An App island reserves a slot in your Instant layout where Shopify app blocks render on the published storefront. Instant doesn't embed a specific app — instead, Shopify fills the slot with whatever app blocks you add in the Shopify theme editor after publishing.
Insert an app island
Open Insert in the left sidebar and switch to Elements.
Go to Advanced → Embed and choose App island.
Drag it onto the canvas, or click to insert.
The layer appears as App island in Layouts & layers. There is no app picker inside Instant. In the builder the slot is a placeholder that reads Insert app blocks in Shopify — you choose the app block in Shopify after publishing. The island has the standard position, size, spacing, and conditional-visibility controls.
Where you can add an app island
App islands are only allowed in:
Section layouts
Product page templates
Collection page templates
They can't be added to other layout types, such as pages, blog posts, headers, footers, or the cart. Instant also allows one app island per layout — if you try to add a second, a notification appears: You can only have one app island per layout.
How app blocks fill the island
After you publish a layout containing an app island:
Open the corresponding page in the Shopify theme editor.
Locate the Instant section and its app block slot.
Add an app block from any installed Shopify app that supports theme app blocks.
On the storefront, Shopify renders the app blocks placed in that section inside the island. This is useful when a merchant wants to swap app blocks without returning to Instant, or when an app only ships a Shopify app block rather than an integration Instant supports directly.
App island vs app widgets
App widgets (Judge.me, Klaviyo, etc.) | App island | |
Configuration | In the Instant Design panel | In the Shopify theme editor |
Builder preview | Shows the widget when the app is connected | Placeholder slot only |
Flexibility | Fixed to apps Instant supports | Any Shopify app block |
Per layout | Multiple | One |
Choose an app widget when Instant supports the app directly. Choose an app island when you need Shopify-native app block flexibility. See Third-party app widgets.
Tips
Size the island generously — app blocks vary in height, and you can't preview the app's real content inside Instant.
Rename the App island layer (for example, "App island — reviews slot") so it's clear what to configure in Shopify.