Deep link to a block under header

Shopify Apps

Topic summary

A developer is attempting to create a deep link that adds a theme extension app block directly into a Shopify theme’s header section (alongside search, account, and cart icons), but cannot achieve this programmatically.

Attempted approaches:

  • Using sectionId targeting with template=header-group fails because header-group.json is in the sections folder
  • Using sectionGroup:header targeting creates an unwanted new App section instead of adding a block within the existing Header section

Considered alternatives:

  • Modifying assets directly via Admin API (not recommended)
  • Creating an app embed that injects the button into the header

Open questions:

  • What is the correct method to deep link an app block into the header section?
  • Would a solution working on Dawn theme transfer easily to other Shopify 2.0 themes?

Current status: The issue remains unresolved. The original poster abandoned deep linking and instead provided users with step-by-step manual instructions. Another user confirmed experiencing the same problem with no solution found.

Summarized with AI on November 3. AI used: claude-sonnet-4-5-20250929.
1

Shopify theme extension app block needs to go within the header section of the theme, it is an icon that should be displayed along the search, account and cart icons. This is doable using the theme editor under sectionGroup:header, section:header but i can’t seem to do it using deep links.

I am using the Dawn theme as a basis, and in its code files header-group.json template is in the section folder

so targetting using sectionId does not work

https://${shopDomain}/admin/themes/current/editor?template=header-group&addAppBlockId=${appBlockId}/search-button&target=header

Targetting using the sectiongroup creates a new App section which is also not what i am trying to do (adding a block in the Header:header section).

https://${shopDomain}/admin/themes/current/editor?template=index&addAppBlockId=${appBlockId}/search-button&target=sectionGroup:header

Next steps would be to modify assets directly using the Admin API (which is not recommended). Or make an app embed that injects the button in the header.

Question 1: What is the way to do this correctly?

Question 2: Is my assumption of getting this to work on the Dawn theme, mean it will transition easily other 2.0 themes?

2

Any luck getting this working directly in the header instead of a new apps section?

3

No I just ended up skipping the deep linking and giving a step by step tutorial unfortunately