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Learning how to change featured products on Shopify is one of the easiest ways to keep your storefront fresh and encourage more sales. Whether you’re promoting a best seller, launching a new product, or updating a seasonal campaign, Shopify lets you replace featured products in just a few clicks using the Theme Editor.
This guide walks you through every method, explains the difference between Featured Products and Featured Collections, and shows you how to fix common issues if your changes don’t appear.
In This Guide
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What Are Featured Products in Shopify?
A Featured Product is a section within your Shopify theme that displays one specific product prominently on your storefront. Many merchants use it to draw attention to a flagship product, limited time offer, or newly launched item.
Unlike product recommendations that are generated automatically, featured products are selected manually, giving you complete control over what customers see first.
Where Featured Products Can Appear
- Homepage
- Landing pages
- Custom page templates
- Product pages, depending on your theme
The exact placement depends on your Shopify theme, but Online Store 2.0 themes such as Dawn, Refresh, Sense, and Craft all include flexible homepage sections that can display featured products.
Featured Product vs Featured Collection
Many Shopify store owners confuse these two features because they appear similar on the storefront. However, they serve different purposes.
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| Feature | Featured Product | Featured Collection |
|---|---|---|
| Displays | One product | Multiple products |
| Best For | Flagship items | Best sellers, new arrivals, seasonal collections |
| Updates | Manual replacement | Automatically updates when collection changes |
| Flexibility | Low | High |
If your homepage frequently changes for promotions or seasonal campaigns, using a Featured Collection is often the better option because you only need to update the collection instead of editing your homepage every time.
Before You Change Featured Products
Before making changes, verify that you’re editing the correct theme and homepage template. This helps avoid situations where your updates don’t appear on the live store.
Check Your Published Theme
- Log in to your Shopify Admin.
- Select Online Store.
- Click Themes.
- Confirm that you’re editing the published theme rather than a draft version.
Many merchants accidentally customize an unpublished theme, making it appear as though their featured products haven’t updated.
Determine Which Homepage Section You’re Using
Open the Theme Editor and identify whether your homepage contains:
- A Featured Product section
- A Featured Collection section
- Product Recommendations
- A custom app section
The editing steps vary slightly depending on which section your theme uses.
How to Change Featured Products on Shopify
If your homepage uses a Featured Product section, follow these steps.
Step 1: Open Shopify Admin
Sign in to your Shopify account and open the dashboard.
Step 2: Go to Online Store
From the left navigation menu, click Online Store, then select Themes.
Step 3: Click Customize
Find your active theme and click the Customize button to open the Shopify Theme Editor.
Step 4: Open the Homepage Template
At the top of the editor, make sure you’re editing the Home page template. Some themes allow different templates, so verify you’re on the correct page.
Step 5: Select the Featured Product Section
In the left sidebar, click the Featured Product section.
The settings panel will display the currently selected product.
Step 6: Replace the Product
- Click Change or Select Product.
- Search for the new product.
- Select the product you want to feature.
- Review the product image, title, pricing, and availability.
If your theme supports additional settings, you can also customize:
- Product image size
- Image cropping
- Button style
- Product description visibility
- Vendor display
- Product rating display
- Quantity selector
Step 7: Save Your Changes
Click Save in the upper right corner.
Visit your storefront to verify that the new featured product appears correctly on both desktop and mobile devices.
How to Change a Featured Collection Instead
If your homepage displays multiple products instead of one, you’re most likely using a Featured Collection.
Replace the Featured Collection
- Open the Theme Editor.
- Select the Featured Collection section.
- Click Change Collection.
- Select another existing collection.
- Save your changes.
The homepage will immediately display products from the newly selected collection.
Update Products Within the Existing Collection
If you’d rather keep the same homepage section, edit the collection itself.
- Go to Products.
- Select Collections.
- Open the featured collection.
- Add or remove products.
- Save your changes.
This method is particularly useful for stores that rotate promotions regularly without changing the homepage layout.
How to Add Multiple Featured Products
While the standard Featured Product section displays only one product, Shopify gives you several ways to showcase multiple products on your homepage. The best approach depends on your store’s goals and how often you update your inventory.
