Why Custom Liquid text stays in English
Shopify translates content it knows as translatable text: products, collections, pages, menus and the text fields of theme sections. Two kinds of text fall outside that:
- Custom Liquid and Custom HTML sections and blocks. Whatever you type into them is code to Shopify, so a "Final Black Friday sale" banner built there is not offered for translation.
- Text written into theme files. A developer may have typed "VIEW MORE" or "80% OFF" straight into a section or snippet file instead of a setting or a locale file.
Translation apps that only work through Shopify's translations can't see this text, so a page in French can still show an English heading, button or badge. Shoppers notice, and it makes the rest of the translation look unfinished. If Liquid is new to you, what is Shopify Liquid explains the basics.
How EA AI Language Translate handles it
Since November 5, 2026, EA AI Language Translate covers this text as part of its AI store translations:
- It reads your published theme and finds the text shoppers see in Custom Liquid and Custom HTML sections and blocks and in the theme's section, snippet and layout files, including image alt text, titles and form placeholders.
- Liquid output such as a product title or a price stays a placeholder, so it keeps working in every language.
- It translates the text with the same glossary, tone and formality as the rest of your store.
- The app embed shows the translation on each translated language page as the page loads.
- Theme rich text settings are now translated with their formatting too.
Every line appears in the side-by-side editor, where you can change it like any other translation.
How to translate Custom Liquid sections, step by step
You need a store with at least one extra language published in Shopify (Settings › Languages) and the app on a Translations plan.
- Install EA AI Language Translate. Install it from the Shopify App Store and choose Translations 5 ($24.99 a month, up to 5 languages) or Translations 20 ($49.99 a month, up to 20 languages).
- Turn on the app embed. The Dashboard shows "App embed enabled in theme" when it is on. If it says disabled, click Turn on and save in the theme editor.
- Include theme text. In What to translate, turn on Theme text. It covers the headings and buttons you typed in the theme editor and, since November 2026, Custom Liquid sections and text in your theme code. Click Save.
- Translate. On the Store translations card, click Translate now. The app translates the new text into each of your languages.
- Review and edit. Open Edit translations, pick Content › "Custom Liquid & theme code" and a language, and check each line. Change any line by hand and save.
How to check the result
- Open a translated page, for example
your-store.com/fr, and look at the Custom Liquid sections. - In the app, use the Untranslated and Edited by hand filters in Edit translations to find lines that still need a look.
- When you change text in your theme later, run Translate now again so the new text is translated too.
For the bigger picture, see how to translate a Shopify store and our comparison of Shopify translation apps.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Shopify translate Custom Liquid sections?
Not on its own. Shopify's translation tools cover the text fields of your theme, not the contents of a Custom Liquid or Custom HTML section or text typed into theme files. EA AI Language Translate finds that text, translates it and shows it on your translated pages.
Where do I edit the translation of a Custom Liquid section?
In EA AI Language Translate, open Edit translations and pick Content › "Custom Liquid & theme code". Each line of text is listed next to its translation, and you can change it by hand.
Will the translation break my Liquid code?
No. Liquid output such as a product title or a price is kept as a placeholder, and only the text around it is translated.
Which plan do I need?
Theme text, including Custom Liquid and theme code, is part of AI store translations: Translations 5 ($24.99 a month, up to 5 languages) or Translations 20 ($49.99 a month, up to 20 languages).
Does it translate text typed directly into theme files?
Yes. The app reads the published theme's section, snippet, block and layout files and translates the text shoppers see, including image alt text, titles and placeholders.
Do I need to translate again after I change a section?
Run Translate now on the Store translations card after you change theme text, so the new wording is translated into every language.
Translate every part of your store
Install EA AI Language Translate, pick your languages and translate your theme, Custom Liquid included. See every feature and plan.
Install on Shopify