How to Add Custom Sections and Blocks in Shopify — Without Breaking Your Theme
Customizing your Shopify store should make your site more attractive and convert better — not cause a panic when something breaks. If you want a unique hero, testimonial slider, or a tailored product layout, this guide shows a practical, low-risk process to add custom sections and blocks safely.
What you'll learn
You’ll get a simple, repeatable workflow to build and test custom Shopify sections and blocks without touching your live store. I’ll cover why sections matter, the exact steps I use, a short example pattern, and best practices to keep performance and updates friendly.
Why add custom sections and blocks?
Sections are modular pieces of your theme that you can add, rearrange, or remove. Blocks are repeatable pieces inside a section (for example, each testimonial inside a testimonial section). Together they:
- Let non-technical staff change layouts via drag-and-drop.
- Reduce dependency on third-party apps for simple features.
- Help you create focused marketing experiences that support conversions.
The risk: editing the wrong file or going straight into a live theme can break layouts or create downtime. The safe workflow below avoids that.
Step-by-step: a safe workflow I use every time
Follow these steps to add a custom section without risking your live store.
1. Duplicate the theme (never edit live)
- In Shopify Admin > Online Store > Themes, pick your theme and use Actions > Duplicate.
- Rename the copy to something like “Staging – Custom Sections”.
2. Create a new section file in the duplicate
- Open Actions > Edit code on the duplicate and add a new file in /sections, e.g., custom-testimonials.liquid or custom-about.liquid.
- Use descriptive names so you can find and reuse them later.
3. Define the schema and blocks
- The section file needs two parts: the HTML/Liquid that renders content and a JSON schema at the bottom that defines settings and block types.
- Use settings for single values (heading, image) and blocks for repeatable items (each testimonial).
4. Add the section to a template
- For Online Store 2.0 themes, use the theme editor’s “Add section” to place it on product, collection, or page templates.
- For older themes, you may add {% section 'custom-testimonials' %} directly into a template file (only in the duplicate while testing).
5. Test thoroughly
- Use the preview for the duplicate theme. Check mobile, tablet, and desktop.
- Test different content lengths, accessibility (alt text, heading structure), and load performance.
6. Publish when ready
- Once tested, publish the duplicate theme and keep the old one as a backup in case you need to roll back.
Quick practical example (conceptual)
A common use case is a testimonials section. Create /sections/custom-testimonials.liquid and build:
- A loop over section.blocks that outputs quote and author.
- Schema with a block type called testimonial that has text fields for quote and author.
- A max_blocks setting to avoid someone adding 20 testimonials and slowing the page.
You can see a code example and more details on this exact workflow at [https://prateeksha.com](https://prateeksha.com)/blog/add-custom-sections-blocks-shopify-without-breaking-theme.
Best practices that save time and headaches
- Always work in a theme duplicate first.
- Use clear names and labels in your schema so marketing teams can edit without guessing.
- Keep HTML semantic and avoid heavy scripts inside sections.
- Optimize images with Shopify’s image filters (serve properly sized images).
- Document your changes so future updates or handoffs are smooth.
Advanced tips
- Use conditional logic (if/else) to hide empty elements and avoid layout gaps.
- Add a “custom HTML” setting only when necessary; it’s powerful but can introduce XSS risks if misused.
- Build reusable sections that work across templates (about, hero, CTA) to reduce maintenance.
Where to get help and resources
If you prefer a template or custom build, check the full services and examples at [https://prateeksha.com](https://prateeksha.com) and browse more articles at [https://prateeksha.com](https://prateeksha.com)/blog. Those pages include walkthroughs and examples that mirror the safe workflow described here.
Conclusion
Adding custom sections and blocks is one of the best ways to tailor your Shopify store and improve conversions — as long as you follow a safe, repeatable process. Duplicate your theme, use clear schema and blocks, test thoroughly, and publish only when satisfied.
If you’d rather have an expert implement and test custom sections for you, reach out via [https://prateeksha.com](https://prateeksha.com). Small changes can make a big difference — and they shouldn’t cost you uptime.
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