Shopify Installation

To make sure Northbeam can track your Shopify store correctly, complete the setup steps below.

Most stores need to complete three tracking steps:

Install the Northbeam Pixel and Metadata Script
Set up the Northbeam Custom Pixel
Set the Northbeam App Pixel to Always on

If your store uses a post-purchase checkout or upsell flow, complete the optional post-purchase setup.

ℹ️
Step 3 requires your Shopify store to be connected to Northbeam. Connecting Shopify automatically installs the Northbeam App Pixel.
If you haven't connected Shopify yet, follow the Shopify Order Sync setup guide first.

Where to find your Northbeam scripts

You can find the scripts used in this guide here:

Settings → Northbeam Pixel and Event Tracking

Why are there two Northbeam pixels in Shopify?

After setup, you will see two Northbeam entries under Shopify → Settings → Customer Events.

This is expected. They are not duplicates.

Pixel	Where it appears	How it's added	What you need to do
Custom Pixel	Customer Events → Custom pixels	You create it and paste in the Northbeam script	Create and connect it
App Pixel	Customer Events → App pixels	Added automatically when your Shopify store is connected to Northbeam	Set its data access to Always on

🛑
Do not delete either pixel. Both are required and appear on separate tabs in Shopify.

1. Install the Northbeam Pixel and Metadata Script

The Northbeam Pixel and Metadata Script collect visitor and marketing data used for Northbeam attribution and reporting.

Both scripts must be added directly to the <head> section of your Shopify theme.liquid file.

💡
Add the Metadata Script first, followed by the Northbeam Pixel.

Steps

In Shopify, go to Online Store → Themes.
Click ⋮ → Edit code.

Open Layout → theme.liquid.
Find the <head> section.
Paste the Metadata Script.
Paste the Northbeam Pixel directly below it.

Click Save.

2. Set up the Northbeam Custom Pixel

Next, create a Custom Pixel in Shopify Customer Events.

This pixel tracks completed purchases using Shopify's native checkout_completed event. It also captures the pages customers view during checkout.

ℹ️
The Custom Pixel is separate from the App Pixel installed by the Northbeam Shopify app. You need both.

Steps

In Shopify, go to Settings.

Go to Customer Events → Custom pixels.
Click Add custom pixel.

Name the pixel. We recommend Northbeam Event Tracking.
Click Add pixel.

Set Permission to Data collected does not qualify as data sale.
Paste the Customer Event script from Northbeam.
Click Save.

Click Connect.

Confirm by clicking Connect again.

Confirm your Customer Privacy settings

Go to your Shopify Customer Privacy settings and confirm that a cookie consent banner is enabled.

🍪
Without a cookie banner or consent solution, customers may not be able to opt in to tracking. This can prevent the Customer Event script from firing.
In most cases, consent is managed through Shopify Customer Privacy settings.

3. Set the Northbeam App Pixel to Always on

The Northbeam App Pixel is added automatically when your Shopify store is connected to Northbeam.

You do not need to create this pixel or paste in a script. You only need to confirm its data access setting.

If you haven't connected Shopify yet, complete the Shopify Order Sync setup before this step.

Steps

In Shopify, go to Settings → Customer Events.
Open the App pixels tab.
Find Northbeam.
Click its current setting in the Data column.
Select Always on.
Click Apply.

💡
Don't see Northbeam under App pixels?
Confirm that your Shopify store is connected to Northbeam using the Shopify Order Sync setup guide.

4. Add post-purchase tracking (optional)

Complete this step only if your Shopify store uses a post-purchase checkout or upsell flow.

This tracking helps Northbeam attribute purchases that happen after the standard Shopify checkout.

Steps

In Shopify, go to Settings → Checkout.

Scroll to Post-Purchase Page.
Paste the Northbeam post-purchase script into Additional Scripts.

Click Save.

Confirm your setup

When setup is complete, you should have:

Metadata Script installed in theme.liquid
Northbeam Pixel installed below the Metadata Script in theme.liquid
Northbeam Custom Pixel connected under Customer Events → Custom pixels
Northbeam App Pixel listed under Customer Events → App pixels and set to Always on

If your store uses a post-purchase checkout or upsell flow, you should also have the Post-Purchase Script installed.

Frequently asked questions

What if I only see one Northbeam pixel?

Check both tabs under Settings → Customer Events.

If the Custom Pixel is missing, complete Step 2.
If the App Pixel is missing, confirm that your Shopify store is connected to Northbeam using the Shopify Order Sync setup guide.

Can I install Northbeam tracking through Google Tag Manager?

No.

The Northbeam Pixel, Metadata Script, and Shopify Customer Event should be installed directly in Shopify using the steps in this guide.

These scripts rely on Shopify-native variables and are not supported through Google Tag Manager or similar third-party tagging tools.