How to Show Featured Image First on Shopify Product Pages

Are you struggling to get your Shopify store’s product pages to display the featured image first instead of the variant image? This common issue can be frustrating for store owners who want to showcase their products in the best light. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore how to solve this problem and ensure your featured image takes center stage on your product pages.

Understanding the Issue

The Default Behavior

By default, many Shopify themes display the first variant image when a customer lands on a product page. While this can be useful for showing specific product options, it may not always be the ideal presentation for your store.

Why Featured Images Matter

Featured images are often carefully chosen to represent the product as a whole. They can be more visually appealing or provide a better overall view of the item, making them crucial for capturing customer interest.

The Technical Challenge

Changing this behavior requires modifying your theme’s code, specifically the product media gallery. This can be daunting for those without coding experience, but don’t worry – we’ll walk you through the process step by step.

The Solution: Modifying Your Theme Code

Identifying Your Theme Version

Before making any changes, it’s important to know which version of your theme you’re using. This guide focuses on the Dawn theme, but the principles can be applied to other themes with some adjustments.

Backing Up Your Theme

Always create a backup of your theme before making any code changes. This allows you to revert to the original version if something goes wrong.

Editing the Product Media Gallery

The key to displaying the featured image first lies in modifying the product-media-gallery.liquid file. Here’s how to do it:

From your Shopify admin, go to Online Store > Themes.
Click the three dots next to your active theme and select “Edit code.”
In the Snippets folder, locate and open the product-media-gallery.liquid file.

Find the following code (around line 67-68):

product.selected_or_first_available_variant.featured_media

Replace it with:
```
product.featured_media
```

Next, find this code (around line 92):

product.selected_or_first_available_variant.featured_media.id

Replace it with:
```
product.featured_media.id
```

Understanding the Code Changes

These modifications tell Shopify to use the product’s featured media (usually an image) instead of the first variant’s media. This ensures that your carefully chosen featured image is displayed prominently when customers visit your product pages.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Double Images

Some users have reported seeing the featured image displayed twice after making these changes. If you encounter this issue, double-check that you’ve replaced all instances of the original code, including any that might be further down in the file.

Mobile Display Problems

If you notice issues with the mobile display, such as images not updating correctly when switching variants, you may need to make additional adjustments to your theme’s JavaScript files. Consider seeking help from a Shopify expert if you’re not comfortable diving deeper into the code.

Variant Selection Issues

In some cases, users have reported that variant selection stops working after implementing these changes. If you experience this, review your theme’s product form JavaScript to ensure it’s still compatible with the new gallery setup.

Best Practices for Product Images

Choosing the Right Featured Image

Now that your featured image will be displayed first, it’s crucial to select one that best represents your product. Consider these tips:

Use high-quality, professional photos
Show the product from its most flattering angle
Ensure the image is clear and well-lit

Optimizing Images for Performance

While displaying the right image is important, so is your store’s performance. Optimize your images by:

Compressing files without losing quality
Using appropriate file formats (JPEG for photos, PNG for graphics with transparency)
Implementing lazy loading for faster page loads

Maintaining Consistency Across Your Store

To create a cohesive shopping experience, maintain a consistent style for your featured images across all products. This helps build brand recognition and makes your store look more professional.

Advanced Customizations

Customizing for Different Themes

While the solution provided works well for the Dawn theme, other themes may require different approaches. Always refer to your theme’s documentation or reach out to the theme developer for specific guidance.

Implementing Dynamic Featured Images

For more advanced users, consider implementing a system that dynamically selects the featured image based on factors like seasonality or current promotions. This can be achieved through custom metafields and additional theme customizations.

A/B Testing Your Image Display

To ensure you’re making the best choice for your store, consider running A/B tests comparing the performance of pages with featured images displayed first versus those with variant images. Use Shopify’s built-in analytics or third-party tools to measure the impact on conversion rates.

By following this guide, you should now be able to display your featured image first on your Shopify product pages. Remember to test thoroughly after making any changes and don’t hesitate to seek professional help if you encounter complex issues. With the right setup, your products will shine, potentially leading to increased customer engagement and sales.