Setting Up Account Editor on Legacy Customer Accounts

Purpose

This guide explains how to correctly set up Account Editor on legacy Shopify customer accounts, where only one app block/widget is supported.

If your store is using legacy customer accounts, the setup flow is slightly different from newer Shopify customer account experiences. Following this guide ensures order editing, cancellations, and upsells work correctly.

⭐ Why This Matters

Legacy customer accounts have important technical limitations:

• Only one Account Editor block can be added
• The block must be added to a specific template

Missing or incorrect placement causes:

• “App installed but nothing shows”
• Editing links not appearing
• Cancellation flows failing

Correct setup:

• Enables customer self-service
• Prevents cancellations due to simple mistakes
• Reduces support tickets and fulfillment errors

🧭 How Legacy Setup Works (High-Level)

Legacy setup happens in three required stages:

1. Enable editing capabilities (quick toggles)
2. Add the Account Editor block to the correct theme template
3. Configure cancellation behavior

All three must be completed for Account Editor to function.

🪜 Step-by-Step Setup (Legacy Accounts)

✅ Step 1: Enable Editing Capabilities

After installing Account Editor, you’ll see a guided setup screen.

Here you choose what customers are allowed to edit:

• Edit shipping address
• Edit order items
• Add items (upsells)
• Recalculate shipping or discounts (if enabled)

These toggles define what actions appear inside the widget later.

Click Continue to proceed to the dashboard.

✅ Step 2: Add the Account Editor Block (Most Important Step)

This is the critical difference for legacy accounts.

From the Account Editor dashboard:

1. Click Configure Now
2. Shopify opens the Theme Editor
3. Log in if prompted
4. From the top dropdown, select Customer Order
5. Open the Template section
6. Click Add block
7. Select Apps → Account Editor
8. Click Save

⚠️ Important Legacy Limitation

Legacy accounts support only one Account Editor block

Adding the block to:

• Thank You page (NOT WORK)
• Order Status page (NOT WORK)

✅ Step 3: Configure Cancellation Settings

Return to the Account Editor dashboard.

Complete the final setup step:

• Enable Smart Cancellation (optional)
• Configure cancellation reasons
• Add retention offers if applicable
• Save settings

This ensures cancellations, retention flows, and refunds behave correctly.

🧪 What Customers Experience (Legacy Flow)

Once setup is complete:

1. Customer logs in to their account
2. Opens an order
3. Sees the Account Editor widget

Can:

1. Fix address mistakes
2. Edit items
3. Add products (if enabled)
4. Cancel with retention logic applied

All actions update the existing Shopify order — no new checkout is created.

⚠️ Common Legacy Issues & Fixes

❓ FAQs

Q: Can I add the block to multiple places?

No. Legacy accounts support only one block, and it must be on the Customer Order template.

Q: Does this affect Shopify emails?

No. Email behavior is controlled separately via Email Notification settings.

Q: Can I use upsells on legacy accounts?

Yes — but only through the single Account Editor widget.

Q: How do I know if I’m on legacy accounts?

If setup requires adding a block to Customer Order (not Checkout/Thank You extensions), you’re on legacy.

🧠 Best Practices for Legacy Stores

• Keep editing rules simple
• Avoid overlapping flows or apps modifying orders
• Pair with Shopify Flow only if necessary
• Test with a real customer account before going live

🔗 Related Guides

→ General Settings — Edit Window & Limits

→ Email Notifications Settings

→ Cancellation Retention

Updated on: 25/12/2025