Shopify has just rolled out a powerful update that makes the checkout process smoother than ever, which is continuous cart authentication. This means that once a customer is logged in, they can move seamlessly from their cart to checkout without having to enter their credentials again.

What’s Changed?

Previously, even authenticated customers had to log in again when they reached checkout. With continuous authentication, Shopify ensures that logged-in customers stay authenticated throughout their shopping journey. This leads to:

A faster checkout experience – No more re-entering login details.
Fewer abandoned carts – Less friction means more completed purchases.
A more seamless shopping flow – Customers stay engaged from cart to checkout.

How Merchants Can Enable This

To take advantage of this new feature, merchants need to:

• Append the customerAccessToken into the Buyer Identity object in the Storefront API Cart.
• Include the buyer’s IP address when making server-side requests.
• Request the checkoutUrl only when the buyer is ready to proceed to checkout, as a security measure.

For Mobile App Merchants

‍If you're building a mobile app using Shopify's Checkout Sheet Kit, you can now create authenticated checkout experiences without requiring multipass—a feature previously limited to Shopify Plus merchants. This means:

• Authenticated checkouts are now available for all Shopify plans.
• Merchants using new and legacy customer accounts can benefit from a smoother experience.

Why This Matters‍

This update is all about convenience and conversion. By reducing friction at checkout, Shopify merchants can improve customer experience and boost sales. If you’re using Shopify’s Storefront API or building a mobile shopping app, enabling continuous authentication is a must to stay ahead in the eCommerce game.