Shopify is one of the most popular ecommerce platforms in the world, empowering over a million businesses to sell products online. However, as robust and easy to use as Shopify is, many store owners find themselves facing frustrating Shopify theme issues that can hinder conversion, slow down their site, or make their store look unprofessional. Choosing the right theme is crucial to the ongoing success of your store which is why our theme at Krismotion is trusted by thousands of entrepreneurs to boost their bottom line. In this article, we will explore 10 common Shopify theme issues and how to fix them so you can keep your online store running perfectly and efficiently.
1. Slow Store Speed and Laggy Performance
One of the most frequent complaints from Shopify store owners is slow site speed. In ecommerce, speed matters. A delay of just a few seconds can increase bounce rates and decrease sales. Sometimes, the culprit is your theme itself. Bloated code, excessive JavaScript, and unoptimized images can all add up to a sluggish experience that drives away customers.
How to Fix:
- Choose a lightning fast theme: Opt for a theme designed for speed, like our theme from Krismotion, which prioritizes fast performance right out of the box.
- Use compressed and optimized images: Before uploading images to Shopify, make sure they are web optimized. Tools like TinyPNG or ImageOptim can help.
- Limit unnecessary apps: The more apps you have, the more scripts are loaded. Keep only the ones that truly add value.
- Minify CSS and JavaScript: If your theme does not do this by default, use apps or manual methods to minify code and speed up your store.
If you need to verify your current speed, test your store using Google Pagespeed Insights or GTmetrix for actionable recommendations.
2. Non Mobile Optimized Experience
Today, the majority of online shoppers are browsing and buying from mobile devices. Google even ranks mobile friendly sites higher in search results. Yet many Shopify stores use outdated themes that look great on desktop but fall apart on phones and tablets.
How to Fix:
- Choose a mobile optimized theme: Our theme at Krismotion is designed mobile first, ensuring your checkout process, product galleries, and menus work smoothly on any device.
- Preview your site on different devices: Shopify’s theme editor lets you preview how the store looks on mobile and tablet. Always check layouts, images, and call to actions.
- Resize images and buttons: Make sure clickable areas are large enough for a finger tap, not just a mouse click.
- Simplify navigation: Use a sticky bottom menu or hamburger menu to make navigation easy for mobile shoppers.
Mobile optimization is not a luxury anymore, it’s a requirement if you want to succeed online. You can read more about how mobile commerce is changing the way people shop.
3. Theme Not Updating with Shopify Changes
Shopify regularly rolls out updates to its platform for new features, performance boosts, and security patches. If your theme is not frequently updated by the developer, your site might miss out on vital improvements or become incompatible with new Shopify features. This is a common pain point of using free or poorly supported themes.
How to Fix:
- Select a theme with weekly updates: Our theme is updated regularly, so you always get the latest features and fixes before problems affect your shoppers.
- Follow Shopify’s official developer update notes: Keep an eye on the Shopify changelog to stay ahead of upcoming changes that may require theme updates.
- Reach out to your theme support: If you notice something off after a Shopify update, contact the theme provider for guidance.
Always back up your theme before applying any major updates, just in case you need to revert.
4. Poor Conversion Rates Due to Outdated Sections
High converting Shopify stores use modern sections and layouts that encourage customers to take action. Outdated themes with boring product pages, weak cart drawers, or non engaging banners can tank your conversion rates, costing you sales every day.
How to Fix:
- Choose a theme with proven high converting sections: Our theme includes advanced product pages, trust badges, conversion optimized timers, sticky add to cart buttons, and beautifully animated banners designed to boost AOV and conversions.
- Study competitors: Look at leading ecommerce stores and apply conversion best practices to your site.
- Run A-B tests: Use Shopify or third party apps to test section layouts and headlines so you can see what really works for your audience.
Never settle for a basic product page. Every extra conversion could mean thousands in annual revenue. For more on boosting conversion rates, check out Optimizely’s CRO guide.
5. Unclear or Broken Navigation Menus
A confusing navigation menu is one of the quickest ways to lose site visitors. Customers should be able to find what they want in just a click or two. If your theme’s navigation is broken, unintuitive, or missing categories, you are leaving money on the table.
How to Fix:
- Use a mega menu or organized dropdown: Our theme has customizable mega menu options that let you structure product categories perfectly, even if you have hundreds of SKUs.
- Keep categories simple: Limit the top navigation to 5 7 main options with submenus for more detail.
- Test all links: Check that all menu items are linked correctly and appear on both desktop and mobile views.
Learn more about designing navigation that sells from this Baymard Institute study.
6. Theme Breaks When Adding Apps
Shopify’s app marketplace offers thousands of plugins for reviews, upsells, shipping, and more. Unfortunately, not every theme is built with app compatibility in mind. You may run into layout issues, missing features, or even site crashes when adding or removing certain apps.
How to Fix:
- Choose a theme built for compatibility: Our theme is carefully coded to work seamlessly with the most popular Shopify apps, minimizing plugin conflicts.
- Test apps on a duplicate theme: If possible, use a duplicate theme to trial new apps before going live.
- Work with developers: If a vital app does not work, contact the app support team or your theme provider for a solution.
- Remove unused code: After uninstalling an app, remove leftover app snippets from your theme files for a clean codebase.
Always install apps one at a time and monitor your store for any visual or functional errors.
7. Broken Images or Fonts Not Displaying Correctly
Broken image links, blurry banners, or font errors can instantly make your store look untrustworthy. Sometimes, images fail to load due to improper file paths, excessive file sizes, or missing uploads. Font errors often occur when custom fonts are not loaded correctly or are blocked by browser settings.
