Troubleshooting
Common issues and how to fix them.
Troubleshooting helps you fix the most common setup issues, including custom options not appearing and Live Preview not rendering correctly on Shopify product pages.
Custom Options Not Showing on Product Page
Podifai is designed for modern Shopify Online Store 2.0 themes and most standard product page layouts. If your options are not appearing, check the following:
- Verify the option set is set to Active in the Podifai dashboard.
- Check that the product has options assigned — look for the Edit button (not "Add Options") on the Products page.
- Go to Online Store → Themes → Customize and confirm the Podifai App Embed is toggled on, or that a Podifai App Block has been added to the product template.
- If you need custom placement, turn off App Embed and use the Podifai App Block instead of relying on the default embed position.
- Clear your browser cache and try again in an incognito window.
Live Preview Not Rendering
Inline Live Preview can depend on the theme's product gallery layout, image zoom, sliders, and product media behavior. You can also try Popup display mode.
Conflicts with Other Product Customizer Apps
Do not enable multiple product customizer apps on the same product template at the same time. Their storefront scripts can compete for:
- The Shopify product form and selected variant ID
- Add to Cart behavior
- The product image gallery and Live Preview
- Cart line item properties
- Disable the other customizer app embeds and storefront integrations.
- Test Podifai again in an incognito browser window.
- If the issue continues, send support the store URL, product URL, theme name, and a screen recording.
Wrong Shopify Variant Added to Cart
A Podifai color, badge, dropdown, or swatch value is saved as customization data and does not automatically replace the Shopify variant ID. Use native Shopify variants for SKU, base price, inventory, size, product color, and the actual item added to cart. Use Podifai for text, fonts, uploaded artwork, graphics, placement, and other personalization.
See Shopify Variants vs Podifai Options for the recommended setup and Variant Image background steps.
If Live Preview is not rendering correctly:
- Ensure Live Preview is toggled on for the option type in the editor.
- Check that a background image is set (product image or custom upload).
- Verify the preview layer has valid position and size values.
- If you are using embedded or inline Live Preview, try a verified theme temporarily to confirm whether the issue is theme-specific.
Product Page Freezes or Add to Cart Feels Slow
The most common causes are conflicts with other apps already installed on the store, or a slow network connection.
- Test the same product page in a clean browser session, such as an incognito window.
- Temporarily disable other apps that affect the product page, such as replay, tracking, cart, bundle, or upsell apps, then test again.
- Test on a different network if possible.
- Compress product and preview images before uploading them, especially if the customizer uses several visual layers.
If the issue continues, send us your product URL, theme name, and a short screen recording so we can check whether it is a theme/app conflict or a Podifai issue.
FAQ
Why are my custom options not showing on the product page?
Check that the option set is active, assigned to the product, and that Podifai is enabled in the active Shopify theme through either App Embed or App Block.
Why is Live Preview not rendering correctly?
Confirm Live Preview is enabled, a background image is set, and the preview layer has valid position and size values. Inline Live Preview can depend on the theme's product gallery layout. You can also try Popup display mode.
Why does the product page freeze or Add to Cart feel slow?
The most common causes are conflicts with other apps already installed on the store, or a slow network connection. Large image files can also slow down live preview, so compress product and preview images before uploading them.
What should I send to support?
Send your store URL, product URL, theme name, a short screen recording, and a short description of what is not working.
Can other product customizer apps conflict with Podifai?
Yes. Multiple customizer apps can compete for the product form, selected variant ID, Add to Cart behavior, product gallery, and cart line item properties. Enable only one customizer on the affected product template.
Why does the cart still use the first Shopify variant?
A Podifai custom option does not automatically replace the Shopify variant ID. Keep SKU, price, inventory, size, and product color as native Shopify variants, then use Podifai for the personalization layered on top.