Shopify has added 13 new languages to the App Store listing editor. App developers can now create listings in Bulgarian, Croatian, Greek, Hindi, Hungarian, Indonesian, Lithuanian, Malay, Romanian, Russian, Slovak, Slovenian and Vietnamese.
The change matters for both sides of the App Store. Merchants can find and evaluate apps in their own language, and developers can reach merchants in markets that were harder to serve in English alone.
The 13 new languages
| Language | Main regions |
|---|---|
| Bulgarian | Bulgaria |
| Croatian | Croatia |
| Greek | Greece, Cyprus |
| Hindi | India |
| Hungarian | Hungary |
| Indonesian | Indonesia |
| Lithuanian | Lithuania |
| Malay | Malaysia, Brunei, Singapore |
| Romanian | Romania, Moldova |
| Russian | Russia and neighboring markets |
| Slovak | Slovakia |
| Slovenian | Slovenia |
| Vietnamese | Vietnam |
How App Store languages have grown
- The App Store first added French, Spanish, Japanese, German, Brazilian Portuguese and Italian.
- In October 2023, Shopify began automatically translating English primary listings into 8 languages, unless the developer supplied their own translations.
- Developers can now pick any supported language as their primary language, so English is no longer required.
Translated listings are shown based on the merchant's browsing language. If a merchant's language has no translation, they see the app's primary-language listing.
For merchants: what this means for you
If you run a store in one of these markets, choosing apps has often meant reading English descriptions, feature lists and pricing details. Native-language listings change that.
Benefits
- Understand before you install. Read what an app does, what it costs and what data it uses in your own language.
- Fewer mistakes. Technical terms such as "checkout rules", "wholesale approval" or "payment methods" are easier to judge when you read them in your language.
- Better support experience. Developers who translate their listings are often thinking about your market, which is a good sign when you need help later.
How to check an app before you install it
- Open the app listing in the Shopify App Store and look at the Languages line in the app details.
- Check that your language is listed. If it isn't, the app may still work, but the listing and possibly the app interface are in another language.
- Try the app's free plan or trial and see whether the settings screens, form labels and emails are in your language.
- Ask the developer directly if you need your customers to see translated text, such as checkout messages or registration forms.
One thing to keep in mind
An app listing in your language is separate from your storefront language. The language your customers see on your store is managed in your store's language settings and with translation tools such as Shopify's Translate & Adapt app, not by the App Store listing.
For developers: how to use the new languages
Adding a language gives your listing a chance to match merchants' searches in their own language, and a well-translated listing stands out when most competitors are still English-only.
How to add a language to your listing
- Open your app's listing in the Shopify Partner Dashboard.
- Select Add a language and choose one of the new languages.
- Translate each field: app name, tagline, introduction, description, feature bullets and any text in your screenshots.
- Preview the listing, then submit it for review.
Best practices
- Make sure your app supports the language. Shopify expects your app itself to be translated into any language you create a listing for, so don't add a language the in-app experience doesn't cover.
- Use native review. Machine translation is a starting point, but have a native speaker check tone and terminology.
- Localize keywords, don't just translate them. Research what merchants in each market actually search for.
- Translate screenshots too. Images with English text break the experience for local merchants.
- Prioritize by opportunity. Start with markets where your app already gets traffic or where you can offer local support.
- Keep listings in sync. When you update the English listing, update the translations so they don't go stale.
Apps already built for these languages: RivioApps
RivioApps supports all 13 of these languages across its Shopify apps, so merchants in these markets can use them in their own language. Here is what each app does:
Rivio Checkout Customizer
Customize checkout, thank-you and order status pages. Hide, rename and reorder payment and shipping methods, add upsells, bundles, free gifts and checkout discounts, set up order validations, and add custom fields, trust badges and banners.
Rivio B2B Registration Forms
Build custom wholesale, reseller, trade and VIP application forms with a drag-and-drop builder. Review submissions in one dashboard, then approve or reject with one click. Approval can create customers and B2B companies and apply tags automatically.
Rivio COD & Partial Payments
Manage Cash on Delivery orders. Verify shoppers by email OTP, collect partial payments or deposits, add COD fees, and show or hide COD based on rules such as cart value, postal code, product or collection. Helps reduce returns to origin (RTO).
B2B Sales Agent Ordering
Let sales reps create wholesale draft orders on behalf of Shopify B2B company accounts. Agents are assigned to specific companies and locations, and orders arrive in Shopify as draft orders for merchant review and approval.
Frequently asked questions
Merchant questions
Which 13 languages were added?
Bulgarian, Croatian, Greek, Hindi, Hungarian, Indonesian, Lithuanian, Malay, Romanian, Russian, Slovak, Slovenian and Vietnamese.
How do I see App Store listings in my language?
Listings are shown based on your browsing language. If an app has a listing in your language, you'll see it. Otherwise you see the app's primary-language listing.
Will every app be available in my language?
No. It is up to each developer to add translated listings, so check the Languages line on each app's listing.
Does a translated listing mean the app itself is translated?
Shopify expects apps to be available in any language they list, but it's worth testing the app's free plan or trial to confirm that the screens you and your customers use are in your language.
Does this change the language of my store?
No. Your storefront language is managed in your store's language settings and with translation apps. The App Store listing language only affects how apps are presented to you.
Where can I find apps that support my language?
Browse the Shopify App Store in your language and check each listing's Languages line. RivioApps, for example, supports all 13 new languages across its apps.
Developer questions
Where do I add the new languages?
In your app listing editor, using the "Add a language" option.
Is it mandatory to add these languages?
No. Adding translated listings is optional.
Do I still need an English listing?
No. You can choose any supported language as your primary language.
Do I need to translate my app, too?
Yes. Shopify expects your app to be available in any language you list it in.
Will Shopify translate my listing automatically?
Shopify has automatically translated English listings into a set of 8 languages. Whether the new 13 languages get the same treatment isn't something confirmed here, so check Shopify's developer documentation.
Can I use a translation tool?
Yes, but have a native speaker review the result, especially for technical and marketing wording.
Does this affect my app's search ranking?
A localized listing gives your app a chance to match merchants' searches in their own language. Shopify doesn't publish how ranking works, so treat it as an opportunity rather than a guarantee.
Is there a cost?
Adding a language to a listing doesn't normally carry a fee from Shopify, but translation work (freelancers, agencies, tools) does cost money.
Final thoughts
Thirteen more languages make the Shopify App Store easier to use for merchants outside English-speaking markets. Merchants should check each app's language support before installing, and developers should pick the markets where their app can already deliver value, translate with care, and keep the listing and the app in sync.