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Understanding Shopify App Authentication: A Detailed Guide

November 30, 2023

Written and researched by experts at AvadaLearn more about our methodology

CEO Avada Commerce

Dive into our comprehensive guide as we unravel the complexities of Shopify App Authentication, equipping you with the knowledge to confidently navigate this essential aspect.

Key Takeaways

Shopify app authentication is a crucial process for securing and authorizing access to Shopify’s API for third-party applications.
The authentication flow involves several steps, including obtaining API credentials, redirecting users to Shopify for authorization, exchanging authorization codes for access tokens, and utilizing access tokens to make API requests.

What is Shopify App Authentication?

Shopify app authentication is the process of verifying the identity and permissions of an app that interacts with a Shopify store. It ensures that only authorized apps can access sensitive data or perform actions on behalf of store owners.

App authentication is crucial for maintaining the trust and security of Shopify stores. Without proper authentication, unauthorized apps could potentially access sensitive customer information, manipulate store data, or perform malicious actions.

How does Shopify app authentication work?

Shopify app authentication works through the OAuth (Open Authorization) protocol, which allows third-party apps to access a store’s data securely. The process involves generating API keys and secrets, redirecting the merchant to authorize the app, and receiving access tokens to make API requests on behalf of the store. This ensures that only authorized apps can interact with a store’s data, maintaining security and control over the integration.

Types of Authentication in Shopify

The authentication or authorization methods used by your app depend on the tool used to create it and its components:

Apps created with Shopify CLI or the Partner Dashboard use OAuth for authentication.
If your app is embedded in the Shopify admin using App Bridge, it also uses session tokens.
Apps created within the Shopify admin generate and use access tokens for authentication.

How to Implement App Authentication in Shopify

Implementing app authentication in Shopify involves the following steps:

Step 1: Install an authenticator app on your mobile device. Some recommended authenticator apps include Google Authenticator (for Android and iPhone), Duo Mobile (for Android and iPhone), Amazon AWS MFA, and Authenticator (for Windows, Android, and iPhone).
Step 2: Go to your Shopify admin and click on your username and account picture.
Step 3: Select “Manage account” and then choose “Security”.
Step 4: In the “Two-step authentication” section, click “Turn on two-step”.
Step 5: Enter your password and click “Next”.
Step 6: From the list of authentication methods, choose “Authenticator app”.
Step 7: Use your authenticator app to scan the provided QR code.
Step 8: Enter the six-digit code generated by your authenticator app, and click “Turn on”.
Step 9: Save your recovery codes in a secure offline location. Ensure you can access them from multiple devices and have printed copies available.

Shopify App Authentication: FAQs

API keys and secrets play a crucial role in the Shopify app authentication process. The API key is a unique identifier that identifies the app, while the secret is a confidential code used to verify the authenticity of API requests.

Common authentication issues faced by developers when building Shopify apps include incorrect API keys or secrets, improper handling of access tokens, expired or revoked tokens, and incorrect permissions. These issues can be resolved by double-checking the credentials, refreshing or obtaining new access tokens, and ensuring proper permission settings.

To find additional resources for learning about Shopify app authentication, you can visit the official Shopify Developer documentation. Additionally, you can The explore Shopify Blog and Help Center for articles, tutorials or direct support covering various aspects of the platform, including app development and authentication.

Bottom Line

This detailed guide provides a comprehensive understanding of Shopify app authentication, equipping business owners with the knowledge and steps needed to securely integrate their apps with Shopify stores.

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Sam Nguyen

Sam Nguyen is the CEO and founder of Avada Commerce, an e-commerce solution provider headquartered in Singapore. He is an expert on the Shopify e-commerce platform for online stores and retail point-of-sale systems. Sam loves talking about e-commerce and he aims to help over a million online businesses grow and thrive.