How can I create a custom form with file upload on Shopify without using an app?

Shopify Discussion

Topic summary

A merchant wants to add file upload functionality to a Shopify contact form without using paid apps. They successfully added HTML file input fields to their custom form, and all form data appears in the automated email notifications—except the uploaded file itself has no downloadable link and isn’t stored anywhere accessible.

Core Issue:

  • Shopify’s default contact form lacks native file upload support
  • Files submitted through custom HTML forms aren’t processed, stored, or attached to notification emails
  • The merchant views this as a basic feature that should be included in Shopify’s $29/month plans

Community Response:

  • Multiple users confirm this limitation has existed since at least 2018 with no official solution
  • Frustration is widespread—participants express disbelief that such a standard feature remains unavailable
  • Several workarounds mentioned:
    • Shopify Forms app (free, now supports file uploads)
    • Third-party apps like Cognito Forms or Elfsight Form Builder ($5.99/month)
    • Custom development solutions (one developer offers paid implementation)
    • Using external form services as proxies

Status: The discussion remains unresolved regarding a native, code-based solution. Most recent comments (2024-2025) indicate the feature gap persists, though Shopify’s official Forms app may now offer a free alternative to custom coding.

Summarized with AI on October 27. AI used: claude-sonnet-4-5-20250929.
1

Hello, so I want to create a custom form with file upload.

No, I don’t want to use an app, I want to have full control on the design + pay no monthly fee for such a basic feature.

To start with, I’m quite surprised Shopify has just a basic default contact form with name/email/message and that’s it.

Other small CMS (like Systeme.io) allow us to generate with extended fields, like the file upload.

So anyway with some HTML I added some fields for the file upload in my form:

Here is my custom form with some extra fields and the file upload: https://blox-usinages.myshopify.com/

Sanstitre.png
Sanstitre.png1663×724 62.5 KB

So far so good!

Now let’s test it

So everytime I click on the button “Send”, I receive an automatic mail from Shopify “New customer message …”

DevisPieceJointe3.png

And when I click on it, I have the confirmation that my code is correct, since all extra fields are here indeed!

At one detail: the file that I have uploaded in the test, can’t be downloaded!

There is no link attached to it!

DevisPieceJointeShopify.png
DevisPieceJointeShopify.png1195×570 24.8 KB

So basically, what I understand is that Shopify has not thought of a way to upload the file somewhere in their server.

That’s not understandable, as it is a basic feature, we pay at least 29$/month and that we have a file allocation to upload any photos (URL Dashboard/admin/settings/files)

So why don’t Shopify upload the files here??

So I am still with my issue of creating a custom form without using an app, and I don’t know how to do.

  1. Can I edit my HTML code, so that the file is uploaded somewhere, and then I can download it through a link that will appear in the automatic Shopify mail?

  2. Is there a way the file uploaded in the contact form be accessible in the files from our dashboard?

  3. Do Shopify provide any other default contact form templates other than name/email/message, on which I can have the feature of the file upload, and deal with it easily without working on any code?

(again, I was referring to a very small indie company Systeme.io), as you can see the file upload works lovely

DevisPieceJointeSystemeio.png
DevisPieceJointeSystemeio.png1020×440 22.5 KB

Thanks a lot for any enlightnements.

I can’t believe there is no way to play around and Shopify hasn’t a simple way for such a basic feature.

And if sadly, it is, please like if the feature is not available and you want it from Shopify!

PS: In case you ask:

  • So yes, the file attached appears in the mail as text rather than downloadable link

  • The file does not appear as attached with the mail sent by Shopify. I simply can’t have access to it.

  • The issue with the automatic Shopify mail isn’t with a specific file format. I have the same issue when the file attached is a simple image PNG, JPG or a PDF.

6 Likes
2

No, you can’t.

3 Likes
3

Well, and is there any way Shopify realized it kept stuck in 2010 and would develop this feature in a few months?

In my opinion this is barely a 15 min work for a developer from Shopify to implement this.

There were other discussions related that are dated since 2018 (see below)!

And Shopify apparently didn’t notice any of those.

Any hope that basic features with Shopify might be here before 2023?

Similar posts from 2018:

File Upload In Contact Form?

https://community.shopify.com/c/shopify-discussions/file-upload-in-contact-form/m-p/450780

Files Upload (Contact Form)

https://community.shopify.com/c/shopify-design/files-upload-contact-form/m-p/462509

7 Likes
4

I tried all the apps this week and they are all awful! I just want to place
into the contact form. It’s a really basic thing!! and have a file upload to Flickr or google drive or email itself to me .. but Shopify has identified that a lame way to make money even that jot forms thing is a bit lame. I am not happy about this. I found a guy from brazil who posted something to git hub as a solution ! but to be honest I have no idea what I was pasting into the code of my site.

1 Like
5

I would also love this feature. Indeed it is very basic and needs to be a SHOULD have priority. No need for 3rd party apps…

2 Likes
6

Did you get anywhere with this issue? It’s driving me crazy that Shopify makes this so difficult, and like you, I REFUSE to pay monthly for such a trivial basic need!

Shopify needs to get this on the product roadmap ASAP!

4 Likes
7

This is so disheartening to hear that something this simple is being ignored by Shopify. Don’t they care that 3rd apps and home brewed codes can break the site? This should be available as a standard feature.

8

Conveniently those discussions have been archived so we can no longer point fingers and let them know they have been ignoring something for years.

9

I’ve never used System.io, but if you can find the link to where the forms created in System.io gets submitted to, you should technically be able to simply change the and use them as a proxy instead of relying on Shopify’s form? Just a thought..

10

It is now october of 2023 & shopify has still not added this feature… I have to have clients fill out pdf then send via email versus allowing them a simple document upload via my shopify store…

1 Like
11

Hi! Have you found any solution to this but paying someone else to do it?

2 Likes
12

I’m with you 1000%. I’ve been after this feature for over 5 years using Shopify and still nothing.

13

Sign me up! How do we get started?

14

Hi,
I found out a custom solution and implemented it on a bunch of stores

If anyone interested in I can build one for him too.

(File-upload, success-message and 2 html email templates, all are customly designed and mobile responsive).

Also you can test the form live on the website too, Test Form File Upload.

15

Hi
Could you find any solution for that? now we are in 2024 and I have the same problem :grinning_face_with_smiling_eyes:

16

Hi there,

I am trying currently https://apps.shopify.com/shopify-forms as a (maybe) free solution, if not I might use the app for 5.99/month: https://apps.shopify.com/form-builder-by-elfsight

Cheers,

HD

17

With cognito forms you can do this.

18

I would be interested in adding a file upload option/button to our forms on our site. Files then emailed to a specific address if they cannot be accessed/stored from the Shopify site itself.

19

You can use cognito forms. They have a free version and it allows you to make a custom form with an upload feature. the upload will go into your account on cognito where you can access it. There is a method to embed the form easily onto a page in shopify.

20

I would rather not use an app for this. Should be simple as essentially every website builder has this option.