Shopify Winter Editions 2025: The "Boring Edition" that's anything but boring

Shopify’s Winter ’25 Edition takes a no-frills approach by focusing on core improvements that enhance reliability and performance. With over 150+ updates added, this release emphasizes making every aspect of Shopify’s platform more seamless and efficient for merchants. 

For a full list of the updates, check out Shopify’s Winter ‘25 Editions page. 

Or keep reading for a quick breakdown of a few of these updates and how they can positively impact your business.

Top 20 Shopify Winter ‘25 Edition updates

Checkout personalization: Enhancing customer experiences

These updates give merchants more ways to create engaging, frictionless checkout experiences that drive conversions.

1. Functions in draft orders

Customizations you’ve created with Shopify Functions now extend to draft orders and your checkout, creating a consistent and tailored checkout experience across both.

2. Chat apps in checkout

Shopify Plus and enterprise merchants can integrate chat apps into thank-you pages to provide personalized, real-time support.

3. Checkout Blocks on more pages

All merchants can now use the free Checkout Blocks app to personalize their thank you and order status pages without coding.

4. Shop Pay Installments on Shop Pay Component

U.S. merchants can offer installment payments through Shop Pay, allowing customers to split purchases into manageable payments. This gives customers more flexible payment options!

5. Faster cart and checkout & accelerated checkout buttons

Cart checkout performance was enhanced across the board including:

• 50% faster cart loading

• 58.8% accelerated checkout buttons on PDPs

Smarter operations: Boosting efficiency

These features empower merchants to make data-driven decisions and optimize workflows efficiently.

6. Location metafields for order routing

Merchants can now use location metafields to refine order routing rules, enabling scalable and dynamic fulfillment processes.

7. Enhanced analytics dashboard

Shopify’s updated analytics reporting offers real-time insights and a more flexible interface for tracking performance. 

8. Sidekick AI assistant

The Sidekick AI assistant is now accessible to more merchants, offering quick answers and operational support directly within the admin dashboard.

9. Shopify Flow can automate more

Multiple Shopify Flow updates were launched to help merchants automate more tasks, trigger workflows, troubleshoot, and more.

Marketing innovations: Driving customer engagement

These updates enhance how merchants connect with their audience, making marketing efforts more impactful and data-driven.

10. Customer account extensions

Merchants can enhance customer accounts by using apps (for example, order management, returns, subscriptions, etc.).

11. Shopify Email updates

Multiple updates improved Shopify Email features like custom UTM parameters, comparing ROI metrics, image editing, holiday email templates, and more.

12. Google Ads segmentation

Segments created in Shopify can now be used to create audiences with Google Ads.

13. Pixel Session Recordings and Heatmaps

Pixels can be used to create tools for compliant session recordings to analyze visitor behavior and friction points.

14. Shop Campaigns Expansion:

Non-Plus merchants in the U.S. and Canada also have access to Shop Campaigns, which now include win-back campaigns for lapsed customers and expanded reach through Google Shopping ads. 

Wholesale upgrades: Simplifying payment processes

These updates will simplify B2B transactions by saving time and reducing payment-related friction.

15. Vaulted credit cards & deposits on draft orders

Plus Merchants can now process payments using vaulted credit cards on draft orders. This feature streamlines payment handling and keeps track of buyer preferences throughout the transaction.

16. Branded customer login pages

The branding from your store is now also applied to your login pages.

Developer updates: Building more efficiently

These tools enable developers to create innovative, scalable solutions that elevate the merchant experience.

17. GraphQL becomes the Admin API

Shopify is transitioning to GraphQL as its main admin API, and will phase out REST. This change simplifies the development process and accelerates feature launches.

18. Extension-only discount apps

Developers can make apps for discounts using the Shopify-hosted Discount Admin UI extension, which reduces the need for extra code.

19. Theme Blocks for greater flexibility:

Theme developers can define reusable theme blocks to use in multiple sections and nest them up to eight levels deep, offering merchants more customization options.

20. More support with .dev Assistant & Community forum

.dev Assistant has been upgraded for a more powerful experience, plus developers can also seek advice from each other (and Shopify) in the Developer community forum.

Final thoughts

Shopify’s Winter ’25 Edition highlights the power of incremental improvements. By focusing on the fundamentals—performance, reliability, and user experience—Shopify continues to help merchants scale their businesses with confidence. This edition may lack flashy features, but its impact is anything but boring.