Changing checkout error message

Shopify Discussion

Topic summary

Need to customize a misleading Shopify checkout error for products without shipping rules (e.g., oversized/unshippable). A screenshot shows the default ‘Shipping method not available’ message.

Initial advice: Check Online Store > More actions > Edit default theme content > Checkout & system. The OP had already looked and couldn’t find the specific string.

Resolution: The OP later found the correct location in Edit Default Theme Content. Use search (Ctrl+F) for the entry ‘Checkout shipping errors shipping method not available generic’.

Implementation: Two fields (‘one’ and ‘other’) appear under this entry; add your custom wording in those boxes to override the default message.

Outcome: A concrete method to change the checkout error was shared; no platform changes or code edits needed.

Status: Resolved with actionable steps; no further disputes or open questions noted.

Summarized with AI on December 20. AI used: gpt-5.
1

Hi,

This error message comes up for items I haven’t associated a shipping rule to (oversized unshippable items):

Shipping-Method.jpg
Shipping-Method.jpg619×303 16.6 KB

However, it’s a little misleading and I want it to say something like “Shipping not available. Oversized item, contact the store for shipping options”.

I have hunted through the Shopify Theme Content to try and find this message and change it, and cannot find it anywhere. Is there somewhere I haven’t looked that it may be hiding?

Thanks in advance

Nate

2

hi, have you tried the below:

  • on the themes page click the more actions button then edit default theme content

  • then selecting Checkout & system

Maybe the message is in there?

3

I’ve been through that numerous times and couldn’t find it in there. It was the first place I thought to look because all the other messages seem to be in there haha

4

Did you figure it out? We are having the same problem.

5

Hi, this took me a little to remember, but if you haven’t found it yet:

  1. Go to Online Store

  2. Click the 3 dots beside Customize and select “Edit Default Theme Content”

  3. Search (Ctrl+F) for “Checkout shipping errors shipping method not available generic” and then you should have 2 boxes (one) or (other) and you put your custom message in there.

It was pretty well hidden and I had searched through there numerous times.

I hope this helps!