How to Fix ‘Liquid Syntax Error’ in Shopify Themes: Common Mistakes & Fixes

(Save your sanity with these practical solutions!)

Encountering a Liquid syntax error while editing your Shopify theme is like hitting a brick wall. One misplaced character, and your store breaks. Don’t panic! This guide breaks down common causes and actionable fixes to get your store back on track fast.

What Causes Liquid Syntax Errors?

Liquid is Shopify’s templating language. Syntax errors occur when your code violates its rules—like missing brackets, typos, or logic mistakes. The error message often points to a file and line number (e.g., sections/product-template.liquid), but interpreting it can be tricky.

Common Mistakes & Quick Fixes

1️⃣ Missing or Mismatched Delimiters
Liquid uses {% %} for logic and {{ }} for output. Mixing them up breaks everything.

Example Error:

{% if product.title }}  <!-- Missing '%' -->  

Fix:

{% if product.title %}  <!-- Correct: Close with '%}' -->  

Pro Tip: Use code editors like VS Code with a Liquid extension to highlight mismatched brackets.

2️⃣ Unclosed Logic Tags
Every {% if %}, {% for %}, or {% case %} needs a closing tag ({% endif %}, {% endfor %}, {% endcase %}).

Example Error:

{% for tag in product.tags %}  <!-- Never closed! -->  

Fix:

{% for tag in product.tags %}  
  {{ tag }}  
{% endfor %}  <!-- Closing tag added -->  

3️⃣ Incorrect Filter Syntax
Filters (e.g., | upcase, | money) modify output but fail if misused.

Example Error:

{{ product.price | money_with_currency | replace: 'USD', '$' }}  
<!-- Missing quotes around 'USD' -->  

Fix:

{{ product.price | money_with_currency | replace: 'USD', '$' }}  
<!-- Wrap strings in quotes -->  

4️⃣ Typos in Variable/Tag Names
Liquid is case-sensitive! product.title ≠ product.Title.

Example Error:

{{ product.vendor | uppcase }}  <!-- Typo in 'uppcase' -->  

Fix:

{{ product.vendor | upcase }}  <!-- Correct filter name -->  

5️⃣ Misusing Logic Operators
Liquid uses and, or—not &&, || (JavaScript-style).

Example Error:

{% if product.available && product.price > 0 %}  

Fix:

{% if product.available and product.price > 0 %}  

6️⃣ Invalid JSON in {% schema %}
Errors in theme schema blocks (e.g., missing commas, quotes) crash the editor.

Example Error:

{  
  "name": "Featured Products",  
  "settings": [  
    {  
      "type": "collection",  <!-- Extra quote after 'collection' -->  
    }  
  ]  
}  

Fix: Validate JSON with tools like JSONLint.

Advanced Troubleshooting

• Check the Exact Line: Shopify’s error log specifies the problematic line (e.g., Error in 'product-template.liquid:32').

• Comment Out Suspicious Code: Wrap sections in {% comment %} and {% endcomment %} to isolate issues.

• Revert Recent Changes: If you edited multiple files, undo one-by-one to find the culprit.

Prevent Future Errors

• Test in a Development Store: Never edit live themes. Use Shopify CLI to test locally.

• Use Version Control: Track changes with GitHub.

• Liquid Linters: Tools like Theme Check catch errors pre-deploy.

Final Thoughts

Liquid syntax errors are frustrating but solvable. Most boil down to typos, missing tags, or JSON issues. Bookmark this guide, and next time you see that dreaded error, you’ll fix it like a pro!

Got a stubborn error? Share your code snippet below—let’s troubleshoot together! 💬