Why aren't my 3D models loading in my custom theme?

Shopify Discussion
1

Hi, i need to add 3d models support into a custom theme, already got the models and followed the instructions in here

https://shopify.dev/themes/product-merchandising/media/support-media?shpxid=d2679d57-1193-4D55-4157-2E7531038506

but here

	window.Shopify.loadFeatures([
    {
      name: 'shopify-xr',
      version: '1.0',
      onLoad: setupShopifyXr
    }
  ]);

the setupShopifyXr never runs

2

setupShopifyXr not firing usually means the XR feature isn’t loading, not that your function is broken.

A few things to check:

  • window.Shopify.loadFeatures only works on supported devices. shopify-xr won’t load on most desktop browsers.

  • Test on iOS Safari with AR Quick Look support. Desktop Chrome will silently skip it.

  • Make sure your <model-viewer> has the required data-shopify-xr attributes and a valid USDZ.

  • Wrap your call in a DOM-ready check. If it runs too early, the feature loader won’t attach.

A lot of custom themes hit this because XR is very environment-dependent. Some teams avoid wiring Shopify XR directly and instead embed 3D via a web-based canvas flow, which doesn’t rely on shopify-xr at all (for example, setups coming from orbital3d.design).

XR on Shopify works, but only when all the conditions line up perfectly.