Available_if on App Block removes section from theme instead of just hiding it?

Extensions
1

Hi everyone,

I’m facing a confusing issue with available_if in Shopify app blocks and wanted to understand if this is expected behavior or if I’m missing something.

I have a Shopify app block where I’m using the available_if property to control visibility based on a metafield. The metafield is updated dynamically based on the merchant’s billing status.

{% schema %}
{
  "name": "Section name",
  "target": "section",
  "available_if": "{{ app.metafields.namespace.app_enabled }}",
  "settings": []
}
{% endschema %}
  • When app_enabled = true, the app block is visible and works fine.
  • When app_enabled = false, the app block becomes unavailable (which is expected).

When app_enabled changes from false → true (for example, after the merchant upgrades their plan), the section is completely removed from the theme. The merchant has to manually go to the theme editor and re-add the app block again.

What I expected:

  • available_if = false → block is hidden / disabled
  • available_if = true → block becomes visible again in the same place

Instead, Shopify seems to permanently remove the section from the theme once available_if becomes false.

Any guidance or best practices here would really help.

2

I think Shopify caches the app block or metafield. When I turn the metafield from false to true, the app block doesn’t appear immediately. Instead, it appears after a few minutes.

Imo, it makes sense if the app block isn’t visible in the same place. Shopify stores the app blocks in a template file. But the changes are not stored.