- by Abi Bacon, Shopify Lead

Shopify is constantly rolling out updates and improvements to keep its platform modern, secure, and reliable. Making it the perfect platform to host your website on if you want your business to stay ahead of the curve.

You can always keep up to date with the latest Shopify changes by checking out Shopify’s official updates page. It’s a great resource to see what’s new, what’s coming, and how the changes might affect your store’s design, functionality, and overall performance. Make sure that your business makes the most out of the newest features so that your website stays ahead.

Recently, one of the biggest changes has been to the fonts used across Shopify themes. While these updates help ensure your store looks fresh and loads smoothly, they may have already disrupted your site’s design, with certain fonts appearing differently than before. Don’t worry: with the right tools (including apps that can restore or reinstall your preferred fonts), your site’s look and feel can be quickly brought back on track.

Why regular updates matter

• Security & stability - Theme and software updates patch vulnerabilities and keep your store running without disruption.
• Performance boosts - Updates often come with speed and efficiency improvements for a smoother experience.
• Enhanced features - You get access to the latest design features, integrations, and tools. Ensuring your website feels modern, engaging and unique.
• App and browser compatibility - Updates to your site are essential to ensure smooth integrations with your apps and browsers.

Common challenges with updates

While essential, updates can create short-term challenges:

• Visual disruptions - As seen with Shopify’s font updates, design elements may change unexpectedly.
• Feature compatibility - Some of your site’s features may not work correctly after updates and need reinstallation or adjustments.
• User journey shifts - Navigation or layout tweaks can alter the customer experience if not reviewed carefully before publishing updates.

Best practices for a smooth transition

1. Review every 6–12 months - Set time aside to check in on your site’s theme, fonts, and apps. Staying proactive avoids surprises.
2. Backup before updating - Duplicate your theme and export key data so you can roll back if needed.
3. Test first, launch later - Apply updates in a preview theme before publishing to your live store. This allows you to identify any issues that might occur from the update and gives you time to correct them before your customers even see it.
4. Check design consistency - Fonts, layouts, and brand visuals should align with your guidelines.
5. Focus on user experience - Navigate your site as a customer would - from homepage to checkout - and ensure it feels smooth and that there are no issues from the update.

Need a hand?

If you’re unsure about updates or just don’t have the time, Thrive is happy to run them for you. We’ll make sure your theme, fonts, and apps are all up to date - keeping your site secure, visually consistent, and customer-friendly.