Shopify Sections/Blocks Not Showing? Step-by-Step Fix
You just spent an hour designing the perfect "Image with Text" section in the Theme Editor. You hit "Save," go to your live store to admire your work, and... nothing. It’s blank. Or worse, the "Add Block" button has mysteriously disappeared.
This is one of the most frustrating broken layout issues on Shopify that merchants face.
Don't smash your keyboard just yet! In 90% of cases, this isn't a system crash; it's a setting oversight or a minor code conflict. Take a deep breath and follow this step-by-step troubleshooting guide by Halothemes to get your storefront back on track.
1. Check "The Basics" First
Before you start messing with the code, make sure you haven't fallen for these common traps. Many Shopify design mistakes are actually just simple oversights.
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The "Eye" Icon: In the left-hand sidebar of the Theme Editor, check the section you are working on. Did you accidentally click the "Eye" icon? If it has a slash through it, the section is Hidden.
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Empty Content: Smart sections often hide themselves if they have no content to display. For example, if you add a "Featured Product" section but don't select a product, the section won't appear on the live site.
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Wrong Theme Preview: Are you editing a "Draft" theme but looking at your "Live" site in another tab? Ensure you are previewing the specific theme ID you are working on.
2. Shopify Online Store 2.0 Limitations
Shopify 2.0 is powerful, but it has rules.
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Section Limit: Each JSON template (like index.json) is limited to 25 sections. If you have hit this cap, new sections might not render or save correctly.
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Nesting Rules: Generally, you cannot put a Section inside another Section (unless your theme is heavily customized).
3. JSON Syntax Errors (The Silent Killer)
This is the most dangerous culprit. If you or an app accidentally deleted a comma , or a closing bracket } in the theme code, the entire template can break, causing sections to vanish.
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Symptoms: You can't drag-and-drop sections, or the Theme Editor displays an "Invalid JSON" warning bar.
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The Fix:
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Go to Edit Code.
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Locate the template file (e.g., index.json).
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Look for red error markers.
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Warning: Touching code is risky. If you are not comfortable with this, read our guide on safe theme updates and rollbacks to learn how to revert your theme to a working version before the error occurred.
4. Third-Party App Conflicts
Did the section disappear right after you installed a new App? Some apps inject JavaScript or CSS that conflicts with your theme's logic.
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The Test: Try disabling the app's embed block in the Theme Editor.
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Prevention: To minimize these conflicts, we recommend using multipurpose responsive Shopify themes like Ella or Halo. These themes come with so many built-in features (Wishlist, Reviews, Bundles) that you won't need to install as many third-party apps, keeping your code clean and stable.
5. Browser Cache Issues
Sometimes, Shopify is fine, but your browser is lying to you. It might be serving you an old, "cached" version of your website.
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The Fix: Open your website in an Incognito Window. If the section appears there, congratulations! You just need to clear your browser cache.
When to Ask for Help?
If you have tried all the steps above and your sections are still missing, your theme might be outdated (Legacy Liquid) or suffering from a deep schema error.
You have two options:
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Upgrade Your Theme: Old themes often struggle with modern Shopify 2.0 features. Switching to a clean-coded theme is a long-term fix.
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Call the Experts: Don't waste days trying to be a developer. At Halothemes, we offer a FREE Basic Installation Service for our customers. Our technical team can help you check the setup and ensure your layout is flawless from the start.
Conclusion
Missing sections are annoying, but they are solvable. By systematically checking settings, code limits, and app conflicts, you can usually resolve the issue in minutes.
Stay tuned to the Halothemes Blog for more technical tips and guides on fixing broken layouts!
