Fix Shopify Collection Description Not Showing: Step-by-Step Guide

Shopify users encounter an issue where the collection description doesn’t show up as expected on the storefront. If you’re dealing with this problem, don’t worry—you’re not alone. In this article, we will cover everything you need to know about why your Shopify collection description not showing and how to resolve it. By the end, you’ll be able to troubleshoot and fix the issue to ensure that your collection descriptions appear as intended.

Why Collection Descriptions Matter

Before diving into the troubleshooting process, it’s important to understand why collection descriptions are so important. Collection descriptions serve several purposes:

• SEO: Search engines like Google use text content to understand the relevance of your pages. By having a keyword-optimized description for each collection, you can improve your store’s search engine ranking and drive organic traffic.
• Customer Experience: A well-written description helps customers better understand the products within a collection and makes it easier for them to navigate your store. It sets expectations, clarifies product benefits, and provides important context for the items they are viewing.
• Branding and Conversion: Collection descriptions give you an opportunity to communicate your brand’s voice and values. A compelling description can also encourage customers to explore more products and make a purchase.

Now that we’ve highlighted the importance of collection descriptions, let’s explore why your description might not be showing and how to fix the issue.

Common Reasons Why Shopify Collection Description Not Showing

There are several potential reasons why your Shopify collection description is not displaying on your storefront. Here are the most common causes:

• Theme Limitations
• Liquid Code Issues
• Description Field Left Blank
• App Conflicts
• CSS Styling or Hidden Code
• Outdated Theme or Bugs

Let’s break each of these down and walk through the solutions.

1. Theme Limitations

Not all Shopify themes automatically display collection descriptions, or they may only display them in specific locations (like above or below the product listings). Depending on the theme you’re using, the collection description might be hidden by default.

How to Fix It:

• Check Theme Documentation: Review the documentation for your specific theme to see if it supports collection descriptions. If it doesn’t, you might need to add custom code or switch to a theme that does support this feature.
• Edit Theme Settings: Some themes allow you to control the visibility of collection descriptions directly from the Shopify admin panel. Navigate to Online Store > Themes > Customize, and check for options related to collection pages. Look for toggles or checkboxes that let you enable or disable collection descriptions.
• Consider Switching Themes: If your current theme doesn’t support collection descriptions and you’re unable to modify it easily, consider switching to a more flexible theme that provides better customization options for collection pages.

Learn More: How to Find Winning Products for Shopify Dropshipping

2. Liquid Code Issues

Shopify themes are built using Liquid, a templating language. If your collection description is missing, there may be an issue with the Liquid code that controls the display of collection descriptions on your theme’s collection page template.

How to Fix It:

• Check the Template File: In your Shopify admin panel, go to Online Store > Themes > Actions > Edit Code. Find the template file for your collection page, which is usually named collection.liquid or collection-template.liquid.
• Look for Collection Description Code: Ensure that the following line (or something similar) exists in the file:
  liquid Copy code
  {{ collection.description }}
• Add Missing Code: If you can’t find the code for the collection description, add it manually. You can also customize the placement of the description on the page (e.g., above or below the products).

3. Description Field Left Blank

Another simple reason your collection description might not be showing is that the description field is empty or doesn’t contain any visible text.

How to Fix It:

• Verify the Description: Go to Products > Collections in your Shopify admin. Click on the collection in question and ensure that there is content in the Description field.
• Format Your Description: Make sure the description is properly formatted. If you’ve entered HTML or rich text, check that there are no syntax errors or broken tags that could prevent the description from displaying.

4. App Conflicts

Certain Shopify apps, especially those that modify how collections are displayed, may override the default behavior of your theme. This can cause issues with collection descriptions not showing up as expected.

How to Fix It:

• Review Installed Apps: Take a look at any apps you have installed that affect collection pages, such as page builders, collection sorting tools, or SEO apps.
• Disable Apps Temporarily: Try disabling these apps one by one to see if the description reappears. If you find that an app is causing the issue, you can either contact the app developer for support or look for a compatible alternative.

5. CSS Styling or Hidden Code

In some cases, the collection description may be present on the page, but hidden due to custom CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) styling. This can happen if the description’s visibility has been set to none or if it has a display: hidden rule applied.

How to Fix It:

• Inspect the Page: Right-click anywhere on your collection page in a web browser and select Inspect or Inspect Element. This will open the browser’s developer tools, allowing you to see the HTML and CSS for the page.
• Look for Hidden Elements: Search the code for the collection description (you can use the find tool by pressing Ctrl + F and searching for collection.description). If you see a display: none or similar rule applied, that’s likely what’s causing the description to be hidden.
• Edit CSS: You can either remove the CSS rule that’s hiding the description or adjust the styling in the theme’s CSS file. Go to Online Store > Themes > Actions > Edit Code, and find your theme’s CSS file (usually named theme.scss.liquid or similar). Make the necessary adjustments and save the file.

6. Outdated Theme or Bugs

If your Shopify theme is outdated or has coding bugs, this could prevent the collection description from displaying. Older themes may not be fully compatible with Shopify’s current functionality, leading to unexpected issues.

How to Fix It:

• Update Your Theme: Check if there is an update available for your theme. Many theme developers release updates to improve compatibility and fix bugs. You can check for theme updates under Online Store > Themes > Actions > Update.
• Contact Theme Developer: If updating your theme doesn’t resolve the issue, consider reaching out to the theme developer for support. They may be able to provide a patch or guidance on fixing the issue.

Final Thoughts

Troubleshooting a missing collection description on Shopify can be frustrating, but by following the steps outlined above, you can identify the root cause of the problem and resolve it. Whether it’s a theme limitation, a Liquid code issue, or a conflict with a third-party app, understanding the potential reasons for the problem allows you to take the necessary steps to fix it.

Ensuring that your collection descriptions are visible is important for SEO, customer experience, and overall store performance. Take the time to audit your collection pages regularly, and always test your store’s functionality whenever you make changes.

By staying proactive and using the right tools, you can create an optimized and user-friendly Shopify store that drives traffic and conversions.