Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Shopify’s AI design tools work inside the admin and theme editor: Sidekick can suggest theme text, create custom theme blocks, and help change settings or page structure, while Shopify Magic also supports personalized theme and media generation. The theme determines where those changes can go and what merchants can edit. Treat generated copy and code as a starting point: review it, preview it, and test it before publishing.
How themes, sections, blocks, and settings fit together
A Shopify theme provides the storefront’s templates and design controls. In the theme editor, merchants can change content, layout, typography, and colors, then preview changes. Shopify recommends duplicating the theme before making major edits so there is a backup. Shopify’s theme editor guide explains the editing workflow.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
- Theme settings control store-wide elements such as typography, colors, social links, cart settings, and the logo. Changes made there apply across the online store. See Shopify’s Theme Settings guide.
- Sections organize a template into layout components. Header and footer sections are shared across storefront pages; sections can be moved, hidden, or removed.
- Blocks are smaller pieces of content or functionality inside a section, such as text, buttons, images, and links. The available block types and the number a section allows depend on the theme.
That structure matters when using AI: a store-wide color change belongs in theme settings, while content specific to one page belongs in an appropriate section or block. A generated block is not a universal component; the section must accept it, and theme rules determine what is available. Shopify explains sections and blocks here.
What Shopify’s AI design features can do
Draft or revise text in supported fields
Sidekick can generate text for supported theme text fields. The merchant describes the intended copy, reviews the suggestion in the selected element, and edits it to fit the store. Shopify recommends including the audience, product facts, and brand vocabulary in the prompt. Generated copy can introduce benefits or facts that do not apply to the product, so verify every claim. Read Shopify’s guidance on generating content.
#1 Best Overall
Generate a custom theme block
Shopify Magic can turn a description of content and layout into a custom block backed by Liquid code. The merchant can preview and refine the result, then keep or discard it. A kept block appears in the block picker and can be added to compatible sections; it will not necessarily fit every section or theme. Shopify’s theme-block guide describes the process and its limitations.
Adjust theme settings and page structure
Sidekick can assist with supported theme changes, including colors, fonts, and layout settings, as well as moving, hiding, or removing sections and blocks. These actions still operate within the controls provided by the theme. Check the editor’s actual options rather than assuming a setting available in another store’s theme is available in yours. See how Sidekick works in the theme editor.
Generate a theme or storefront media
Shopify Magic documentation also covers personalized theme generation and media tasks in the admin, including removing backgrounds from product images, generating logos, and creating hero banners. These are separate from editing a particular section or generating a Liquid block. Shopify’s Shopify Magic overview describes the broader feature set.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →How to keep AI-assisted design on brand
Use the prompt as a practical brief, then make the final brand decisions yourself. Include who the customer is, relevant product materials and intended use, the desired tone, and distinctive brand terms. Specific context can make generated text more relevant, but it does not make unverified claims safe to publish.
- Check product descriptions and promotional text against verified product facts; remove unsupported benefits, guarantees, or promises.
- Compare generated images and copy with the store’s established identity and intended audience.
- Use theme-wide settings for global choices such as colors and typography where the theme provides those controls.
- Use sections and blocks for page-specific content, and confirm their available settings in the current theme editor.
A careful workflow for AI-assisted theme changes
- Make a backup: duplicate the theme before significant changes, following Shopify’s theme editor guidance.
- Choose the right scope: open the theme editor from Online Store and decide whether the change belongs in global theme settings, a page section, or a block.
- Write a specific prompt: give Sidekick the audience, product details, brand vocabulary, desired content, and layout. For a generated block, state which elements should remain editable in the editor.
- Review the result: correct inaccurate copy and brand mismatches before applying it.
- Preview and test: inspect generated blocks in desktop and mobile views and test their settings before keeping them.
- Save and inspect the storefront: Shopify says merchants are responsible for reviewing and testing AI output before applying or publishing changes. See Shopify’s guidance on AI-powered tools.
Eligibility and limitations to check
Shopify’s theme-block help page lists Free trial, Basic, Growth, Advanced, and Plus as eligible plans and says the feature is unavailable on Starter. It supports Shopify Theme Store themes and compatible purchased third-party themes, but not vintage themes. Availability and eligibility can change, so check the feature in the store’s admin. Current plan and theme details are in Shopify’s theme-block documentation.
Shopify cautions that generated code may contain errors or fail accessibility and performance best practices. Its Help Center says: “AI-generated code may not always be perfect. It can sometimes produce errors, unexpected results, or code that doesn’t fully meet accessibility or performance best practices.” Shopify Support and third-party theme developers do not troubleshoot AI-generated block code; a merchant may need to remove a problematic block or hire a Shopify Partner. Shopify says the generated Liquid file is self-contained and can remain when the theme is updated. Review and test any generated code rather than assuming that an update or preview guarantees it will work correctly. Read the full warning and guidance.
More broadly, Shopify advises that AI output can contain errors. Whether the result is text, media, settings, or code, the merchant remains responsible for deciding whether it is accurate, appropriate, and ready for the storefront.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesQuick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