Option 1: Use Multiple Featured Product Sections
Most Shopify Online Store 2.0 themes let you add more than one Featured Product section to the homepage.
- Open Online Store > Themes.
- Click Customize.
- Select the homepage template.
- Click Add section.
- Choose Featured Product.
- Select a different product.
- Repeat the process for additional products.
This works well when you want to highlight a small number of products individually, such as a new arrival, a best seller, and a limited time offer.
Option 2: Use a Featured Collection
If you regularly promote multiple products, a Featured Collection is usually the better choice. Instead of manually replacing products on your homepage, you only need to update the collection.
This method is ideal for:
- Best sellers
- New arrivals
- Seasonal products
- Holiday promotions
- Limited edition collections
Option 3: Display Automated Collections
Automated collections use conditions such as product tags, inventory, price, or vendor to include products automatically.
For example, you can automatically feature products that:
- Have the tag Best Seller
- Belong to a specific vendor
- Cost over a certain amount
- Are currently in stock
- Match a product type
This saves time and reduces manual updates throughout the year.
How to Rearrange Featured Products
Changing products is only part of effective homepage merchandising. The order in which products appear also influences customer behavior.
Manual Collections
If your Featured Collection is a manual collection, you can drag and drop products into any order.
- Go to Products.
- Open Collections.
- Select your collection.
- Choose Sort Manually.
- Drag products into the desired order.
- Save your changes.
Automated Collections
Automated collections cannot be manually reordered. Instead, choose a sorting option such as:
- Best selling
- Newest
- Alphabetically
- Price, low to high
- Price, high to low
Select the sorting method that best supports your merchandising strategy.
How to Remove Featured Products
If you no longer want to display a featured product, you can remove or hide the section without affecting the product itself.
Delete the Section
- Open the Theme Editor.
- Select the Featured Product section.
- Click Remove Section.
- Save your changes.
Hide the Section
Some themes allow sections to be hidden instead of deleted. This lets you restore the section later without rebuilding it.
Hiding is useful for temporary campaigns or seasonal promotions.
Theme Specific Instructions
Although the process is similar across Shopify themes, some settings appear in different locations.
Dawn Theme
Dawn is Shopify’s default Online Store 2.0 theme. The Featured Product section supports:
- Image zoom
- Media gallery
- Product description
- Vendor information
- Quantity selector
- Buy buttons
- Product rating blocks
You can rearrange homepage sections using drag and drop within the Theme Editor.
Refresh Theme
Refresh emphasizes larger product imagery and clean layouts. Use high resolution product photos for the best appearance.
Sense Theme
Sense is designed for visually rich storefronts. Pair featured products with complementary image banners to create a stronger homepage experience.
Craft Theme
Craft works well for handmade, artisan, and premium products. Keep the number of featured products limited to maintain a clean layout.
Vintage Shopify Themes
If your store still uses a Vintage theme, some homepage settings may differ from Online Store 2.0. Consider upgrading to a newer Shopify theme to access flexible sections and improved customization options.
Advanced Homepage Customization
Beyond changing products, you can improve your homepage by organizing sections in a way that encourages visitors to continue browsing.
A common homepage structure includes:
- Announcement Bar
- Hero Banner
- Featured Collection
- Featured Product
- Best Sellers
- Testimonials
- Newsletter Signup
This layout keeps important products near the top while building trust through customer reviews and social proof.
Should You Use Featured Products or Featured Collections?
The answer depends on how often your inventory changes.
| If You Want To… | Recommended Option |
|---|---|
| Highlight one flagship product | Featured Product |
| Promote multiple products | Featured Collection |
| Rotate seasonal items frequently | Featured Collection |
| Show one limited time offer | Featured Product |
| Reduce manual homepage updates | Automated Collection |
For most growing Shopify stores, Featured Collections provide greater flexibility because you can update products without editing the homepage each time.
Why Your Featured Products Are Not Updating
If you’ve changed your featured products but don’t see the updates on your storefront, the issue is usually related to your theme, collection settings, or browser cache. Use the checklist below to identify and fix the problem.
