What is Shopify Checkout Extensibility?
Checkout Extensibility is Shopify's new framework for customizing the checkout experience. It replaces the old checkout.liquid file that Shopify Plus merchants used to customize their checkout pages.
The key change affecting conversion tracking: custom JavaScript can no longer run directly on checkout pages. Instead, Shopify introduced Web Pixels — a sandboxed environment where tracking scripts run securely.
Why Shopify Made This Change
Key Deadlines You Need to Know
Don't Wait Until the Deadline
Migrating early gives you time to test, identify issues, and ensure your conversion data remains accurate. Waiting until the last minute risks losing valuable tracking data during your migration.
August 13, 2024
checkout.liquid stopped working for Information, Shipping, and Payment pages
January 6, 2025
Auto-upgrades began for stores still using checkout.liquid
August 28, 2025
Thank You and Order Status page scripts stop working for Plus stores
August 26, 2026
Deadline for non-Plus stores to complete migration
What Will Break After the Deadline
What Will Break
Google Tag Manager scripts on checkout pages
GTM containers loaded via checkout.liquid or Additional Scripts will stop executing
Custom Google Ads conversion tags
Any gtag.js or conversion snippets in the order status page Additional Scripts
Third-party pixels in Additional Scripts
Facebook, TikTok, Pinterest pixels added manually will stop firing
Custom checkout.liquid modifications
Any tracking code injected via checkout.liquid template customizations
What Will Still Work
Google & YouTube app (Shopify's native integration)
Already uses the new Customer Events system
Tracking apps using Web Pixels (like ScaleUp)
Apps built on Shopify's Web Pixel API are already compatible
Facebook & Instagram app
Shopify's official Facebook integration is compatible
How to Check If Your Setup Is Affected
Follow these steps to determine if your Google Ads tracking needs migration:
Common Signs Your Tracking Will Break
- • You see "gtag" or "dataLayer.push" in Additional Scripts
- • Your GTM container ID appears in checkout page source
- • You manually added Google Ads conversion code to Shopify
- • An agency set up tracking using "the old method"
Check Additional Scripts
Go to Settings → Checkout → Order status page and look for "Additional scripts"
Check for checkout.liquid (Plus only)
Go to Online Store → Themes → Edit code and search for checkout.liquid
Review Your Apps
Go to Settings → Customer events (or Apps → Customer events in some versions)
Test a Purchase
Use Google Tag Assistant to verify where your conversion tags are firing from.
Skip the migration headaches
ScaleUp uses Shopify's Web Pixel API natively — no checkout.liquid scripts to migrate.
Install Free on ShopifyRated 5.0 on Shopify App Store
Your Migration Options
You have three main paths to migrate your Google Ads tracking to the new system:
Option 1: Use a Compatible Tracking App
RecommendedThe easiest path. Apps like ScaleUp already use Shopify's Web Pixel API and require no manual migration.
- No code changes required
- Enhanced Conversions included
- Automatic updates
- Works immediately
Option 2: Shopify's Native Google & YouTube App
Shopify's official integration is compatible with Checkout Extensibility. Good for basic tracking.
- Free
- Easy setup
- Limited event tracking
- May conflict with other tracking
Option 3: Create a Custom Web Pixel
For developers: build your own Custom Pixel that subscribes to Shopify's customer events.
- Full control
- Custom event handling
- Requires developer expertise
- Ongoing maintenance required
Understanding Shopify Web Pixels
Web Pixels are Shopify's new tracking framework. Understanding how they work helps you choose the right migration approach.
| Event | Google Ads Use |
|---|---|
| checkout_completed | Purchase conversion (primary) |
| checkout_started | Begin checkout event |
| product_added_to_cart | Add to cart event |
| product_viewed | View item event |
| collection_viewed | View item list event |
| payment_info_submitted | Add payment info event |
- Pixel code runs in a sandboxed iframe — it can't access the main page DOM
- Pixels subscribe to events (page_viewed, product_added_to_cart, checkout_completed, etc.)
- Shopify sends event data to your pixel when customers take actions
- Your pixel forwards data to Google Ads (or other platforms)
Step-by-Step Migration Guide
Follow these steps to migrate your Google Ads tracking. We recommend Option A for most merchants.
Option A: Using ScaleUp (Fastest)
Install ScaleUp from the Shopify App Store
The app automatically sets up Web Pixels for Google Ads tracking.
Connect your Google Ads account
One-click OAuth connection to import your Conversion ID and Label.
Remove old tracking code
Delete any Google Ads scripts from Additional Scripts to prevent duplicates.
Test with a purchase
Verify conversions appear in Google Ads within 24-48 hours.
Option B: Manual Custom Pixel Setup
For developers who need custom control over tracking.
Go to Settings → Customer events → Add custom pixel
Write pixel code that subscribes to checkout_completed
Use analytics.subscribe() to listen for events and send to Google Ads via gtag.
Configure data permissions and consent settings
Test thoroughly and remove old Additional Scripts code
Testing Your Migration
After migrating, verify everything works correctly before removing your old tracking code.
Important: Remove Old Code After Testing
Once you confirm the new tracking works, delete the old Additional Scripts code immediately. Running both will cause duplicate conversions and inflate your data.
Check Customer Events in Shopify
Go to Settings → Customer events. Your pixel should show as "Connected" with recent activity.
Use Google Tag Assistant
Complete a test purchase and verify the conversion tag fires on the thank-you page.
Check Google Ads Conversion Status
In Google Ads, go to Tools → Conversions. Your conversion action should show "Recording conversions."
Compare Data for 48-72 Hours
Run both old and new tracking in parallel briefly, then compare conversion counts before removing the old code.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my Google Ads campaigns stop working?
Your campaigns will continue running, but Google won't receive conversion data after the deadline if you haven't migrated. This means Smart Bidding will lose optimization signals and your ROAS will likely drop.
I use the Google & YouTube app. Do I need to do anything?
No, Shopify's native Google & YouTube app is already compatible with Checkout Extensibility. Just ensure you don't have duplicate tracking in Additional Scripts.
Can I still use Google Tag Manager?
GTM on checkout pages will stop working. However, you can still use GTM on non-checkout pages (homepage, product pages, etc.). For checkout tracking, you need Web Pixels or a compatible app.
What about Enhanced Conversions?
Enhanced Conversions work with Web Pixels. Apps like ScaleUp include Enhanced Conversions automatically. If building a custom pixel, you'll need to implement the hashed customer data yourself.
I'm not on Shopify Plus. When is my deadline?
Non-Plus stores have until August 26, 2026. However, we recommend migrating early to ensure your tracking is stable and avoid last-minute issues.
Sources
Migrate Your Tracking Today
ScaleUp uses Shopify's Web Pixel API — fully compatible with Checkout Extensibility. Set up in under 5 minutes with no migration hassle.
Install Free on ShopifyNo credit card required
Written by Jamie Scott
Founder & CEO, ScaleUp
Jamie has helped hundreds of Shopify merchants navigate platform changes and maintain accurate conversion tracking.
Google Ads & Shopify conversion tracking experts
Have questions about this article? Check our FAQ or contact us.
Related Resources
Ready to fix your tracking?
Get accurate Google Ads conversion tracking on Shopify in under 5 minutes.