Installing and setting up apps

After you've found an app that you want to use, you need to add it to your store. You can install an app from the Shopify App Store, with a third-party install link, or with a unique link provided by a developer for custom apps. After installing, some apps also support blocks that you can add to key pages in your Shopify admin for quick access to app features.

Review app access before installing

Before you install an app, Shopify displays an Install app screen that displays the data and areas of your store the app needs access to. Review this information carefully before you proceed.

The install screen shows two categories of access:

• View personal data: The types of personal data the app can view, such as customers, store owner, and blog contributors.
• View and edit store data: The areas of your store the app can view and edit, such as customers, products, orders, discounts, gift cards, marketing, store analytics, and Online Store.

You can expand each category to view the specific permissions the app is requesting. The install screen also includes a link to the app developer's Privacy Policy, so you can review how they handle your data before you install the app. Learn more about the types of personally identifiable information that apps can access.

After you install an app, you can review its activity and permissions at any time from the app's about page.

Install an app through the Shopify App Store

Steps:

1. Log in to the Shopify App Store.
2. Search for an app that you want to install, and then click the app listing.
3. On the app listing page, click Install.
4. On the Install app screen, review the app's data access requirements and privacy policy.
5. To authorize the use of the app, click Install.

After the app is installed, you can view and use it from the Apps page in your Shopify admin.

Install an app with a third-party install link

Note

Third-party install links only work for apps created before December 5, 2019. If you click a third-party install link for an app made after that date, then you get an error message in your Shopify admin and can't install the app.

Steps:

1. Get the app install link from the developer's site, and then click the link.
2. On the Install app screen, review the app's data access requirements and privacy policy.
3. To authorize the use of the app, click Install app.

When installing with a third-party install link, you receive a warning that the app isn’t from the Shopify App Store. This doesn’t necessarily mean that the app is unsafe. However, the app has not been through the verification and approval process that’s required for apps that are listed in the Shopify App Store.

Install a custom app

If you hire a developer to build a custom app for your Shopify store, then they provide you with an installation link. Custom app installation links are specific to your store, and can't be used to install the app on another store.

Steps:

1. Get the app install link from the developer, and then click the link.
2. On the Install app screen, review the app's data access requirements and privacy policy.
3. To authorize the use of the app, click Install app.

For security reasons, custom install links expire after seven days. If your link expires, then the app developer needs to provide a new one.

If a developer has a collaborator account on your store, then they can install custom apps for you if you give them the full Manage and install apps and channels permission and activate the Approve app charges permission. Learn more about store permissions.

Create a custom app using the Dev Dashboard

You can create custom apps using the Dev Dashboard. Custom apps access your store's data using Shopify's APIs or extend your online store to other platforms.

When you create a custom app, you define what data and features the app can access through API scopes, create versions to manage changes, and release the app to make it available for installation. Each version can have different configurations and scopes.

Note

For detailed instructions on creating custom apps, configuring API scopes, and managing app versions, refer to Shopify Dev Docs - Create apps using the Dev Dashboard.

Steps:

1. From your Shopify admin, go to Settings > Apps.

2. Click Develop apps.

3. Click Build apps in Dev Dashboard.

4. From your Dev Dashboard, click Create app.

5. In the Start from Dev Dashboard section, name your app, and then click Create.

6. Create a version for your app:

   1. In the URLs section, define your app URL. If your app isn't embedded in the Shopify admin, then you can use the default URL https://shopify.dev/apps/default-app-home.
   2. In the Webhooks API Version, select a Webhooks API version.
   3. In the Access section, enter your app scopes.
   4. Click Release.
   5. Optional: Enter a version name and a version message.
   6. Click Release.

Install a custom app from the Dev Dashboard

After you create a custom app, you can install it directly from your Dev Dashboard. You can also share the app installation link when you need to install the app for other stores that are part of the same organization.

Note

You can only install a custom app in other stores that are part of the same organization. You can't share apps to other merchants or even to other stores that are in a different organization.

Steps:

1. From your Shopify admin, go to Settings > Apps.

2. Click Develop apps.

3. Click Build apps in Dev Dashboard.

4. In the Apps section, click a custom app that you want to install.

5. In the Installs section, click Install app.

6. Optional: If you have multiple stores, then select a store for which you want to install the app.

7. Click Install.

Get an access token for API requests

After you install your custom app, your app developer needs to obtain an access token to make API requests to your store. This process requires developer knowledge and can't be completed directly from your Shopify admin.

To make API requests, your developer needs to use the client credentials grant flow to generate an access token. This is a technical process that involves using your app's client ID and client secret.

Note

You can't copy and send an access token directly from your Shopify admin. Your developer needs to generate the access token. If you're working with a third-party developer or agency, then share this documentation with them to configure API access for your custom app.

Add blocks to your Shopify admin

Blocks let you use important features from your apps directly on key pages in your Shopify admin on desktop. You can add blocks to your Products, Orders, and Customers pages.

If you've installed an app on your store with a block for the supported page, then the page displays a Blocks section.

Note

Not all apps have blocks. If you don't have any installed apps with a block on a page, then the blocks section is hidden.

Steps:

1. From your Shopify admin, go to the page that you want to add a block to.
2. In the Blocks section, click + Block.
3. Click the name of the block that you want to add to the page as a preview.
4. Use the block that you've added. If you navigate away from the page, then the block disappears.
5. Optional: If you want a block to display permanently on the page for all staff on your store, then click the Pin icon next to the block.

After you install an app, you can manage your app settings, review your app charges, or get help from the app developer. If you need to remove an app, learn about uninstalling apps.