Many Shopify stores never show customers the cart page. Instead, a slide-out cart drawer opens when they add an item, and they go straight to checkout from there. If your shipping protection widget only appears on the cart page, most customers never see it. Make sure it shows in the drawer too.
For the basics of the fee, see the package protection guide.
Theme cart drawer or side cart app?
There are two kinds of drawers:
- Theme cart drawers: built into themes such as Dawn. Protection apps that use an app embed can usually show the widget here.
- Third-party side cart apps: separate apps that replace the theme drawer with their own. They render their own HTML, so widgets from other apps may not appear without extra setup.
Check which one your store uses before troubleshooting.
Where should the widget appear in the drawer?
- Near the subtotal, where customers check the total.
- Above the checkout button, so it is seen before they leave.
- Visible without scrolling on common phone sizes.
The same design principles apply as on the cart page. See package protection widget design.
How do you test it?
- Turn on the app embed in Online Store › Themes › Customize › App embeds.
- Add an item and open the drawer on desktop and mobile.
- Toggle protection on and off and check the drawer total updates.
- Change quantities and check the protection price updates if you use percentage or price-band pricing.
- Go to checkout and confirm the protection line item is there.
What are the common problems?
| Problem | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Widget missing from drawer | App embed off, or side cart app renders its own drawer | Turn on embed; test with the side cart app disabled |
| Total does not update | Drawer does not refresh after the cart changes | Ask the side cart app developer about cart refresh events |
| Widget pushed below the fold | Long upsell sections in the drawer | Move or trim other drawer content |
| Protection shows as a product in recommendations | Fee product visible in collections and search | Hide the fee product from storefront listings |
Sam’s guide explains how to hide shipping protection products from collections, related products and search.
What if you use a third-party side cart?
Test first. If the widget does not appear, ask the side cart app whether it supports app embeds or has a setting to show other apps’ widgets, and ask your protection app’s support team. Keep the cart page widget as a fallback, and consider a thank-you page offer so customers still get a chance to add protection.
Should the drawer and cart page match?
Yes. Use the same wording, price and default state in both, so a customer who opens the drawer and then the cart page sees the same offer. Mismatched defaults are a common source of “why was I charged” tickets.
How do you know it is working?
Compare attach rate before and after adding the drawer widget. If attach rate rises without hurting checkout conversion, keep it. See package protection attach rate.
To set it up, see Sam Shipping Protection.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my protection widget not show in the cart drawer?
Common causes are the app embed being off, a third-party side cart app that renders its own drawer, or theme code that hides app blocks. Check the embed first, then test with the side cart app turned off.
Does shipping protection work with side cart apps?
It depends on how the side cart app renders. Some show app widgets; others replace the drawer entirely. Test before going live and ask both app developers if it does not appear.
Where in the drawer should the widget go?
Just above or below the subtotal, where customers check the total before tapping checkout.
Part of our guide: Package protection →