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How to check if STOQ app embed is enabled in Shopify

After installing STOQ on your Shopify store, the Notify Me button and Preorder button will only appear on your storefront if the STOQ app embed is enabled. The app embed is a Shopify theme extension that injects STOQ's buttons and widgets into your store's pages.


If the buttons are not showing up, the most common cause is that the STOQ app embed is turned off in your theme settings. This article walks you through how to check the app embed status in both Shopify and STOQ, and how to enable it if needed.


Before You Begin


Keep the following in mind before troubleshooting the app embed:


  • STOQ must be installed. The app embed option only appears in the Shopify theme editor after STOQ is installed on your store.
  • You need access to the Shopify theme editor. Staff accounts must have the Themes permission to view and edit theme settings.
  • The app embed applies to your live (main) theme. If you have multiple themes, the app embed must be enabled on the theme that is currently published. Unpublished or draft themes have separate app embed settings.


How to Check the App Embed Status in Shopify


Follow these steps to verify that the STOQ app embed is enabled in your Shopify theme editor.


Step 1: Open the Theme Editor


  1. In your Shopify admin, go to Online Store from the left menu bar.
  2. Click the Edit Theme button on your current (live) theme.


This opens the Shopify theme editor.



Step 2: Navigate to App Embeds


  1. In the theme editor, look at the top sidebar.
  2. Click the third icon — the App embeds tab (it looks like a grid or puzzle piece icon).


This shows a list of all installed app embeds for your theme.



Step 3: Check the STOQ Toggle


  1. Find STOQ in the list of app embeds.
  2. Check whether the toggle next to STOQ is on (green/enabled) or off (disabled).
  • If the toggle is on, the app embed is enabled and STOQ's buttons should appear on your storefront.
  • If the toggle is off, STOQ's buttons will not appear. Turn it on and proceed to Step 4.


Step 4: Save Your Changes


  1. If you turned the toggle on, click Save in the top-right corner of the theme editor.
  2. Visit your storefront and refresh the page to confirm the Notify Me or Preorder button now appears on an eligible product page.


Tip: If you have multiple themes, repeat these steps for each theme where you want STOQ buttons to appear. The app embed setting is per-theme.


How to Confirm the App Embed Status in STOQ


You can also check whether the app embed is enabled directly inside the STOQ app, without opening the Shopify theme editor.


Option A: Check the Home Page Status Card


  1. Open the STOQ app from your Shopify admin.
  2. You land on the Home page (the main dashboard).
  3. Look at the two status cards: Back in stock and Preorders.
  4. The first item in each card shows App embed is enabled (with a green checkmark) or App embed is not enabled (with a red X icon).



  • If it says App embed is enabled, no action is needed.
  • If it says App embed is not enabled, click the Activate button next to it. STOQ will attempt to enable the app embed automatically. If automatic activation is not possible, STOQ will open the Shopify theme editor for you to enable it manually.


Option B: Look for the Warning Banner


If the app embed is disabled, STOQ displays a yellow warning banner at the top of certain pages (such as the design page or preorders list). The banner includes an action button to enable the app embed directly.


  1. If you see a warning banner about the app embed being disabled, click the action button on the banner.
  2. STOQ will either enable the app embed automatically or redirect you to the Shopify theme editor.


Advanced Tips


  • Automatic vs. manual activation. When you click Activate in STOQ, the app first tries to enable the app embed automatically (if your store has granted the required theme permissions). If automatic activation succeeds, you will see a toast message saying "App embed enabled." If it cannot activate automatically, STOQ opens the Shopify theme editor in a new tab for you to enable it manually.
  • Check after theme changes. If you switch your live theme or install a new theme, the app embed setting does not carry over. You will need to enable the STOQ app embed on the new theme separately.
  • Onboarding guide. If you are setting up STOQ for the first time, the onboarding setup guide on the Home page includes an "Enable app embed" step as the first task. Completing this step during onboarding ensures the app embed is active before you start customizing buttons or creating offers.
  • Multiple themes. The app embed status that STOQ checks and displays on the Home page refers to your currently published (main) theme only. Draft or unpublished themes must be checked from the Shopify theme editor directly.


