How to add a subscription checkbox to the new customer account (one-time code)

Technical Q&A

Topic summary

The new Shopify Customer Accounts (with one-time email code login) lack a built-in newsletter subscription checkbox during account creation, unlike the Legacy system.

Current limitation:

  • No native opt-in option integrated into the signup flow
  • Forces merchants to collect marketing consent separately

Suggested workaround:

  • Add a standalone newsletter signup section to the store
  • Use third-party apps (Klaviyo, Shopify Email) with popup forms to gather consent post-login

Community sentiment:

  • Strong frustration that this basic feature was removed
  • Viewed as a significant step backward from Legacy accounts
  • Concerns that removing opt-in at account creation creates barriers to customer engagement
  • Some developers are advising clients against migrating to the new system

Status: Unresolved—no official solution exists, only third-party workarounds.

Summarized with AI on October 24. AI used: claude-sonnet-4-5-20250929.
1

Hi,

We’ve implemented the new recommended Customer Accounts where customers can log in with a one-time code sent to their email addresses. Unfortunately, we couldn’t find a direct way to add a marketing subscription box as it was the case with the Legacy accounts. We want customers to be able to choose whether or not they want to subscribe to our newsletters when creating a new account. It was more straightforward with the Legacy accounts.

How can we accomplish that?

Thank you

2

Hi @ITchef

For new customer accounts, to the contrary of what we do with the Legacy accounts, the newsletter opt-in box is not integrated in the signup flow. A possible workaround here is to add a newsletter signup section to your store, or use a popup form with the help of apps such as Klaviyo or Shopify Email to gather that consent separately post-login or after an account is created.

3

Hi Roan,

To be honest, it’s quite surprising, and frankly hard to understand, that the new Customer Accounts don’t allow for a newsletter subscription option during account creation. One of the main reasons customers create an account is to stay informed: about updates, offers, and brand news. Removing the ability to opt in to marketing emails at this crucial step creates an unnecessary barrier to engagement and limits the value of the account both for the customer and the merchant.

Shopify introduced the new Customer Accounts to simplify the Sign-in experience, but in doing so, failed to implement one of the most important features which is allowing customers to subscribe to communications. That undermines the very purpose of account creation and, to be honest, feels quite unprofessional.

This was seamlessly integrated in the Legacy system, and it’s disappointing to see that such a basic and essential feature is missing in what’s now considered the “recommended” version. I hope Shopify will seriously consider reintroducing this functionality or offering a flexible workaround soon.

ITchef

4

New customer accounts are a joke on Shopify - on many levels we have advised clients not to use them/switch to them. Complete waste of space created by people who aren’t working towards what merchants actually need.