If you’ve built a Shopify app, you know the usual App Home tradeoff. Even if your app’s primary experience is simple, you still need to host a web server just to render the landing page inside Admin. That can mean setting up routing, hosting, auth handling, deploy pipelines, and infrastructure for something that may only be a lightweight workspace.
App Home UI extensions remove that requirement for custom-distributed extension-only apps.
You can now build your app’s landing page as an App Home UI extension using the new admin.app.home.render target. Shopify renders the App Home experience directly in Admin, and your App Home deploys alongside the rest of your app’s extensions.
What you can build
Use App Home UI extensions when your app needs a persistent, full-page workspace in Shopify Admin, but does not need a self-hosted app server for its primary UI.
That can include:
- Setup flows and instructions
- Function configuration experiences
- Multi-page apps that interact with Shopify’s APIs
- Lightweight custom-distribution apps that live entirely in extensions
You still get familiar Admin UI extension capabilities, including Polaris components, static image assets, and client-side navigation with routers like preact-iso.
How it works
App Home UI extensions use a new extension target:
admin.app.home.render
Shopify renders the extension as the app’s App Home inside Admin. From the merchant’s perspective, they open your app and land in a full-page Admin experience. From your perspective, you build and deploy it like an extension.
New extension-only apps include App Home by default. Existing apps can add one with the Shopify CLI.
Get started
To scaffold a new extension-only app, run:
shopify app init
When prompted, select:
Build an extension-only app
To add App Home UI to an existing app, run:
shopify app generate extension
When prompted, select:
App home
When you’re ready to ship, deploy it with the rest of your app’s extensions:
shopify app deploy
Availability
App Home UI extensions are available starting in API version 2026-07.
They are intended for custom-distribution apps.
If you’re building a public app for the Shopify App Store, continue using the iframe-based App Home approach for now.
Why this matters
For lightweight apps, App Home no longer has to be the reason you run a server.
If your app’s main experience can be built with Admin UI extensions, you can now keep the app simpler: one extension-based deploy flow, one Admin-native UI surface, and no separate hosted frontend just to power the landing page.
Get started
Read the App Home UI extension reference for the full list of target APIs, web components, and configuration options.
FAQ
Can I use this for a public App Store app?
Not right now. App Home UI extensions are intended for custom-distribution apps. Public App Store apps should continue using the iframe-based App Home.
Do I need to host a server?
Not for the App Home UI itself. Shopify renders the App Home extension directly in Admin. If your app has other backend needs, you may still need a server for those parts.
Can I build multiple pages?
Yes. App Home UI extensions support multi-page navigation using client-side routers like
preact-iso, including internal navigation and deep links.
What CLI version do I need?
The templates for building with App Home UI extensions are available with CLI 4.1.0 and above.
Start building App Home UI extensions today with CLI 4.1.0 and above and drop your feedback in this topic.