> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://help.dollarlabs.io/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://help.dollarlabs.io/dollarback-store-credit/getting-started/activate-widgets-in-your-theme.md).

# Activate widgets in your theme

{% embed url="<https://dollarlabs.neetorecord.com/watch/1a6c9939688f49d954f9>" %}

*This article's section starts at 1:46 in the video.*

DollarBack's storefront surfaces live in three different Shopify editors. This page walks through all three (theme, checkout, and customer accounts) and shows how to confirm everything is on from the DollarBack dashboard.

## Prerequisites

* DollarBack installed
* Theme editor access; checkout editor access requires Shopify Plus for checkout blocks

## App embeds vs app blocks

The storefront widgets come in two kinds, and they're activated differently:

|                 | App embeds                                                                                                              | App blocks                                                                                      |
| --------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| What they are   | Site-wide features injected into every page                                                                             | Sections you place inside a specific template                                                   |
| DollarBack's    | **Cashback Widget** (the floating widget), **Cashback Window Variable** (data layer for custom themes and cart drawers) | **Cashback Rewards: Product** (product page message), **Cashback Rewards: Cart** (cart message) |
| Where to enable | Theme editor → app embeds panel                                                                                         | Theme editor → add block/section on the template                                                |
| Positioning     | Fixed by the embed                                                                                                      | You drag it where you want it                                                                   |

{% hint style="warning" %}
Keep the **Cashback Window Variable** embed enabled even though it renders nothing visible. It injects the data the other widgets (and any cart drawer integration or custom theme code) read. With it off, integrations and the storefront API stop working.
{% endhint %}

## Enable the theme surfaces

The fastest route is the **Storefront Visibility** card on **DollarBack admin → Dashboard**: every row with a **Disabled** badge has an **Enable** button that deep-links straight to the right spot in the theme editor. Doing it manually:

1. In Shopify admin, open your theme editor (**Online Store → Themes → Customize**).
2. **Embeds:** open the app embeds panel, find the DollarBack embeds, and toggle on **Cashback Widget** and **Cashback Window Variable**. Click **Save**.
3. **Product page block:** switch the template picker to a product template, add the **Cashback Rewards: Product** block from the app blocks list, and drag it near the price. **Save**.
4. **Cart block:** switch to the cart template and add **Cashback Rewards: Cart** the same way. **Save**.
5. Preview the storefront: the floating widget launcher should appear site-wide, and the cashback message should show on product pages and in the cart.

Each widget's text, colors, and behavior are edited in **DollarBack admin → Customization**, not in the theme editor.

## Checkout and thank-you blocks (Shopify Plus)

{% hint style="info" %}
**Plan:** Checkout blocks require Shopify Plus (a Shopify requirement for checkout editing, not a DollarBack plan gate). Thank-you page blocks follow the same editor.
{% endhint %}

1. In Shopify admin, go to **Settings → Checkout** and open the checkout editor.
2. On the checkout step, add the DollarBack blocks you want: **Checkout Cashback Banner** (shows what the order will earn) and **Checkout Reward Marketplace** (lets customers redeem rewards mid-checkout).
3. Switch to the thank-you page and add **Thank You Cashback** and **Thank You Referral**.
4. **Save** and publish the checkout profile.

## Customer account blocks

These render inside Shopify's new customer accounts:

1. In Shopify admin, open the customer accounts editor (**Settings → Customer accounts**).
2. Add the DollarBack blocks per page. On the orders list: **Store Credit Earned** and **Referral Program - Order List**; on the order status page: **Store Credit Earned** and **Referral Program - Order Status**; on the profile page: **Referral Program - Profile**, **Reward Marketplace - Profile**, and **Wallet Pass - Profile**.
3. **Save**.

## Verify against the dashboard

Go back to **DollarBack admin → Dashboard** and check the **Storefront Visibility** card: every theme row (Product page cashback, Cart page cashback, Cashback widget, Window variable) should show a green **Enabled** badge. Hover a row's name for a description of what it does; **Customize →** jumps to that widget's settings. Then browse your storefront as a signed-in customer and confirm the widget, product message, and cart message all render.

## Common issues

* **A block or embed is on but nothing renders** → [A widget isn't showing on my store](/dollarback-store-credit/troubleshooting-and-faq/widget-isnt-showing.md)
* **Checkout blocks can't be added**: your store isn't on Shopify Plus; the theme and account surfaces still work on every Shopify plan.
* **A cart drawer app shows no cashback line**: the Window variable embed is off, or the drawer integration isn't enabled → [Cart drawer integrations](/dollarback-store-credit/integrations/cart-drawer-integrations.md)

## Related articles

* [Widget map: what shows where](/dollarback-store-credit/widgets-and-storefront/widget-map-what-shows-where.md)
* [Product page and cart cashback messages](/dollarback-store-credit/widgets-and-storefront/product-page-and-cart-cashback-messages.md)
* [The floating cashback widget](/dollarback-store-credit/widgets-and-storefront/the-floating-cashback-widget.md)
* [Checkout and thank-you widgets](/dollarback-store-credit/widgets-and-storefront/checkout-and-thank-you-widgets.md)