2. Open the Domains tab. Every domain on your account is listed here, with Code inserted or Not inserted on the right of the row.

    If your Shopify domain is not on the list yet, type it into Type a new domain, e.g. example.com and click Add domain.

  3. Click the row of your Shopify domain to open it.

    • A domain that is not connected yet opens the Connect your website flow. If OptiMonk recognises your store it offers the Shopify guide straight away (We recognized your platform: Shopify); otherwise pick Shopify under What e-commerce platform do you use?.

    • A domain that is already connected shows the Platform it was recorded with. Click Change platform and pick Shopify to get the same guide.

  4. The guide has two steps:

    • Install OptiMonk app on your Shopify store — Visit the OptiMonk app page in the Shopify store and click on the Add app button to install OptiMonk on your Shopify site, then On the next screen, click on Install app to finish the installation.

    • Enable the OptiMonk app embed on your Shopify theme — this is the step this article is about.

  5. In the second step, the OptiMonk app embed box tells you where you stand:

    • The OptiMonk app embed is turned on for {your shop}. — nothing to do.

    • The OptiMonk app embed is turned off for {your shop}. Turn it on to make your campaigns show.

    • We could not read the app embed state from {your shop} just now. This is on our side — you can still turn it on below, or try the check again.

    • Finish step 1 first — the OptiMonk app has to be installed on your Shopify store before the app embed exists.

  6. Click Turn on the app embed. You'll be taken to the theme editor of your Shopify store, where you can see all app extensions listed that you have installed. OptiMonk will now be set to active — the only step left that you have to do is click Save.

    If OptiMonk cannot reach your store, you get We could not reach your Shopify store to turn the embed on. Open the theme editor and switch OptiMonk on there. Use Open the theme editor and do it by hand: Open your theme editor, go to App embeds, and switch OptiMonk on.

  7. Back on the domain, click Check now to confirm. Checking loads your site once and looks for the code — it does not need visitors. A successful check says The OptiMonk code is live on {your domain}.

4. Things to keep in mind

  • A few minutes of processing time is required after the app embed setting. During this time, you're free to close this window and keep on working in OptiMonk.

  • ❗ If you change the Theme in the shopify store, you have to enable the OptiMonk app embed again. Run Check now on the domain after a theme change.

  • The connection check has two known blind spots: We can not check the connection between OptiMonk and your website as long as you use the free plan of Shopify, and a password-protected store cannot be read either. In both cases the app embed can still be on — you just cannot verify it from here yet.

  • If the check comes back unhappy, the message is The connection has not been properly created yet. The OptiMonk App Embed may not be enabled on your Shopify store or your store might be password protected. Reopen the theme editor and make sure you pressed Save there.