Is it possible to show the main product image on the checkout page instead of the variant image?

Ask & Offer

Topic summary

Issue: On Shopify Advanced, checkout displays the variant image rather than the main product image. Requester wants the main product image to appear at checkout.

Current status and platform limits:

  • Not achievable on Shopify Advanced. Checkout is largely locked down.
  • Shopify Plus is required to use the Cart Transform Function API (lineUpdate operations) to manipulate cart line items/images behavior.

Rationale:

  • In Shopify, customers purchase a variant, not a product; thus the variant image is shown at checkout by design.

Workarounds suggested (non-Plus):

  • Reorganize catalog into separate products (combined listings/sibling products/flat families) and use advanced theme customizations in the Online Store to control what gets added to cart (e.g., add a standalone product instead of the variant).
  • Improve or standardize variant images so the checkout image aligns with expectations.
  • Adjust wording in Checkout via “Edit default theme content” → “Checkout and system” to clarify imagery.
  • Customize notification emails to display whatever image you want for reassurance.

Outcome: No direct setting to force main product image at checkout on Advanced. Practical workarounds exist; full control requires Shopify Plus. Discussion remains open for alternative approaches.

Summarized with AI on November 25. AI used: gpt-5.
1

My current plan is Shopify Advanced.

On the checkout page, when a customer adds a product to the cart, Shopify is showing the variant image instead of the main product image.

I want the main product image to appear on the checkout page — not the variant image.

:pushpin: My Question:
Is it possible to show the main product image on the checkout page instead of the variant image?
If yes, how can I change this?

Thank you!

2

Hi @user3241 i’m @PaulNewton shopify partner I provide services such as theme customizations for problems like this.
Not possible currently with the Shopify-Advanced plan.
Shopify-PLUS is required to use the lineUpdate operations in the cart transform function api.

The workaround is to have separate products , aka combined listings aka sibling products aka flat product families, etc.

Where it’s either:
stitch them back together using advanced theme customizations for the online sales channel
OR when the “variant” is added to the cart what actually happens is the standalone product is added to the cart instead.

If you need to explore this approach, reach out to me for services.
:speaking_head: :postbox: CLICK my profile-pic on forums for options to connect.
ALWAYS provide context in new communcations such as post url etc

3

Technically, you’re not buying a product in Shopify, but rather a variant. This is why variant image is shown at checkout stage.

Generally, Checkout is not open for modifications (customers on Plus plan has a bit more flexibility here).

So your options are limited to change in your product organization, like selecting better variant images.
Additionally, you can change some wording in checkout (via “Edit default theme content”=> “Checkout and system”) if that may help.

Other options are less easy.

Notification e-mails can be changed and you can select whatever image you want there (to provide peace of mind to your customers).