How to Create Custom Collapsible Tabs on Shopify Product Pages

Are you looking to enhance your Shopify product pages with custom collapsible tabs? Whether you want to showcase product dimensions, fabrication details, or any other unique information for each item, this guide will walk you through the process of setting up individual collapsible tabs without relying on additional apps.

Understanding the Need for Custom Collapsible Tabs

Why Standard Options Fall Short

Many Shopify themes, including the popular Dawn theme, come with built-in collapsible tabs. However, these default options often lack the flexibility to display unique information for each product. This limitation can be frustrating for store owners who want to provide detailed, product-specific information to their customers.

The Benefits of Customization

Custom collapsible tabs allow you to:

• Highlight unique features for each product
• Improve user experience by organizing information
• Boost SEO by including relevant product details
• Increase conversions by providing comprehensive product information

Creating Unique Collapsible Tabs: A Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Setting Up Metafields

Metafields are the key to adding custom information to your products. Here’s how to create them:

1. Go to your Shopify admin panel
2. Navigate to Settings > Metafields
3. Select Products and click “Add definition”
4. Name your metafield (e.g., “Material” or “Dimensions”)
5. Choose “Text” as the content type
6. Select “Multi-line text” for more flexibility
7. Save your new metafield

Repeat this process for each type of information you want to display in your collapsible tabs.

Step 2: Adding Information to Products

Once your metafields are set up, it’s time to populate them with product-specific information:

1. In your Shopify admin, go to Products
2. Select the product you want to edit
3. Scroll down to find your newly created metafields
4. Enter the relevant information for that product
5. Save your changes

Step 3: Displaying Metafields in Collapsible Tabs

Now that you have your custom information ready, let’s add it to your product pages:

1. Go to your Shopify admin and access your active theme
2. Click “Customize”
3. Select Products > Default Product
4. In the Product Information section, click “Add block”
5. Choose “Collapsible tab”
6. In the Tab content area, click “Insert dynamic source”
7. Select your custom metafield (e.g., “Material”)
8. Click “Insert” and save your changes

Repeat this process for each collapsible tab you want to add.

Advanced Customization Techniques

Creating Product-Specific Templates

For even more control, you can create custom templates for specific products:

1. In your theme customization panel, click “Create Template”
2. Design your new template with the desired collapsible tabs
3. When editing a product, select your custom template under the “Online Store” tab

Managing Tabs for Multiple Products

To efficiently manage tabs across your store:

1. Use product tags or collections to group similar items
2. Create templates for each group
3. Bulk edit products to assign the appropriate template

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Metafields Not Appearing

If your metafields don’t show up when trying to insert a dynamic source:

1. Double-check that you’ve saved your metafield definitions
2. Ensure you’re inserting the dynamic source from the tab content area
3. Try refreshing your theme editor or logging out and back in

HTML in Metafields

For those needing to add HTML content like tables:

1. Consider using a rich text metafield type instead of plain text
2. If rich text isn’t available, explore theme customization options to allow HTML rendering

Best Practices for Effective Collapsible Tabs

Keep Content Concise

While collapsible tabs allow for more information, it’s important to keep content brief and to the point. Use bullet points or short paragraphs to maintain readability.

Use Consistent Formatting

Maintain a consistent style across all your product tabs. This helps create a professional look and improves user experience.

Regularly Update Information

Keep your product information up-to-date. Outdated details can lead to customer confusion and potential returns.

By following this guide, you can create unique collapsible tabs for each of your Shopify products, enhancing your store’s functionality and user experience without relying on additional apps. Remember to test your changes thoroughly and gather customer feedback to continually improve your product pages.