Shopify File Manager
🔧 Quick Info: A media manager for Shopify Files — upload, organize, and share images, videos, and PDFs from one place.
What it does
Shopify File Manager gives you a visual media library on top of Shopify Files. Everything you upload is stored on Shopify’s own CDN — the same fast hosting Shopify uses for your theme images — and you manage it all from the Media Manager: organize files into folders, search, edit captions and alt text, and grab ready-made links and embed code for any file.
The standout feature is Embed & Sharing Options: pick a file and instantly copy a direct link or a ready-to-paste HTML snippet — at your choice of size for images, or as a video player (inline or popup) for videos. Use these anywhere you can paste HTML: product descriptions, pages, blog posts, or emails.
When to use it
- You want your images, videos, and PDFs organized into folders instead of one long Shopify Files list.
- You need a link or embed code for a file — sized correctly — without hand-writing HTML or hunting for CDN URLs.
- You want to host PDFs (size charts, manuals, spec sheets) or videos on Shopify’s CDN and link to them from your store.
- You manage alt text and captions for your media and want edits pushed to Shopify automatically.
Before you start
- File Manager is included with a paid Your Store Tools subscription — it’s not available on the free plan. If your subscription isn’t active, the tool button reads Subscribe To File Manager; once active it reads Media Manager.
- The tool needs permission to read and write your store’s files. The first time you use it, Shopify may ask you to approve the additional Files permission — accept it to continue.
- Your existing Shopify Files are brought into the library automatically the first time you open the Media Manager — there’s nothing to re-upload. Images and videos attached to your products aren’t included; those are managed in your Shopify catalog.
- Accepted file types: images, videos, and PDFs.
Step-by-step
1 Open Shopify File Manager from your tools list and choose Media Manager.
2 Upload files: click Upload, drop your files into the upload box, then click Store. The upload isn’t saved until you click Store — a warning reminds you if you have unstored files. Freshly uploaded files can take a few moments to appear while Shopify processes them (“Your media will be available soon”).
3 Organize: create folders, move files between them, rename folders, and use the search box and sort options to find things. Select multiple files to act on them together.
4 Manage a file: click a file to open its details in the sidebar, where you can:
- View it full-size in a new tab.
- Edit its Caption and Alt text — alt text changes are pushed to the file on Shopify automatically.
- Move it to another folder, Replace the file, or Delete it.
5 Share or embed: open Embed & Sharing Options on a file:
- Images and PDFs — choose a size (Original, Thumbnail, Medium, Large, or Responsive), then copy the Link or the Embed HTML. Options include linking to the file, opening in a new tab, using a text link, and lazy-loading.
- Videos — choose a Video Player or Popup Player, set the player size, then copy the Link or Embed code.
- Paste the copied link or HTML wherever you need it — product descriptions, pages, blog posts.
File / field reference
| Item | Notes |
|---|---|
| Accepted file types | Images, videos, and PDFs. |
| Where files are stored | Shopify Files (Shopify’s CDN), under your store. |
| Image sizes for links/embeds | Original, Thumbnail, Medium, Large, Responsive — served via Shopify CDN resizing, no duplicate copies of your file. |
| Caption | Optional, up to 255 characters. Stored in the library. |
| Alt text | Optional, up to 255 characters. Synced to the file on Shopify when you save. |
| Folders | Unlimited; create, rename, move, and delete. Files can be moved between folders any time. |
Troubleshooting / FAQ
I uploaded files but they’re not in the library.
Make sure you clicked Store after adding files to the upload box — files aren’t saved until you do.
My new upload has no thumbnail / the link doesn’t work yet.
Shopify processes uploads in the background. Most files are ready within seconds, but larger videos can take a few minutes. The library fills in the file automatically once Shopify finishes.
My existing Shopify Files don’t show up.
Your Shopify Files are synced into the library automatically when you open the Media Manager — a large library can take a few moments on the first open, and the grid updates itself when the sync finishes. Note that images and videos attached to products aren’t included, and the library checks for new files at most once an hour, so a file you just added in Shopify may take a little while to appear.
What happens when I delete a file?
It’s deleted from Shopify Files too — for real. Any pages still linking to it will show a broken link, so double-check before deleting.
Shopify asked me to approve new permissions.
That’s expected — the tool needs Shopify’s read files and write files permissions to manage your media. Approve them to use the tool.
The button says “Subscribe To File Manager.”
File Manager requires a paid Your Store Tools subscription, and yours isn’t active yet. Subscribe to enable the tool.