Shopify checkout footer: HIDDEN no longer means empty

Shopify has clarified what visibility: HIDDEN means for checkout footers. Its 15 October 2026 developer announcement says the setting controls merchant-configurable content, including policy links and copyright copy. Shopify-provided transaction information can still appear.

The distinction matters for apps that customise checkout branding for Shopify Plus stores, especially tools that show previews or run visual tests.

What developers should check

Shopify says the clarification applies to both the legacy Checkout Branding API and the Checkout and Accounts Configuration API, across versions where the relevant types exist. It is not an upgrade requirement tied to a new API version.

Review any assertion that a hidden footer must contain no text. Previews and tests should distinguish the merchant content that the setting hides from the transaction copy supplied by Shopify.

A practical release check

Our suggested check is to save the current configuration, compare the preview with the rendered checkout, and test the merchant content in both visible and hidden states. Record which text belongs to which source before changing a visual test’s expected result.

For a merchant using a checkout-design app, send the announcement to its provider if the preview appears inconsistent. Avoid removing unrelated branding settings merely to make a screenshot match. An unexpected line of Shopify copy is a reason to inspect the content boundary, not evidence that the entire integration has failed.