Introduction
Videos can be added to support your products and give your customers a better idea of the look and feel of an item. Videos are also a great way to show off your brand and tell your story.
We have developed dedicated sections for your theme to display videos which can be added through the Theme Editor tool. Some sections may also have dedicated video blocks.
There are two ways to add videos to these sections. Which method you choose is entirely up to you - or you can use a combination - but we've provided some useful information about each one to help you decide:
Method 1: Display a YouTube or Vimeo video on your store
- Used for longer videos (exceeding 1 minute).
- Easier to share your content on other platforms (e.g. social media).
Method 2: Upload a video file to Shopify from your device to display on your store
- Ideal for shorter videos (1 minute or less).
- Generally more convenient because no accounts are required on external platforms.
In this guide, you'll learn how to add a video to your store using both of these methods.
Method 1: Adding a video from YouTube or Vimeo to your store
This method requires your video to be uploaded to either YouTube or Vimeo. To do this, you will need to create an account on your chosen platform (if you don't already have one) and follow the respective instructions to upload a video.
You can display YouTube or Vimeo videos directly on your storefront. This is achieved by copying a video's URL and pasting it into the video section.
URLs (or links) are generated after you've uploaded a video to a platform. Once your video is ready, you can follow these steps to add it to your store pages.
A step-by-step guide
Step 1. Copy the video's URL from YouTube/Vimeo
Go to your video and click the Share button. You will then be presented with several options.
If you're using YouTube: Click Copy as shown below.
If using Vimeo: Manually copy the link as shown below.
Step 2. Navigate to your theme's video section
Open your Theme Editor tool and go to the video section you wish to use (e.g. Video with text overlay).
Step 3. Paste the video's link
Click into the video section's settings and paste the copied link into the Video URL box.
Step 4. Save your changes
The video will automatically display when the page is viewed.
Autoplay is not supported on mobile view for Vimeo or YouTube videos.
Method 2: Uploading a video to Shopify to display on your store
You can host shorter videos on Shopify by uploading them from your device to your Files section. This saves you from creating an account on an external video streaming platform (YouTube or Vimeo). However, this method has some technical limitations which are detailed below.
When uploading a video to Shopify, your video file must meet the following requirements:
- Video file type: .mp4 or .mov
- Video length: Up to 60 seconds
- Video size: Up to 1 GB
- Video resolution: Up to 4K (4096 x 2160 px)
When you've saved your video file on your device, you can use the following steps to upload a video to Shopify and display it on a page.
A step-by-step guide
Step 1. Go to Files via your Shopify admin
When viewing your store's Shopify admin, click the Content tab. This will reveal the Files page.
Continue to Files.
Step 2. Upload the file
Click the Upload files button positioned in the top-right corner of the page.
This will open a window enabling you to locate your video file. When you've found your file, select it and press Open to begin the upload process.
Depending on the size of your video, it may take a little for the file to appear on your list.
Step 3. Copy the file link
When the file is ready it will automatically generate a link. Click the Copy link button to copy the link.
Step 4. Navigate to your theme's video section
Open your Theme Editor tool and go to the video section you wish to use (e.g. Video with text overlay).
Step 5. Paste the video's link or select the video
Click into the video section's settings and paste the copied link into the Video URL box.
Some sections will allow you to add a video directly by choosing a file instead of pasting the link.
Step 6. Save your changes
The video will automatically display when the page is viewed.
The benefits of adding videos to your store
Videos have become a must-have for many online stores. They're a fantastic way to increase conversion rates, engage customers, and improve satisfaction. Videos give customers an immersive and interactive experience that helps them better understand products and their features. This is essential because customers are more likely to make a purchase when they know what they're buying.
On top of that, videos can build trust and credibility with customers. Customers who see a product in action are more likely to trust it and believe it can deliver what it promises. Videos may also reduce the risk of returns and refunds since customers are less likely to be disappointed with their purchase if they've seen it in action beforehand.
Including videos in your online store can positively impact search engine rankings and drive more traffic. This is due to the fact that videos tend to be shared and viewed more frequently than other forms of content.