As Shopify pushes more for "extensibility-first" , we’ve seen a massive wave of new tools recently:
- Shopify Functions
- Checkout Extensions
- Admin UI Extensions
- Post Purchase Extensions
- POS Extensions
Shopify is clearly moving away from rigid systems and opening up more "surfaces" where we can hook in.
(If you're interested in the reasoning behind extensibility find our interview with the CEO's technical advisor and head of product here: Shopify Extensibility Explained)
For merchants, extensibility means they can customize their store without waiting for platform-wide updates.
For us as developers, it means we can build more deeply integrated, higher-value solutions that don't break every time Shopify updates.
In this article, we’re diving into Shopify Admin UI Extensions.
We'll cover exactly what they are, the three core types you need to know, and most importantly how to get started.
By the end, you'll have a high-level overview that gets you up to speed and ready to deliver native-feeling features to your clients.
What are Shopify Admin UI Extensions?
Shopify Admin UI Extensions act as a bridge between your app’s specialized functionality and the Shopify Admin pages.
Where these extensions appear depends entirely on the type of Admin UI Extension you choose to build.
We’ll break down each type and their specific locations in the next section.
Because these extensions are built using Polaris (Shopify’s native design system), the integration is seamless.
Your app’s features won't look like a "third-party" add-on; they look, feel, and behave like native Shopify features.
The primary benefit here is workflow efficiency.
By bringing your app’s tools directly to the merchant, they can perform critical actions without ever leaving the Shopify Admin.
This eliminates the need to jump back and forth between different browser tabs or dedicated app pages, keeping the merchant focused and productive.
What are the three types of Admin UI Extensions?
Admin Actions
Admin Actions are focused, task-based extensions that allow merchants to perform app functions without leaving their current page.
- The Trigger: Found in the "More actions" menu on specific resource locations (like Product page) or within the “...” menu when selecting multiple resources before bulk edit.
- The Experience: When clicked, they open a popup window. This gives you a dedicated space to collect information or show a confirmation before finishing the task.
The Result: Once the popup is closed, the Shopify page automatically refreshes to reflect any changes your app made.
Admin Print Actions
Admin Print Actions are a specialized version of the Action extension, custom-built for paperwork.
They are specifically designed to handle document generation - like invoices, packing slips, or custom labels.
- The Trigger: Unlike standard actions, these are found in the "Print" menu on Order and Product resources. They can also be surfaced on Fulfillment pages.
- The Experience: These extensions use a dedicated Print Preview API. This allows your app to generate a document and show it to the merchant in a standardized preview window before they hit "Print."
- The Result: The merchant gets a native print experience that they can easily print without leaving the Shopify workflow.
Admin Blocks
Admin Blocks are extensions that show your app's data directly into the resource page. While Actions are for doing, Blocks are for knowing.
- The Trigger: They must be manually added and pinned by the merchant using the "Edit page" mode in the Shopify Admin. Can be added on major Resource Pages (Products, Orders, etc.)
- The Experience: These appear as inline cards. Unlike modals, they are always visible once the page loads.
- The Result: Because they are "context-aware," the block automatically knows which specific item is being viewed and shows data tied directly to it.
- The Bonus: Admin Blocks aren't just for viewing. You can include buttons within a block to launch an Admin Action, creating a seamless flow from "seeing a problem" to "fixing it."
Actions Vs Blocks
Here’s a quick comparison for all the Admin UI Extensions.
Rule of thumb:
Use an Admin Action when you need a merchant to focus on a specific task without distractions. Use an Admin Block when you want your app’s most important data to be a permanent part of the merchant's daily view.
Note on Print Actions:
These function similarly to regular actions but are specifically optimized for document previews and appear under the 'Print' menu instead of 'More actions
How to Get Started on using Admin UI Extensions
Time to put all your knowledge into practice.
To get started, especially if this is your first time, I recommend going through Shopify Academy’s “Creating an App for Shopify” course.
It will teach you how to build your first Shopify app and extend the functionality of the Shopify admin with the help of Admin UI Extensions.
If you prefer a text based course, Shopify Dev Docs also has their 5-part course where you are walkthrough how to build with Shopify Admin UI Extensions.
This is a little advanced and technical so be prepared.
Useful Resources for Building Shopify Admin UI Extensions
Shopify Dev Docs on Admin UI Extensions
- Contains full details about Shopify Admin UI Extensions
Admin UI Extensions API reference
- API reference for admin UI extension targets and their respective types
Components for Admin UI Extensions
- Learn about the components available in admin UI extensions
- Learn about the locations where you can create admin UI extensions
- Learn about how to configure your extension from its .toml file
Design Guidelines for Admin Apps
- Learn the design guidelines for building apps in the Shopify admin
- Figma UI kit that contains examples to help you build and understand admin UI extensions (last updated December 2024)
Final Thoughts
By now, you’ve learned:
- What Shopify Admin UI Extensions are
- The three core types: Actions, Print Actions, and Blocks.
- The key differences between persistent Blocks and task-oriented Actions.
- How to get started and the resources available to help you build.
While this overview gives you the map, mastering Shopify’s evolving ecosystem is a continuous journey.
As Shopify opens up even more surfaces for developers, those who can build deep, native integrations will be the ones who stand out.
If you want to go beyond tutorials and turn these skills into paid projects or a real Shopify dev career, that’s exactly what we focus on inside the Shopify Developer Bootcamp.
(technical training + positioning + how to actually land clients)
Would be awesome to work together!