Known Limitations


  • Per-theme setting. The app embed must be enabled separately on each theme. Switching your live theme or duplicating a theme does not automatically carry over the app embed setting.
  • Main theme only in STOQ. The STOQ Home page status card and warning banners only reflect the app embed status of your currently published (main) theme. They do not show the status for draft or unpublished themes.
  • Theme permissions required. For STOQ to check or automatically enable the app embed, your store must have granted the read_themes (or write_themes) access scope. If these permissions are missing, STOQ cannot detect the embed status server-side and will redirect you to the theme editor instead.
  • Browser cache. After enabling the app embed and saving, you may need to hard-refresh your storefront (Ctrl + Shift + R or Cmd + Shift + R) to see the buttons appear if your browser has cached the old page.


Troubleshooting


Symptom

Cause

Fix

Notify Me / Preorder button not visible on storefront

STOQ app embed is disabled in the theme editor

Go to Online Store → Customize → App embeds and turn on the STOQ toggle, then click Save

STOQ toggle does not appear in App embeds

STOQ may not be fully installed or the theme may not support app embeds

Reinstall STOQ from the Shopify App Store. If you use a vintage theme (non–Online Store 2.0), app embeds may not be supported

"App embed is not enabled" on STOQ Home page

The app embed is turned off on your main theme

Click Activate on the status card, or enable it manually from the Shopify theme editor

Clicked Activate but nothing happened

Automatic activation requires the write_themes permission

Open the Shopify theme editor manually: Online Store → Customize → App embeds → enable STOQ → Save

App embed was enabled but buttons disappeared after switching themes

The new theme does not have the STOQ app embed enabled

Enable the STOQ app embed on the new live theme from the Shopify theme editor

Buttons appear on desktop but not mobile (or vice versa)

This is usually a theme CSS conflict, not an app embed issue

Contact STOQ support for help with theme-specific styling conflicts

App embed is enabled but button still not showing

The product may be in stock or the feature (back-in-stock signups / preorders) may be disabled in STOQ settings

Check that Collect signups is enabled (for Notify Me) or that a preorder offer is active and assigned to the product


FAQs


Q : What is the STOQ app embed?

A : The STOQ app embed is a Shopify theme app extension. It is the mechanism that injects the "Notify Me" button (for back-in-stock alerts) and the "Preorder" button into your product pages. Without the app embed enabled, STOQ cannot add any buttons or widgets to your storefront.


Q : Do I need to enable the app embed on every theme?

A : Yes. The app embed is a per-theme setting. If you switch your live theme, duplicate a theme, or create a new theme, you need to enable the STOQ app embed on that theme separately from the Shopify theme editor.


Q : Can STOQ enable the app embed automatically?

A : In some cases, yes. When you click Activate on the STOQ Home page or during onboarding, STOQ attempts to enable the app embed automatically if your store has granted the required theme write permissions. If automatic activation is not possible, STOQ opens the Shopify theme editor for you to enable it manually.


Q : Does the app embed affect my store's performance?

A : No. The STOQ app embed is lightweight and only loads on product pages where it is needed (out-of-stock products for Notify Me, or products with active preorder offers). It does not add scripts to pages where STOQ is not active.


Q : I use a vintage (non–Online Store 2.0) theme. Can I still use the app embed?

A : Vintage themes do not support Shopify's app embed system. If you are on a vintage theme, STOQ may use alternative methods (such as manual code snippets) to add buttons. Contact STOQ support for guidance on your specific theme.


Q : Will disabling the app embed remove my STOQ settings?

A : No. Disabling the app embed only stops the buttons from appearing on your storefront. All your STOQ settings, waitlist data, preorder offers, and notification history remain intact. Re-enabling the app embed will restore the buttons without any data loss.


Q : How do I know if the app embed is working after I enable it?

A : After enabling the app embed and saving in the theme editor, visit a product page on your storefront that is either out of stock (for the Notify Me button) or has an active preorder offer (for the Preorder button). Refresh the page if needed. You can also check the STOQ Home page — the status card should show "App embed is enabled" with a green checkmark.

Updated on: 24/04/2026

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