Shopify merchants received migration emails requiring them to switch from JS Buy SDK to Storefront API Client by July 1st, but most have no coding knowledge and found the official migration guide incomprehensible.
Key Findings:
Multiple users searched their theme code (including Dawn and Minimal themes) but found no references to the JS Buy SDK library
Shopify support confirmed the migration only affects stores that customized checkout or use apps that alter checkout functionality since January 2024
Users who haven’t made custom checkout changes don’t need to take action
Resolution Path:
The issue primarily stems from third-party apps like “Add to Cart” that modify checkout
App developers should handle updates on their end
Simply removing problematic apps resolves the issue for most users
One merchant was quoted £400 (5-7 hours at £60/hour) by a Shopify Expert, though an honest expert later confirmed just deleting the Add to Cart app would fix it
Community Reaction:
Users expressed frustration that Shopify’s selling point is not requiring coding knowledge
Several threatened to switch platforms over this issue
Concern that basic store functionality shouldn’t require hiring developers
Summarized with AI on October 30.
AI used: claude-sonnet-4-5-20250929.
Hey. everything you said is my same experience. really hoping to clarify what I “need” to do (according to their email)
If anyone from Shopify sees this, Please help!
I need my store to keep running, and I have 0 idea what the migration guide is talking about. I pay so much to keep this store up and running, I can’t understand why it’s all of a sudden my job to do the coding on behalf of Shopify. I have a mind to follow Olafus and switch to another service.
Same here. We’re using an customized version of Dawn 7.0.1. I tried contacting support and they weren’t a lot of help. I’ve been combing through our theme code, though, and can’t see any references to the JS Buy SDK library. Looking at the docs for that library it mentions that you can utilize the library via CDN using this script: .
But I’ve searched through our theme and used Chrome Dev Tools to search for any reference of “js-buy-sdk” and even “shopifycdn.com” and there isn’t anything related to the Buy SDK.
We resorted to asking AI which did provide alittle help but said we needed to update the ShopifyBuy.Client JS code but it didn’t know where this code was located. After several hours of searching including downloading the entire code and running it through Atom, there wasn’t a single trace of it so AI said it couldn’t help further and suggested a Web Developer but that obviously comes with some costs which I’m yet to be quoted for.
Not impressed overall as basically makes Shopify redundant and as others have said, may need to look at switching to another provider.
so check it out. I had a chat with one of their support advisers. Here’s an excerpt :
SA: The Storefront API requires some technical knowledge to implement properly. If you’re not comfortable with coding yourself, I recommend hiring a Shopify Expert or a developer familiar with Shopify APIs. Since we Support Advisors may not be trained for coding. We have a Team that are Expert in Coding as well .
ME: so let me understand this correctly. The site that I pay you for will no longer work unless I pay you more to hire someone from your company to help me do the coding that your site requires in order for it to function properly?
SA: I would like to clarify the situation, The basic Shopify service you are paying for allows you to run an online store effectively. Shopify is always committed to ensuring your store functions properly, and we offer customer support to help resolve any issues you might face. The Storefront API is an advanced feature that allows for greater customization of how your storefront operates. Implementing the Storefront API typically requires technical knowledge, especially if you want to create a more customized experience for your customers. Our knowledge is only limited in basic set ups keep the store for running. That is why we recommend working with a Shopify Expert or developer who specializes in Shopify APIs.
okay.. these service have a very nice way of putting the burden of their functionality on the user smh… I DO feel like kind of an a$$ for responding to him the way I did, but I’m irate. (understatement) It seems like his response to me says I’ve installed something that I might not need? like the Dawn theme I installed. I don’t know.
I"m kind of astonished that noone from the Shopify support team has chimed in on this post. Looks like it’s getting traction tho! let’s keep adding to it until they can’t ignore us
Me too! Glad to have found this thread to know others are in the same boat. I have no coding knowledge at all and that is why I use Shopify. I use Minimal theme, an old theme but it does the job. I wondered if it was because it was an old theme, but Shopify tell me this problem applies to all themes. I am trying to get quotes from a Partner in order to do the task but not had any luck yet although a couple are lined up to have a look at my site and get back to me. I am FURIOUS with Shopify for landing this on us - if we cannot afford to pay an Expert to do the job then it is curtains for our businesses. We must continue this campaign to get them to do this themselves not shove it on to their customers, there must be thousands of us who have not got the necessary knowledge to do it.
I have an Expert looking at my site. How many of the people here have Add to Cart shopping channel installed? He thinks it may be that which is causing the problem. Especially on an old theme like I am using, Minimal. Anyone else got it installed? If you haven’t, and you are using a very old theme, it can’t be that I guess.
After talking with a Shopify Expert and Shopify themselves, it’s all down to if you have customised yourself or added an app that makes alterations to the checkout. If you have done neither, don’t need to do anything at all.
Shopify Expert said they had received a number of requests and the sites they looked at needed no alterations. I spoke to Shopify Support and told them this and they state if you’ve made no custom changes to the checkout and don’t use any apps that alter the checkout, nothing needs to be done and everything will continue as normal after 1st July.
The email went out to any store that has added an app that alters the checkout since January 2024, I remember we added an App to customise checkout and then removed it as didn’t provide what we needed, I assume this is why we received the email but since we uninstalled the app, no changes are needed.
Thanks for this. The only add on I use is a 3rd party bundle app. I got an email from them (the same day as the ominous Shopify one) and I went thru the link provided, clicked like 2 things and they said their side of it was resolved. I had no indication that this was refering to the same thing.. now from your message I’m speculating that it is. I haven’t altered anything since jan 24, but their email did say “since you’re using the API this applys to you”. I think I’m in the same boat here. I guess we’ll see on July 1st lol ?
I’d say, from what we were told, that sounds right. Hopefully the app developer has made the changes and you shouldn’t be affected. We tried to put an age confirmation at checkout but decided it was easier to have it at the entry page so removed the app, Shopify say this is why we received the email.
Thank you for that, I hope it is the case. I have an Expert looking into it and hope to hear from him today. I did get this from Shopify which indicated that any future change of theme would need the job to be done again… nobody I spoke to in Support had the knowledge that your guy had, it certainly depends who you get on the other end doesn’t it. This is what they said: “To answer your question: if you successfully implement the Storefront API Client on your current Minimal theme and later decide to switch to another theme, you will need to re-implement the Storefront API Client for the new theme. Each theme may have different configurations and how they utilize the API, so it’s important to ensure that any integrations are compatible with the new theme’s structure.” (Minimal is an outdated theme I have used since 2017 but it does the job for me!) I added the Add to Cart app about 2 years ago which my Expert thinks may be the cause… so hoping I can just delete it of that is the case.
I have had a quote from a Shopify expert who Shopify themselves recommended. He did not need access to my site but quoted me 5-7 hours work at about £60 per hour!
Someone above mentioned the App developer contacted them directly and told them they were updating it their end so may be worth contacting your app provider and see what they say.