You’re Editing an Unpublished Theme
One of the most common mistakes is customizing a draft theme instead of the live one.
- Go to Online Store > Themes.
- Confirm the theme is marked as Current theme.
- If you’re editing a draft theme, publish it when you’re ready.
You’re Editing the Wrong Template
Some Shopify themes use different templates for the homepage, landing pages, or specific collections.
Verify that you’re editing the Home page template in the Theme Editor before making changes.
The Product Is Not Available
A featured product may not appear correctly if it is:
- Archived
- Out of stock, depending on your settings
- Unavailable on the Online Store sales channel
- Missing essential product information
Open the product in Shopify Admin and ensure it is active and available to the Online Store channel.
Your Collection Hasn’t Updated
If you’re using a Featured Collection, remember that editing the homepage alone won’t change the products inside it.
Instead:
- Open Products.
- Select Collections.
- Edit the featured collection.
- Add, remove, or reorder products.
- Save your changes.
Your Browser Is Showing Cached Content
Browsers sometimes display an older version of your homepage.
Try the following:
- Refresh the page using a hard reload.
- Open your store in an incognito window.
- Test from another device.
- Clear your browser cache if necessary.
Theme Apps Are Overriding Homepage Sections
Some Shopify apps replace the default Featured Product or Featured Collection section with their own widgets.
If you’re using page builder or merchandising apps, check their settings to ensure they aren’t overriding your homepage layout.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Small mistakes can affect both your store’s appearance and your conversion rate. Avoid these common issues when updating featured products.
Featuring Too Many Products
Giving customers too many choices can make it harder for them to decide what to buy.
Highlight only your most important products and keep the homepage focused.
Promoting Out of Stock Products
Nothing frustrates shoppers more than clicking a featured product only to find it unavailable.
Regularly review your homepage to ensure every featured item is available for purchase.
Using Low Quality Product Images
Your featured products should represent your brand at its best.
Use sharp, professionally lit images with consistent sizing to create a polished storefront.
Ignoring Mobile Visitors
A significant portion of Shopify traffic comes from mobile devices.
Always preview your homepage on both desktop and mobile before publishing changes.
Forgetting Seasonal Updates
Products that performed well during one season may not be relevant throughout the year.
Create a merchandising calendar to refresh your featured products before major holidays, sales, and promotional events.
Best Practices for Choosing Featured Products
Changing featured products isn’t just about replacing items. It’s an opportunity to guide customers toward the products most likely to generate sales.
Highlight Your Best Sellers
Best selling products already have proven demand and customer trust.
Featuring them prominently can increase conversions while helping new visitors discover your most popular items.
Promote Seasonal Products
Update your homepage to match upcoming holidays, weather changes, or shopping events.
Examples include:
- Summer collections
- Back to school products
- Black Friday offers
- Holiday gift guides
- New year promotions
Feature New Arrivals
Displaying new products encourages repeat customers to explore your latest inventory.
Consider creating a dedicated “New Arrivals” collection and featuring it on your homepage.
Prioritize High Margin Products
If two products sell equally well, feature the one that generates higher profit.
This simple merchandising strategy can improve overall revenue without increasing traffic.
Use Products with Strong Reviews
Products with positive customer reviews often convert better because they provide immediate social proof.
If your theme supports product ratings, enable them within the Featured Product section.
Conversion Optimization Tips
Your homepage should encourage visitors to continue shopping rather than overwhelming them with information.
Products positioned above the fold typically receive more attention than those further down the page.
Avoid pushing important products below large banners or excessive text.
Write Clear Product Titles
Use descriptive product names that immediately explain what customers are viewing.
Avoid internal product codes or unclear naming conventions.
Use Compelling Product Images
High quality images often influence purchasing decisions before customers even read the product description.
Maintain consistent lighting, backgrounds, and image dimensions across featured products.
Keep Homepage Sections Organized
A clean layout improves navigation and reduces decision fatigue.
Arrange sections in a logical order that naturally guides visitors through your store.
