Shopify 2.0 Themes vs Vintage Themes: What Is the Difference

Shopify introduced Online Store 2.0 in June 2021. Themes built for it let you customize every page with sections and add apps without editing code. Older themes are now called vintage themes. They still work, but they're harder to change and to keep tidy.

What 2.0 themes add

• Sections on every page. Add, remove and reorder sections on product, collection and other pages in the theme editor, not just the homepage.
• App blocks. Apps add their features as blocks you place in the editor, instead of inserting code into your theme files.
• Dynamic content. Connect fields such as metafields to sections, so each product can show its own size chart, ingredients or specs from one template.
• Multiple templates. Create different layouts for different products or pages, without code.

The problems with vintage themes

• Sections usually only work on the homepage; other pages need code changes.
• Apps often inject code into theme files. Uninstalling an app can leave that code behind, which slows pages or causes errors.
• Fewer new features, since Shopify and theme makers focus on 2.0.

How to tell which you have

• In the theme editor, open a product page and try to add a section. If you can, it's a 2.0 theme.
• Check your theme in the Shopify Theme Store, where its details show whether it supports Online Store 2.0.
• Shopify's own Dawn theme and most themes released since 2021 are 2.0.

To see which theme another store uses, Shopify Theme Detector shows the theme and its installed apps, useful when you're choosing a theme based on stores you like.

Should you switch?

• Switch if you want to edit pages yourself, rely on several apps, or your theme hasn't been updated in years.
• Wait if your vintage theme is heavily customized and working well. Plan the move instead of rushing it.

How to switch safely

1. Install the new theme without publishing it, and set it up as a draft.
2. List your current customizations and apps, and recreate them with sections and app blocks.
3. Remove leftover code from old apps.
4. Test on desktop and mobile, including checkout, before publishing.
5. Check page speed afterwards with Lighthouse in Chrome DevTools.

For help with a migration, see Shopify design and development, and for useful tools, extensions for Shopify store owners.