Shopify app rejected for not using Polaris components

Shopify Apps

Topic summary

A developer’s sales channel app was rejected by Shopify for not using Polaris components, despite previous statements from Shopify staff indicating Polaris wasn’t mandatory.

Core Issue:

  • The rejection requires using Polaris design system, which conflicts with the developer’s existing internal design system
  • Using Polaris would break their consistent user experience across their separate application (a website builder)

Shopify’s Position:

  • Polaris is now required specifically for “onboarding and account connection” portions of apps that launch as iframes within Shopify admin
  • Requirements have evolved as Shopify has grown to ensure cohesive merchant experiences
  • A Shopify community moderator referenced documentation showing the onboarding workflow scope

Developer’s Confusion:

  • Unclear exactly where “onboarding and account connection” begins and ends
  • Questions whether components like “Connect your Shopify store” buttons or confirmation messages require Polaris
  • Their app only uses iframes for login, then routes users to their separate platform

Current Status:

  • Partner support has been unresponsive to clarification requests
  • The reviewer used a noreply email, blocking direct communication
  • Developer is stuck without clear guidance on implementation requirements
  • Another user questioned whether these Polaris requirements apply to marketing apps or only sales channel apps

Unresolved: The discussion remains open with no clear resolution on the exact scope of Polaris requirements.

Summarized with AI on November 16. AI used: claude-sonnet-4-5-20250929.
5

I see, sorry if I’m missing something but your screenshot above isn’t completely clear to me. Where does Shopify consider “onboarding and account connection” to start and end? For instance, if we had a button that said “Connect your Shopify store”, would that require Polaris? Or for instance, once a store is connected, would we require Polaris to show a confirmation message that their store had been connected? If this isn’t the case, I’m confused as to why we where rejected because the pop up itself contains just screens built by Shopify which are presumable built using Polaris.