Shopify checkout now shows one Terms and policies link

Shopify has changed the default checkout footer. Instead of showing a separate link for every policy, checkout now shows a single "Terms and policies" link. It was announced in the Shopify Changelog on 26 October 2026, and it needs no action from merchants. It is still worth a few minutes of attention, because checkout is the most closely watched page on any store and even small layout changes can affect how it looks, how it is tested and what customers see at the moment they decide to pay.

What it is

Previously, the checkout footer listed a link for each of a merchant's policies. Now there is one link, labelled "Terms and policies". When a customer clicks it, a modal opens and the customer can choose whichever of the merchant's policies they want to read.

Shopify is clear that the policy content itself is unchanged. This is a change to how policies are presented in checkout, not to what they say or where they are managed.

How it works and how to access it

There is nothing to switch on. The single footer link applies to the default checkout footer, so stores using that footer will see the new behaviour. The changelog entry lists the action required as none, and it includes an animated GIF showing the new link and the modal if you want to see it in motion.

The simplest way to understand it is to open a checkout on your own store and look at the footer. Check that the link appears, that the modal opens, and that each policy you expect to see is listed and readable.

Limits and caveats

The detail that matters most is who can change it. Merchants on the Shopify Plus plan can hide the default footer and add their own policy links using Checkout UI extensions. The changelog entry does not say whether that option is available to merchants on other plans, so we would not assume that it is.

The entry also only describes the default checkout footer. If a store has customised its footer, you should confirm what customers actually see rather than relying on the announcement alone.

What it means for merchants

For most merchants this is a tidy-up that happens on its own. A footer with one link is cleaner than one with a row of policy names, and that is helpful on a page where you want attention on the order summary and the pay button.

There are a few practical points to keep in mind:

• Policies now sit one click deeper than before, inside a modal. If you rely on customers finding your returns or shipping policy at checkout, check that it is still easy to reach.
• Because the content is unchanged, any policy wording you have already reviewed does not need to be rewritten for this change.
• If your team, your legal adviser or your customer service scripts refer to "the links in the checkout footer", it is worth updating that language.

What it means for agencies and partners

For agencies, the value of a change like this is in the follow-up. Client QA checklists, screenshots in documentation and any recorded checkout walkthroughs that show individual policy links in the footer will now be out of date. Updating them before a client notices is a simple way to look organised.

It also gives you a reason to talk about checkout ownership. Plus clients who want policy links displayed in a specific way have a route through Checkout UI extensions, and that is a small, well-defined piece of work you can scope. For clients on other plans, the sensible position is to confirm what is available in their admin and not promise a custom footer that the changelog does not describe.

How we would approach it

1. Open checkout on the live store and on a development or preview store, and look at the footer on desktop and mobile.
2. Click the Terms and policies link and confirm every policy you expect is listed and opens correctly.
3. Check that the policies themselves are complete and current, since more customers may now reach them through one entry point.
4. Update QA checklists, documentation and support scripts that describe the old row of footer links.
5. For Plus clients with a strong reason to show their own links, scope a Checkout UI extension and decide whether it is worth the maintenance.

The short version

Checkout's default footer now shows one "Terms and policies" link that opens a modal listing the merchant's policies. Nothing needs to be done, and the policy content is unchanged. Plus merchants can hide the default footer and add their own links with Checkout UI extensions. Everyone else should take a quick look at their checkout, make sure their policies are easy to find, and update any documentation that still describes the old footer.

ETTA provides fractional ecommerce leadership for fashion, streetwear and sportswear brands. If you want a senior view on how this affects your store, get in touch.