Fixing rejected files

What it means when Shopify rejects a file during the update, and how to fix it.

When the app saves updated files to your theme, Shopify validates each one. If Shopify can't accept a file — because of a structural issue in the code, such as broken Liquid syntax or an invalid section schema — the file is rejected, and the app collects it on the Fix rejected files screen. You get there from the red banner on the update summary; if some conflicts are still unresolved, they come first — rejected files are fixed after.

This screen is different from conflict resolution: the update decisions are already made, and the file is fully editable. The only goal here is to make the file valid so Shopify accepts it.

Fixing a file

1

Open the rejected file

The app shows Shopify's error messages with line numbers and highlights the likely places in the editor.

2

Fix the code

Edit the file right on this screen. If an edit goes wrong, Reset file discards your changes on this screen and returns the file to the state it arrived in.

3

Check & save

The app sends the file to Shopify again. If it's accepted, the file leaves the list; if not, the updated error message is shown — repeat until the file is accepted.

The highlighted location is approximate — Shopify reports errors with limited precision. Rely on the meaning of the error message rather than the exact line: the actual problem may be nearby or in a related part of the file.

Once every file is accepted, Preview theme and Finish update become available again on the update summary.