How did Shopify Close 2025 with December Updates

No one takes December really seriously because of its festive nature. This is a month when everything slows down, and teams get ready for vacation. Shopify, however, is still on and has rolled out its latest updates for 2025. The following is a practical review of what Shopify released in December and why it matters to retailers, developers, and ecommerce teams.

Sidekick gets more precise

Shopify Sidekick is becoming more useful for real store work with this new feature. You may now use a particular component on your screen to direct Sidekick's context.

Here's how it works:

• Click the target icon in the Sidekick menu

• Then select any element on the screen (a button, text block, or section)

• Sidekick uses that exact element as context for your next request, so you don't have to explain "the second CTA in the hero".

This reduces back-and-forth and makes Sidekick far more accurate when you're working inside the admin. Sidekick understands what you mean without a long written description, good for reviewing layouts or refining content.

Sidekick's interactive to-do lists for complex tasks

Shopify is also making Sidekick more action-oriented. With the latest update, Sidekick can now convert complicated requests into interactive checklists. Instead of responding with a long explanation, Sidekick can break down multi-step goals (sale preparation, store audit) into a structured checklist.

What makes this update especially useful:

• Tasks are broken down into actionable steps.

• You can check off items manually as you complete them.

• Sidekick can automatically mark steps as done when it detects that the action is complete.

This turns Sidekick from a helper you ask questions to into something closer to an assistant. By keeping structured to-do lists inside the conversation, Sidekick supports real working patterns, especially for merchants juggling launches and day-to-day operations.

Sidekick can now build custom apps

One of the most notable December updates. You can generate simple, custom apps directly inside your Shopify admin.

No need to describe the problem and then hand it off to a developer, just explain the functionality, and Sidekick takes care of the rest. It generates the app logic, builds the interface using Polaris components, and connects everything through the GraphQL Admin API.

These apps are:

• Single-page tools designed for specific internal tasks

• Embedded directly in your Shopify admin

• Previewable before installation

• Editable - you can ask Sidekick to adjust the code or UI

This feature is currently available to merchants on Grow, Plus, and Enterprise Shopify pricing plans, with limits applied.

With this update, Shopify dramatically lowers the barrier for creating internal tools that solve particular problems.

It doesn't replace full-scale custom Shopify app development, but it fills the gap between manual fixes and proper app build.

Sidekick is one element of Shopify’s broader AI toolset. We break down the peculiarities and details of other solutions that can streamline your store workflows in our article about Top AI Tools for Shopify.

Bundle options are now smarter

Shopify has also improved how bundle options work. Now, it is easier for customers to configure bundled products. Previously, when a bundle included items with the same option (three t-shirts), customers had to select the size for each. With the new update, repeat bundle options can now be combined. Options like size or length can be grouped, so customers only need to make the selection once.

What's changed:

• Repeated options (size, length) can be grouped together

• Customers select shared options a single time

• Grouped options are viewed as one option

• Bundle configuration becomes faster and clearer

This is a small UX improvement with a real impact. Fewer clicks and repetitions minimize hassle, particularly on mobile. For brands that rely on bundles to increase AOV, this update directly supports better conversion rates. To know more about the Shopify bundles details, read our article - How to create bundles on Shopify.

SMS Marketing is integrated into Shopify messaging

Shopify expands its Messaging (formerly Shopify Email) with SMS marketing. That means you can create, send, and track SMS campaigns directly inside Shopify, alongside email.

With this update, subscribed customers can receive:

• Exclusive offers and promo reminders

• Helpful product tips and post-purchase pushes

• Important updates (shipping, seasonal drops)

SMS messages include built-in controls to ensure regional compliance, which is important if you operate in various markets.

You'll now find both email and SMS in the Shopify admin under the Shopify messaging app. Availability depends on your region, so not every market will have SMS enabled yet. SMS is one of the highest-intent channels in ecommerce, but it can quickly become messy when it lives in a separate tool from your store data.

Customize your theme using Sidekick

Sidekick can now be used for theme customization. With the latest update, you can describe the visual changes you want. Sidekick will then apply them to your theme. Instead of manually adjusting settings or looking through sections, you can simply tell Sidekick what you want, for example:

• Make my store feel more premium with elegant typography

• Improve readability on product pages

• Make this part stand out in design

You can also click any section or block directly in the theme preview and ask Sidekick to customize that specific element. Changes are applied in real time, so you can immediately see the result and edit it further.

This works across all editable themes in the online store theme editor. Theme customization is often where merchants get stuck between "out of the box" and "fully custom." This update lowers that barrier significantly. It won't replace thoughtful Shopify web design or Shopify theme customization services, but it makes everyday improvements far easier.

Switch between Freeform and Cohort views

Previously, cohort analysis lived in a separate report. If you wanted to understand trends and then check whether those customers were actually coming back, you had to jump between different views. Now, both perspectives are available in one place.

Here’s how the two views work together:

• Freeform analysis allows you to investigate patterns over time, analyze segments, and monitor advances in performance

• Cohort analysis demonstrates whether consumers return after their first purchase and how retention grows

With this update, you can move seamlessly from questions like "How are sales trending?" to "Are these customers coming back?" without creating new reports.

Good decisions often require views from multiple angles. This upgrade reduces complexity in the analytical process and allows further research of consumer behavior.

AI block generation now works across all Shopify theme store themes

Shopify has expanded AI block generation (powered by Sidekick), so it now works with every theme in the Shopify Theme Store.

In practical terms, this means you can describe what you want in plain language, and Sidekick will generate a custom theme block and code it for you on the spot. If the first version isn't quite right, you can change, ask for layout, spacing, or content.

This feature is only available for Theme Store themes, making it available to a wide range of businesses that rely on official templates yet want more flexibility.

Theme blocks help marketers add another missing section, like a feature grid, comparison table, or key benefits. Until now, that usually meant custom Shopify development, an app, or settling for a workaround.

Winter '26 edition is live with 150+ Shopify updates

Shopify also released the Winter '26 Edition, announcing 150+ updates across the platform. It's a broad drop that touches everything from storefront experience and operations to automation and AI for ecommerce. Even if you only skim it, you'll likely spot improvements that impact your daily workflow. If you want the full breakdown (and the most practical takeaways), here's our recap: Shopify Winter '26 Edition.

What December really tells us for Shopify in 2026

These December updates suggest a clear assumption that merchants want to move faster and solve more problems directly in Shopify.

The practical takeaway is simple. Shopify is becoming more capable out of the box. However, the advantage will go to those who know how to apply it. That's where strategy, experience, and implementation still matter.

As a Shopify Partner, DigitalSuits works with brands that want to use platform updates to get real outcomes. Whether that's Shopify web development, Shopify Plus development, or Shopify CRO, we help teams to connect everything into a system that actually grows. If you're planning changes for 2026, contact DigitalSuits to discuss your Shopify roadmap.