Same issue here.
We changed the wording for the optional phone placeholder (which was set to ‘Phone (optional)’, to “Phone (Required)”, even though we are unable to make it a required field.
Topic summary
Goal: require the Billing (payer’s) phone number at checkout so merchants (florists) can contact the sender, not the recipient.
Current functionality: Shopify lets you set the Shipping/Delivery address phone number to Required via Settings > Checkout > Customer information > Shipping address phone number. This does not affect the Billing phone field.
User feedback: Multiple florists confirm they cannot make the Billing phone mandatory. Some changed language/labels (e.g., “Shipping Address” to “Delivery Address,” “Phone (optional)” to “Phone (Required)”), but this only alters text and does not enforce validation.
Suggested workaround: One post outlines editing “Optional phone label” under Settings > Checkout > Marketing Options > Customize Sign Up Labels > Checkout & System. Others report these fields are missing, suggesting outdated instructions and, in any case, it only changes wording.
Outcome/status: No confirmed way to require the Billing phone number. Users request Shopify to add a setting to enforce Billing phone as required. Discussion remains open.
Key terms: Billing phone = purchaser’s contact; Shipping/Delivery phone = recipient’s contact; Checkout = purchase flow.
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