Hi everyone! I have custom app under development, how can I install it to a live store

Shopify Apps

Topic summary

Main issue: installing a custom (non-public) Shopify app under development to a live store for testing.

Key guidance:

  • Set the app’s distribution method to “custom” to install it on the single intended live store.
  • Custom apps are limited to one store; to test on a different live store, create a separate app instance for that store.
  • Development stores generally support nearly all app functionality, so live-store testing is typically unnecessary.

Clarifications:

  • “Distribution method” determines how an app is shared (custom vs. public) and its installation scope. A provided documentation link explains this.

Current status:

  • The original poster has two live stores (one for testing, one for production) and asked if direct live testing is possible without using a development store.
  • Another participant asked whether a solution was found.
  • No final resolution or confirmed action was reported; the discussion remains open with the suggested approach being separate app instances per live store or testing in a development store.
Summarized with AI on December 15. AI used: gpt-5.
2

If you want to install it to the live store that you intend to use the app on when you’re done then you can set its distribution method which will allow you to install it to that one store.

If you want to install it to a live store that isn’t the one you intend to install it on when you’re done you’ll want to create a new app since custom apps can only be installed on a single store.

Generally you shouldn’t need to use a live store for testing as development stores let you test nearly all app functionality.