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Account Editor needs new customer accounts

Shopify has two kinds of customer account: classic and new. Account Editor is built for new customer accounts. On classic accounts, the parts that live inside a customer's account — returns, the invoice portal, and the cancel and support options — have nowhere to appear. You switch in your Shopify admin, under Settings → Customer accounts.

What this does

Shopify replaced its old account system. Classic accounts are the password-based ones. New accounts are the replacement.

Only the new kind lets an app add pages and options inside a customer's account. That is what makes self-service returns and invoices possible.

Check which one you're on

In your Shopify admin, go to Settings → Customer accounts.
Look at which option is selected.

Shopify's own guide covers this in detail: Customer accounts.

What works on classic accounts

Not everything breaks. It depends where each part of Account Editor sits.

Order editing on the Order status page — Returns and exchanges — a page in the customer's account
Address and shipping edits — Invoices portal — also a page in the account
Add, remove, swap and replace items — Cancel order — an order action-menu item
Upsells and offers after checkout — Request a return — an order action-menu item
Post-purchase discounts and surveys — Contact support — an order action-menu item
Invoice download on the order page — View support reply

The Order status page belongs to Shopify's checkout, not its account system. Blocks there keep working either way.

How to switch

In your Shopify admin, go to Settings → Customer accounts.
Choose new customer accounts.
Save.
Go back to Account Editor, open Features, and add the blocks that were previously unavailable. See Add Account Editor blocks to your store.

What changes for your customers

Switching changes how customers log in. Do not do it without thinking.

With new accounts, customers sign in with a one-time code emailed to them. There is no password. Nothing to remember, nothing to reset. That removes a common support request.

But customers will notice. Anyone with a saved password has to change how they log in.

Their order history, addresses and details all carry over. They lose nothing.

Good to know

Account Editor does not warn you. Nothing in the app tells you that you are on classic accounts. Features turn on. Settings save. The blocks that need new accounts just never show up. If returns or invoices are set up and invisible, check this first.

Order editing still works on classic accounts. If you only want customers fixing their own orders, you do not need to switch. That block sits on the Order status page.

This is a Shopify setting, not an Account Editor one. It affects your whole store — logins, the account page, and any other app that uses customer accounts. Check your other apps first.

Troubleshooting

Returns is on, but customers can't find it — Why: The returns page needs new customer accounts — Fix: Switch, then add the block
The invoice portal never appears — Why: Same reason — it is an account page — Fix: Switch, then add the block
Cancel or Contact support is missing — Why: Those are order action-menu items — Fix: Switch, then add those blocks
Order editing works but nothing else does — Why: You are on classic accounts — Fix: Expected. The Order status page is unaffected.
You switched and blocks are still missing — Why: The blocks were never added — Fix: Go to Features and use Add app block

FAQ

Do I have to switch to use Account Editor?

Not for order editing. Customers can change items, fix addresses and see offers on classic accounts. Those all sit on the Order status page. You do need to switch for returns, invoices, cancellations and support requests.

Will switching lose my customers' data?

No. Order history, addresses and customer details carry over. What changes is how customers sign in.

How will customers log in afterwards?

With a one-time code emailed to them, instead of a password. Nothing to remember and nothing to reset. Tell customers first, so it is not a surprise.

Why doesn't Account Editor tell me I'm on classic accounts?

It doesn't check. Features turn on and settings save as normal. The affected blocks just never show. That is why this article exists.

Can I switch back?

Shopify controls that, and it is not something to do twice. Read Shopify's guide, then decide once.

Updated on: 21/08/2026

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