Shopify has rolled out a powerful new feature for both merchants and developers: Sidekick is now embedded in the Checkout & Accounts editor and the Checkout Blocks app. This AI‑driven assistant lets you configure checkout flows, customer account settings, and block functions without digging through documentation or waiting on support tickets.
What’s New with Sidekick
Sidekick, Shopify’s in‑product AI helper, is now available directly inside the desktop Checkout & Accounts editor. While you design your checkout or tweak account preferences, you can ask Sidekick to:
• Explain each checkout or account setting in plain language
• Recommend third‑party apps that match your needs (e.g., loyalty, upsell, fraud protection)
• Search the Shopify Help Center without leaving the editor
• Walk you through step‑by‑step changes
In the Checkout Blocks app, Sidekick now understands the block‑based architecture and can:
• Show how to configure blocks for the checkout, thank‑you, and order‑status pages
• Explain payment, delivery, and validation functions
• Summarize the current block configuration and its purpose
• Point you to the exact setting you need to adjust
Who Benefits: Merchants vs. Developers
Merchants – Get real‑time, contextual help while customizing checkout experiences. No need to toggle between the admin, help docs, and support tickets. Sidekick’s suggestions are actionable and can even surface relevant apps from the Shopify App Store.
Developers – While the primary audience is merchants, developers gain a faster feedback loop. When building custom checkout blocks or extending account features, you can ask Sidekick for function signatures, required JSON schemas, or best‑practice patterns without leaving the code view.
How to Enable Sidekick in the Checkout & Accounts Editor
Using Sidekick in the Checkout Blocks App
When you’re building custom checkout blocks, Sidekick can surface the JSON schema for each block type. Below is a sample snippet for a payment block you might configure via the app’s UI.
{
"type": "payment",
"settings": {
"title": "Credit Card",
"enabled": true,
"order": 1,
"validation": {
"cardNumber": "required",
"expiry": "required",
"cvc": "required"
}
}
}
Ask Sidekick, “What does the validation object do?” and it will explain each field, suggest additional checks, and point you to the official schema reference.
Action Checklist for Merchants and Developers
• Open the Checkout & Accounts editor and test the Sidekick chat.
• Run a quick query like “How do I enable account creation on checkout?” and apply the suggested toggle.
• If you need an app, click the recommendation button and install the top‑rated option.
• Developers: open the Checkout Blocks app, ask Sidekick for the schema of the block you’re editing, and copy the JSON into your custom extension.
• Document any changes in your release notes – Sidekick’s suggestions are now part of your configuration history.
Conclusion
Sidekick’s integration turns the checkout and accounts editor into a self‑service knowledge hub. Merchants can ship refined checkout experiences faster, and developers can validate their custom blocks without leaving the UI. Give it a spin today and let AI streamline your next checkout optimization.
Ready to boost your checkout? Open your store’s Checkout & Accounts settings now, ask Sidekick your first question, and share your results in the comments!
