I’m a beginner and loving the old layout and wanted to know how do I add a new section? How do I revert it back?
As someone who’s relatively new to editing Shopify themes, I found the updated code editor to be quite overwhelming and unintuitive. While I understand it’s built with developers in mind, I feel like beginners like me have been left behind in this update.
I appreciate the power and flexibility the editor gives, but honestly, it feels geared toward developers who already know what they’re doing.
If Shopify wants to be truly accessible for store owners like me who want to customize things ourselves, the code editor needs more support, simplified UI options, and learning tools built in.
Hi @tinedgt You are not alone there multiple posts about this, and I personally have been railing against this in the shopify-parnter channels on slack (#general,#theme-dev) .
Also contact shopify support with how this makes running your business MORE difficult.
Your issues are just the tip of a very big iceberg overcomplicating merchants lives.
The fundamental problem is developer arrogance that just be we developers are used to, or prefer , this complexity that merchants and all other partners MUST MUST MUST want to experience it as well. And that’s not even considering figuring out what higher level agendas shopify may be trying to push like charging a premium for code generation, etc.
Also join the other discussions perspectives:
Another complaint, new editor isn’t even usable on smaller screens / mobile devices , forgetting about merchants on the go
As someone who works with Shopify designing store layouts and trying to slowly get better at coding, I honestly feel let down by the new code editor. I chose Shopify because it used to be one of the few platforms that made sense for non-developers — especially creative business owners like me who are willing to learn.
But with this new editor, it feels like Shopify forgot that people like us exist.
Adding my voice to this—glad to see I’m not alone in finding this update counterintuitive and frustrating.
Figured out how to delete files (right click > delete permanently)
Also: I hate this update to the community? Also super unintuitive, difficult to edit comments, and I really hate that the comment bar is fixed to the bottom of the screen.
You’re absolutely right - the updated code editor can feel overwhelming, especially for beginners who just want to make simple customizations. While the new editor brings a lot of power for developers, I agree that Shopify should also provide a more beginner-friendly experience with simplified UI options, guided tutorials, or integrated help.
If you’re trying to add a new section, here’s a quick guide:
Go to your theme code editor.
In the sections folder (like in your screenshot), right-click and choose “New file”.
Save it and then add it to a page using Customize under your Online Store.
If you’d like to revert to the old layout, unfortunately, Shopify doesn’t offer a built-in option to switch back. But you can make the most of the new one by getting familiar with the structure (which you’re already doing well!).
If you’d like help customizing your store further, feel free to collaborate with me by sharing your Shopify Collaborator Code. I’d be happy to assist with your store design, section development, or anything you need.
You’re not alone — I help store owners like you every day who are learning and growing in this space. If you’d like to check out my previous work or discuss how I can help, I’d be more than happy to share and support you further.
VScode is better for coders but can be a bit confusing to non technical people. I just made a quick video about how to use is as a beginner: https://youtu.be/M6kA2kGjUgc
I like it but I get how it can be an issue…