- Short answer
- Partly: per Shopify's Help Center, Theme Store themes get automatic bug and security fixes and other updates are manual; uploaded themes get none.
- What Shopify installs itself
- Help Center: bug and security fixes; developer docs: any non-manual update, if theme code is unedited
- Every other update
- Manual: the new version goes to Draft themes, where you review it
- No updates from Shopify
- Uploaded themes, including unlicensed and third-party ones, themes edited in Canvas, and vintage themes beyond security fixes
- Your edits
- Editor changes carry over; conflicting code edits don't, so save a copy first
What does Shopify update on its own?
The Help Center sets the limit:
Automated updates are for fixing bugs or security issues in your theme. These updates don't modify the look and feel of your theme or make any changes to your content or settings.
When one is applied, a notification replaces the theme version number in your admin.
Shopify's developer docs draw a different line: an update ships automatically unless it changes or removes a setting's ID or type, tightens a range setting, or removes a section or block, and only if every file except settings_data.json and the /templates JSON files is unedited. Otherwise you're offered it as an unpublished copy.
The pages we read on October 13, 2026 describe no schedule, off switch or email for automatic updates.
Which Shopify themes get no updates?
These themes get no updates from Shopify:
- Uploaded themes: updates come only to themes installed from the Theme Store.
- A Theme Store purchase uploaded to another store: it's unlicensed until you re-purchase it.
- Third-party themes bought outside the Theme Store: ask the designer.
- Vintage themes: no longer updated, says the update guide; the versions page gives free ones nothing beyond security fixes. A Shopify Partner can make a paid one eligible.
- Themes edited in Canvas: no theme updates.
No Add to draft themes option on a theme that's in the Theme Store? The standard update won't work; install a fresh copy from the Theme Store and reapply your settings and customizations.
A feature needing a newer theme architecture isn't applied to your existing theme; the latest is theme-block themes such as Horizon. Weigh whether to move to a new theme.
What happens to your edits when you update manually?
- Online Store
- Themes
- Update notification
- Add to draft themes
Theme editor changes are copied over. Code edits, yours or an app's, carry over only without a conflict; otherwise you see “Theme added: code edits could not be included”.
Shopify says to save a copy of customized code first; downloading the theme file is one way.
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