Migrating from ScriptTag API to App embed block without adding friction

Retired Boards Appdev Store Design
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Topic summary

Migrating an existing Shopify app from ScriptTag API (used to inject JS on all storefront pages) to an app embed block, due to a 30‑day deadline to avoid delisting. The app requires its script to run on every page, making the embed block mandatory.

Current install flow with ScriptTag is seamless (install, confirm, success). The app embed block introduces extra steps: show a modal post‑install, send the merchant via a deep link to the Theme Editor, require the merchant to click Save to activate the embed, then return to the app.

Key friction points: merchants must manually enable and save the embed block, and the app cannot reliably confirm activation status after the Theme Editor step. This raises risk of drop‑off and support burden.

Sought outcome: a lower‑friction or auto‑enable approach, or a reliable way to verify activation from the app after redirect.

Status: No solution or official guidance provided in the thread. Another developer reports the same need. Discussion remains open with unanswered questions about reducing steps and confirming enablement.

Summarized with AI on February 20. AI used: gpt-5.
1

Hi there,

We’re urgently trying to update our existing app to stop using the ScriptTag API. As we would be delisted from the Shopify in 30 days otherwise.

We basically need to load a script on all pages. The best alternative we found is the app embed block.

But we’re afraid of the additional friction caused by the need to enable the block after the app installation. It doesn’t make sense to install our app without loading this JS script. Enabling the app embed block is mandatory for our app to work properly.

With script tags, the current process is:

  • The merchant clicks the button to install our app.
  • The merchant confirms on their store that they want to install our app.
  • They’re redirected to our platform with an installation success message.

With app embed block, the process would be:

  • The merchant clicks the button to install our app.
  • The merchant confirms on their store that they want to install our app.
  • They’re redirected to our platform with a modal explaining that an additional step is required. This modal contains a button to open the deep link in a new window. And some instructions or an animated GIF to explain what they must do on the store after following the deep link.
  • They click the deep link and land on their theme editor in a new window.
  • The merchant must then click “Save” in the theme editor in order to activate our app embed block for real.
  • They should then close the new window to come back to our platform. We have no way to confirm that they successfully enabled the app embed block.

Is there any solution that would add less friction? We’re going to lose a lot of customers in this process.

Many thanks for your advice!

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2

i also have the same question please reply if you are able to get solution

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