🔧 Quick Info: Shopify File Manager gives you a visual media library for uploading, organizing, editing, linking, and embedding images, videos, and PDFs stored in Shopify Files.
What It Does
Shopify File Manager adds a visual Media Manager on top of Shopify Files. Everything uploaded through the tool is stored on Shopify’s CDN, the same fast hosting Shopify uses for your storefront and theme images.
From one place, you can:
- Upload images, videos, and PDF documents.
- Organize files into folders.
- Search and sort your media library.
- Edit file captions and alt text.
- Move, replace, or delete files.
- Copy direct file links.
- Generate ready-to-paste HTML embed code.
The standout feature is Embed & Sharing Options. Select a file and the tool creates direct links or HTML snippets that can be pasted into product descriptions, content pages, blog posts, emails, and other places that accept HTML.
- For images, choose the size and whether to use a link, image embed, text link, new browser tab, or lazy loading.
- For PDFs, copy a direct link or ready-made embed code.
- For videos, create an inline video player or popup player at the size you choose.
Stored on Shopify: Files are stored in Shopify Files under your store and delivered through Shopify’s CDN. Image sizing uses Shopify’s CDN resizing, so separate copies of the original file are not created.
When Should You Use This?
- You want images, videos, and PDFs organized into folders instead of one long Shopify Files list.
- You need a direct link to a file without searching for its Shopify CDN URL.
- You want ready-made HTML for inserting media into product descriptions, pages, or blog posts.
- You need resized image links without creating separate image files.
- You want to host size charts, manuals, specification sheets, or other PDFs on Shopify.
- You want to host videos on Shopify and create an inline or popup player.
- You need to maintain captions and alt text from one media library.
Before You Get Started
- Shopify File Manager is a paid add-on.
- If the subscription is inactive, the tool button displays Subscribe To File Manager.
- When the subscription is active, the button displays Media Manager.
- The tool needs permission to read and write files in your Shopify store.
- Shopify may ask you to approve additional Files permissions the first time you open it.
- The library supports images, videos, and PDF documents.
Files Already in Shopify: The Media Manager only displays files uploaded through Shopify File Manager. Files that were already in Shopify Files are not imported automatically.
How to Use It
1 Open the Media Manager
Open Shopify File Manager from your tools list and select Media Manager.
If the button says Subscribe To File Manager, activate the paid add-on before continuing.
2 Upload Files
Select Upload, then drag your images, videos, or PDF files into the upload box.
After adding the files, select Store to upload them to Shopify.
Store Is Required: Adding files to the upload box does not save them. You must select Store to complete the upload. The tool warns you when files have been added but not stored.
3 Wait for Shopify to Process the Files
Newly uploaded files may take a few moments to appear while Shopify processes them.
During this time, the tool may display Your media will be available soon. Images and PDFs are usually ready quickly, while larger videos may take several minutes.
4 Organize the Library
Create folders and move files into them to keep your media organized.
You can also:
- Rename folders.
- Move files between folders.
- Search for files.
- Sort the library.
- Select several files and manage them together.
5 Manage a File
Select a file to open its details in the sidebar.
From the sidebar, you can:
- View the full-size file in a new browser tab.
- Edit its Caption.
- Edit its Alt Text.
- Move it to another folder.
- Replace the file.
- Delete the file.
When alt text is saved, the change is also sent to the file in Shopify.
6 Open Embed & Sharing Options
Select a file and open Embed & Sharing Options.
The available options depend on whether the selected file is an image, PDF, or video.
7 Copy the Link or Embed Code
Choose the display and sharing options you need, then copy either the direct Link or the ready-made Embed HTML.
Paste it into a product description, page, blog post, email, or another location that supports links or HTML.
Embed and Sharing Options
Images and PDFs
For images and PDFs, choose a size and then copy either a direct link or embed code.
| Size | Use |
|---|---|
| Original | Uses the original uploaded file dimensions. |
| Thumbnail | Creates a small image suitable for compact layouts or previews. |
| Medium | Creates a medium-size image for general page content. |
| Large | Creates a larger image for prominent placement. |
| Responsive | Creates embed code designed to adjust to the available screen width. |
Additional options can include:
- Linking the displayed image to the original file.
- Opening the file in a new browser tab.
- Using a text link instead of an image.
- Adding lazy loading to image embeds.
Videos
For video files, choose one of the available player styles:
- Video Player – Places the video player directly in the page content.
- Popup Player – Opens the video in a popup when the visitor selects the link or preview.
Choose the player size, then copy the direct link or generated embed code.
File and Field Reference
| Item | Notes |
|---|---|
| Accepted File Types | Images, videos, and PDF documents. |
| File Storage | Files are stored in Shopify Files and delivered through Shopify’s CDN. |
| Image Sizes | Original, Thumbnail, Medium, Large, and Responsive. Shopify’s CDN creates the requested size without making duplicate uploads. |
| Caption | Optional. Up to 255 characters. Stored in the Media Manager library. |
| Alt Text | Optional. Up to 255 characters. Synced to the file in Shopify when saved. |
| Folders | Unlimited. Folders can be created, renamed, moved, and deleted. Files can be moved between folders at any time. |
Deleting Files
Deleting a file from Shopify File Manager also deletes it from Shopify Files.
Check Existing Links First: Deleting a file is permanent. Any product descriptions, pages, blog posts, emails, or other locations still using that file’s URL will display a broken image or link.
Troubleshooting and FAQ
I uploaded files, but they are not in the library
Make sure you selected Store after adding the files to the upload box. Files are not uploaded to Shopify until Store is selected.
A new upload has no thumbnail or its link does not work yet
Shopify processes uploaded media in the background. Most files are ready within seconds, but large video files can take several minutes.
The Media Manager updates automatically when Shopify finishes processing the file.
My existing Shopify Files do not appear
The Media Manager only manages files uploaded through Shopify File Manager. It does not import files that were already stored in Shopify Files.
Re-upload any existing file you want to organize and manage through this library.
What happens when I delete a file?
The file is also deleted from Shopify Files. Any page still using its URL will have a broken image, video, or download link.
Shopify asked me to approve new permissions
This is expected. Shopify File Manager needs Shopify’s read-files and write-files permissions to upload and manage media.
Approve the additional permissions to continue using the tool.
The button says Subscribe To File Manager
The paid File Manager add-on is not active for your account. Subscribe to the add-on to enable the Media Manager.
My alt text change did not appear in Shopify
Make sure the updated alt text was saved in the file-details sidebar. Saved alt text is then sent to the corresponding file in Shopify.