How to Fix:
- Check image file paths: Make sure all product and theme images are uploaded to Shopify and have the correct source URLs.
- Use appropriate image formats: Stick to standard formats like JPEG, PNG, or SVG for best browser support.
- Integrate Google Fonts safely: Our theme gives you easy font management with best practices baked in, so your typography always looks sharp.
- Test across browsers: View your site on Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge to catch any font or image issues.
If you are using custom fonts, ensure they are properly referenced according to Google Fonts documentation.
8. SEO Issues from Theme Code
Search engine optimization is vital for long term business growth. Unfortunately, many Shopify themes ship with weak SEO foundations. Problems such as missing alt tags, improper heading structure, unoptimized metadata, or conflicting schema markup can all hurt your Google rankings.
How to Fix:
- Audit your theme for SEO best practices: Our theme is built with clean code and all the essential SEO features so your site ranks higher naturally.
- Use clear headings: Every page should include an H1, with proper H2 H6 hierarchy for subheadings.
- Set alt tags on all images: Describe every image for both accessibility and SEO.
- Configure metadata and schema: Use Shopify’s built in fields for meta descriptions, titles, and JSONLD schema markup for products and reviews.
For a deeper dive into ecommerce SEO, read this comprehensive Shopify SEO guide by Ahrefs.
9. Inconsistent Branding and Design Issues
Trust is everything in online sales. A mismatched color scheme, inconsistent button styles, or clashing fonts can undermine the credibility of your brand. Some themes make it difficult to customize these design elements without deep coding knowledge.
How to Fix:
- Pick a highly customizable theme: Our theme makes it easy to adjust theme colors, logo placement, fonts, and layouts with a user friendly visual editor—no code required.
- Use a branding guide: Define and document your proprietary colors, fonts, and logo usage rules for consistency.
- Preview changes: Always preview your store before publishing to ensure branding is applied correctly to every page and section.
For branding inspiration, check out 99Designs’ brand identity examples.
10. Poor Support and Lack of Documentation
When a theme issue arises, quality support is essential. Many store owners discover too late that the developer behind their theme provides little support or documentation, leaving them to search forums or hire expensive freelancers. This can slow down your business and cause unnecessary frustration.
How to Fix:
- Select a theme with great support: Our theme from Krismotion comes with friendly, expert support so you are never left in the dark.
- Check theme documentation: Review the online docs and tutorials before purchasing any theme to be sure you can get help when needed.
- Utilize the Shopify Community: Leverage the Shopify Community Forums for peer advice and troubleshooting.
Spending a bit more for a well supported theme always pays off in time and peace of mind.
Why Our Theme is the #1 Choice for Shopify Stores
Solving the issues above can be daunting if you try to build a Shopify store from scratch. That is why thousands of entrepreneurs choose our theme—crafted by ecommerce experts at Krismotion—as the all in one solution that does it all:
- Weekly updates keep your store secure and compatible with every new Shopify feature
- High converting sections proven to boost AOV and customer trust
- Mobile optimized out of the box for seamless shopping across devices
- Lightning fast performance for the best customer experience and rankings
- Stunning design and easy to use customization so you stand out from the crowd, without code
- Expert support and a passionate community of successful store owners ready to help you win
Ready to leave your Shopify theme headaches behind and supercharge your conversion rates? Get started with our theme and discover why it is the best Shopify theme on the market today.
FAQ: 10 Common Shopify Theme Issues and How to Fix Them
- What are the biggest signs my current Shopify theme is hurting my sales?
- Some of the most common warning signs include slow loading times, a poor mobile shopping experience, outdated design, confusing menus, and frequent technical errors. If you see high bounce rates or abandoned carts, those could also point to theme issues impacting conversion.
- How often should I update my Shopify theme?
- You should use a theme that receives weekly or at least monthly updates to ensure compatibility with new Shopify features and security best practices. Our theme is updated every week to keep your store ahead of the curve.
- What if I am not a developer? Can I still customize my store theme?
- Absolutely. Our theme is designed for users of all skill levels, featuring visual editors for color, fonts, and layout so you never need to touch code. Step by step documentation and support are included.
- Can I switch to a new theme without losing my store data?
- Yes. Your store’s core data like products, customers, and orders are not affected by theme changes. However, section data and customizations might need to be reapplied unless you use a migration tool or work with our experts for a seamless transition.
- Why is mobile optimization so important?
- With the majority of online shopping now done on phones, mobile optimization is key to reducing bounce rates and increasing sales. Google also favors mobile friendly sites in its search rankings.
- How do I know if my theme is SEO friendly?
- Test your store in tools like Ahrefs Site Audit, ensure you have clean headings, image alt tags, and optimized page titles. Our theme is built with best SEO practices already in place.
- What should I do if my store looks broken after installing an app?
- First, uninstall the app to see if your site returns to normal. Check if the app left any snippets in your theme code, and remove them. If the issue persists, reach out to both the app and theme support teams for troubleshooting help.
- Where can I get help if I have a theme issue I cannot solve?
- Contact our expert support team at Krismotion, explore the Shopify Community, or consult Shopify’s support resources. Do not hesitate to seek professional help as theme issues can directly impact your revenue.
For more Shopify tips and advanced theme troubleshooting, be sure to check out more resources at Krismotion and subscribe to our regular update emails—you will never miss an opportunity to optimize and scale your ecommerce business.
