This is what I’ve done too - but still frustrating there’s no solution yet!
Topic summary
Requirement sought: make the billing phone number mandatory at checkout, especially for local pickup and non-shipping orders.
Current capability: only the shipping phone number can be required. Billing phone remains optional, and allowing checkout by phone or email does not enforce a billing phone.
Use cases cited:
- Local pickup: phone preferred due to incorrect emails or spam/junk issues.
- Ticketed in-person events: phone needed for changes, personalization, and SMS reminders.
- Order verification: faster fraud checks and same-day fulfillment by calling customers; avoid contacting recipients for surprise gifts.
Shopify response: feature not available; requests will be shared with Development. No timelines. Any changes will be announced via the Shopify Changelog/Updates. Suggested exploring third-party SMS/email marketing apps for reminders. No backend code customization offered.
Workarounds shared:
- Change the checkout label to “phone number” in theme settings.
- Edit default theme content to remove “(optional)” and/or add “(required)” next to the phone field. These do not enforce validation.
Attachments: screenshots illustrate theme label edits.
Status: ongoing, unresolved. Multiple merchants have requested this since 2021; frustration noted but no concrete commitments yet.