- Short answer
- Turn on Show sign-in links in Settings > Customer accounts; by default, customers then sign in with a one-time email code.
- Default sign-in
- A one-time 6-digit code sent to the customer's email; no password
- Other options
- Sign in with Shop, Google or Facebook; your own identity provider only on Shopify Plus
- Theme shows no link
- Latest Horizon versions include the account component; on other themes, update first, then edit theme code if needed
- Requiring sign-in
- A separate Settings > Checkout switch: email-only contact, no accelerated buttons in the cart
- Legacy accounts
- Deprecated in February 2026; not available to new stores or existing stores not using them
Where do you turn on customer login in Shopify?
- In your Shopify admin, go to Settings > Customer accounts.
- In the Sign-in links section, turn on Show sign-in links.
- Click Save.
- Settings
- Customer accounts
No sign-up form is needed: when someone signs in with a new email, Shopify creates the customer profile automatically.
Legacy customer accounts were deprecated in February 2026 and aren't available to new stores or to existing stores not using them; if yours still uses them, start with the customer accounts migration guide.
Why doesn't the sign-in link show on your store?
Your theme decides whether and where the link appears, usually as a person icon or a “Sign in” label in the header. The latest version of any Horizon theme includes the account component, so if you use Horizon, update it first.
Other themes may support the account component, so update yours first; if it still shows no link, adding one takes a theme code edit, and Shopify's developer docs give a Liquid snippet for the header.
By default, the sign-in link's address looks like shopify.com/authentication/1234567890/login; with a connected domain, you can use a subdomain like account.your-store.com. Update any social sign-in or identity provider settings first.
How do customers sign in, and can you require it?
- One-time code: by default, customers enter their email and get a 6-digit code, with no password.
- Sign in with Shop: Shopify's Sign in with Shop guide says without Shop Pay it's on by default and can be turned off, while Shopify's feature comparison ties that default to the Shopify (now Grow), Advanced or Retail plans; with Shop Pay, only deactivating Shop Pay removes it.
- Google or Facebook: connected under Authentication > Manage; Google needs a Google Cloud developer account and Facebook a Meta Developer account.
- Your own identity provider: Shopify Plus only, replacing the default sign-in.
- Settings
- Customer accounts
- Authentication
Shopify's sign-in options overview also names Apple, while its social sign-in setup pages cover only Google and Facebook; connect what your own Authentication screen offers.
Requiring sign-in is a separate switch in Settings > Checkout. With it on, customers can only check out with an email address and accelerated buttons such as Apple Pay aren't shown in the cart; see where to turn on required sign-in.
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