Hosted App Not Appearing in Store

Retired Boards Appdev Extensions
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Topic summary

A developer is struggling to display their hosted web app (with frontend and backend) in a Shopify store’s theme customizer. The app currently works in the Shopify admin but needs to be embedded in the storefront.

Current situation:

  • When accessing the store customizer, only a generic star rating app appears instead of their custom web app
  • Running shopify app dev or shopify app deploy doesn’t resolve the issue
  • The developer has created theme app extensions with an apps.liquid file following documentation

Key clarifications:

  • This is a private custom app with complex backend logic
  • The app has a fully functional frontend built with a hosted web app (not Liquid files)
  • Goal is to embed this web app into specific store pages/sections

Core misunderstanding identified:
Theme app extensions render content from Liquid files, not from the hosted web app itself. The developer is uncertain how to configure Liquid files to properly reference and display their web app in the storefront, or whether theme app extensions are the correct approach for this use case.

Status: Unresolved - the developer still needs guidance on the proper method to embed their hosted web app into the Shopify store.

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

Hello Everyone,

I have a hosted app (that has a frontend and backend) that needs to go on a store so clients can interact with it.

Right now when the app is hosted (or when running npm run dev) the app only appears in admin where it works as intended.

I am trying to work on theme app extensions → app wrappers to “wrap” my app and get it on the store customizer. However, I am confused on what needs to be done for this process to work.

I am referencing this documentation and have added an apps.liquid file to my extensions/blocks. I have attached a screenshot of the file contents and the file structure.
https://shopify.dev/docs/storefronts/themes/architecture/blocks/app-blocks#render-app-blocks

Some common misconceptions when trying to get an answer:

  1. The app on admin is for testing purposes. Its true need is to be embedded in a store so that it can aid in the buying experience.
  2. The app has a completely functional front end and design. I need to find a way to either reference it, bundle it, or wrap it and get it in a store. Not create a front end using liquid files.
  3. I want to place the app in the store thus it does not need to be present on all pages of the store (like an accessibility app etc). Just in specific sections/pages.
  4. When I go to the store customizer and click add a section → apps I find the generic star rating app. (See photos)

Thanks!

File structure:

Screenshot 2024-10-02 at 6.24.14 PM.png
Screenshot 2024-10-02 at 6.24.14 PM.png267×240 12.9 KB

Screenshot 2024-10-02 at 6.24.38 PM.png
Screenshot 2024-10-02 at 6.24.38 PM.png508×489 25.2 KB

Store view:

Screenshot 2024-10-02 at 6.33.56 PM.png
Screenshot 2024-10-02 at 6.33.56 PM.png613×325 24.3 KB

Screenshot 2024-10-02 at 6.35.00 PM.png

2

I’m not sure what you need, but I don’t just publish a theme app extension. Why not create a Remix app to manage pricing and support? Once it’s ready, you can submit it for review, and it will be added to the app store when accepted

3

Hello again! I think we spoke awhile back when I was curious about meta objects!
Heres some more clarifications hopefully this gets my goal across well!

  1. The app must be a private custom app
  2. I have attached a screenshot of what the APP is that needs to be in a shopify store. This app has some complicated backend logic that is currently in a hosted web app.
  3. When I go to my Shopify store I want to be able to add the app to the storefront but I can only see the ratings part (In the original question screenshots).

Screenshot 2024-10-02 at 10.14.45 PM.png
Screenshot 2024-10-02 at 10.14.45 PM.png1012×332 22.6 KB

1 Like
4

If it works when you run

shopify app dev

but not when hosted try deploying your Shopify app with

shopify app deploy

and testing it again

1 Like
5

So when I run Shopify app dev and Shopify app deploy the “apps” are present in the store but it is the generic star rating, not my web app.

Here is the screenshot of the app in the Shopify admin. How do I get this to appear in the store customizer?

Is there a way to get this app
Is there a way to get this app1404×864 84.5 KB

to appear here on the store editor?
to appear here on the store editor?255×349 16 KB

6

The theme app extension displays content from the Liquid file not from your web app
If the rating stars bother you, you can remove the rating stars Liquid file and the snippet stars from the snippets folder

1 Like
7

Okay, that makes sense.

  1. But how do I get the web app from the previous screenshot onto the store?
  2. I am under the impression that theme app extension app blocks is the way to do it. However I am unsure how the liquid files are configured for that process.