Review Performance Regularly
Monitor which featured products receive the most clicks and sales.
Updating underperforming products regularly helps keep your homepage fresh and relevant.
Advanced Tips for Shopify Merchandising
As your store grows, consider using more advanced merchandising techniques to reduce manual work while improving the customer experience.
Create Automated Collections
Instead of manually selecting products every month, use automated collections based on product tags, inventory status, vendors, or pricing rules.
This keeps your homepage updated with minimal maintenance.
Rotate Featured Collections Throughout the Year
Create collections for different campaigns in advance so they can be swapped quickly during seasonal promotions.
Examples include Spring Collection, Summer Essentials, Holiday Gifts, and Clearance Sale.
Combine Featured Products with Promotional Sections
Pair featured products with announcement bars, image banners, promotional text, or limited time offers to increase visibility and encourage action.
Review Your Homepage Every Month
Even if your products don’t change often, review your homepage monthly to ensure it reflects your current inventory, promotions, and business goals.
Regular updates help keep your storefront engaging for both new and returning customers.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I change featured products on Shopify?
Open Online Store > Themes, click Customize, select the Home page template, open the Featured Product section, choose a new product, and click Save. If your homepage uses a Featured Collection, update the collection or select a different one instead.
Why isn’t my featured product showing on my Shopify homepage?
Check that you’re editing the published theme, the correct homepage template, and that the product is active and available on the Online Store sales channel. Also test your storefront in an incognito window to rule out browser caching.
Can I feature more than one product on Shopify?
Yes. You can add multiple Featured Product sections if your theme supports them, or use a Featured Collection to display several products in a single section. A Featured Collection is usually easier to manage because updating the collection automatically updates your homepage.
What’s the difference between a Featured Product and a Featured Collection?
A Featured Product highlights one specific item, while a Featured Collection displays multiple products from a collection. Stores that frequently update promotions or seasonal items generally benefit from using Featured Collections.
How often should I update featured products?
Review your homepage at least once a month or before major promotions. Updating featured products regularly keeps your storefront fresh and ensures customers see your latest products, seasonal offers, or best sellers.
Can I automatically update featured products?
Yes. By displaying an automated collection on your homepage, Shopify can automatically include products that match conditions such as tags, product type, vendor, inventory status, or pricing rules. This reduces manual updates while keeping your storefront current.
Which Shopify themes support featured products?
All Shopify Online Store 2.0 themes, including Dawn, Refresh, Sense, Craft, Ride, Studio, Taste, and Colorblock, support Featured Product or Featured Collection sections through the Theme Editor.
Key Takeaways
- Featured Products allow you to highlight a single product, while Featured Collections display multiple products and are easier to maintain.
- To change a featured product, go to Online Store > Themes > Customize, open the homepage template, select the Featured Product section, choose a new product, and save your changes.
- If your homepage uses a Featured Collection, update the collection itself or replace it with another collection instead of editing individual products.
- Always confirm you’re editing the published theme and the correct homepage template before making changes.
- If updates don’t appear, check browser caching, product availability, Online Store sales channel settings, and collection configuration.
- Using automated collections can significantly reduce the time spent updating seasonal promotions and best selling products.
- Refreshing your homepage regularly helps improve product visibility, customer engagement, and conversion opportunities.
- Combining high quality product images, strong merchandising, and organized homepage sections creates a better shopping experience for your customers.
Final Thoughts
Your Shopify homepage is one of the most valuable areas of your online store. Updating featured products strategically helps direct visitors toward your most important products, supports seasonal campaigns, and keeps your storefront looking fresh.
Whether you choose to feature a single product or showcase an entire collection, the key is to align your homepage with your current business goals. Highlight products that are relevant, available, and most likely to convert, then review your storefront regularly to ensure it continues to deliver the best possible shopping experience.
By understanding the difference between Featured Products and Featured Collections, following the correct editing process, and applying the merchandising best practices covered in this guide, you’ll be able to maintain an engaging Shopify homepage that encourages more clicks, more product discovery, and ultimately, more sales.
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