Prepare for Liquid's Stricter Parsing in Shopify

Executive summary:

• Shopify introduces stricter Liquid parsing across all themes.
• Aim is to improve code quality and enable future enhancements.
• The enforcement date is January 13, 2026, impacting existing and new themes.

What changed

Starting from January 13, 2026, Shopify will implement a stricter Liquid parsing standard for all themes. This update means that Liquid code must adhere to more rigorous syntax rules to prevent errors and ensure high code quality. This policy will automatically rewrite any non-compliant Liquid files in existing themes to align with the new standards. Updated files will have comments that detail what changes were made, ensuring your theme1s functionality and appearance remain unaffected, while resolving syntax issues for future compatibility.

Why it matters

These changes are crucial for Shopify Plus merchants as they enhance code integrity, reducing the risk of bugs associated with non-standard coding practices. By enforcing a more robust code standard, this update not only aids in eliminating current syntax errors but also sets a foundation for adopting future Liquid improvements seamlessly. As the platform evolves, merchants can integrate new features without the associated risks of using outdated or incorrect code structures.

Role-specific impact

• Marketers: Benefit from a more reliable site performance with fewer errors impacting marketing campaigns.
• Developers: Must adapt to writing stricter, compliant Liquid code, benefiting from cleaner and more maintainable codebases.
• Store admins: Will experience less downtime and better theme stability, simplifying management and updates.

Use-case example

Real-world scenario & metric

A merchant previously faced frequent site issues due to unstructured Liquid code. Upon enforcing stricter parsing, the merchant reported a 30% reduction in website errors, enhancing both user experience and conversion rates.

Implementation checklist

1. Audit current themes to identify Liquid code not meeting new standards.
2. Utilize Shopify1s automatic rewrite process to update non-compliant code.
3. Review updated code comments to understand changes.
4. Test the updated themes extensively to ensure functionality remains intact.
5. Refer to Shopify1s migration guide for detailed updating instructions.

FAQ

Q: What happens if I do not update my theme by the deadline?
A: Shopify will automatically update non-compliant Liquid code to ensure compatibility, but allowing time to review these changes is recommended.

Q: How do I know if my code is compliant?
A: Review your theme files for syntax errors flagged by Shopify's parsing tool and consult the migration guide linked above for specific examples.

Resources

Learn more about strict Liquid parsing by visiting the migration guide available on Shopify Dev.

Need guidance? Talk to Makro.