Running an ecommerce business requires all kinds of content creation — writing product descriptions, editing images, drafting marketing emails, and more. This work takes time, and often calls for specialized skills as well.
This is where Shopify Magic, the AI feature built into Shopify by default, comes in. With Shopify Magic, AI helps you write product descriptions, edit images, generate email copy, write blog posts, and more, letting you get through your day-to-day work more efficiently. Since it's integrated directly into the Shopify admin, you don't need to use external tools, which is also a major benefit for keeping your store operations workflow simple.
This article gives a clear explanation of what Shopify Magic is, its main features, how to use it, and the benefits of adopting it. If you want to make use of AI on Shopify, or want to streamline your ecommerce operations, we hope this helps.
What Is Shopify Magic?
Here we'll cover an overview of Shopify Magic, its features, and how it differs from the AI assistant Sidekick.
Overview and Features of Shopify Magic
Shopify Magic is an AI feature built into the Shopify admin. It automates the content creation needed to run an ecommerce business — writing product descriptions, editing images, generating email copy, and more — and is expected to reduce the time needed for store operations.
A major feature is that, by referencing your Shopify store's data, it can instantly generate content tailored to your brand. Because you can complete work within the admin without external tools, it also helps keep your store's operational workflow simple.
How Shopify Magic Differs from Sidekick
Shopify Magic and Sidekick are both AI features on Shopify, but they play different roles.
Shopify Magic:
- Specializes in content generation (product descriptions, image editing, email copy, etc.)
- A tool built into each feature's screen
- Outputs a concrete piece of content
Sidekick:
- An assistant for store operations overall
- Answers questions, supports data analysis, and helps execute tasks
- Supports store management in a conversational format
Shopify Magic is an AI feature that supports content creation, while Sidekick is positioned as an AI assistant that supports running your store. For more on Shopify's AI assistant, "Sidekick," see the article below.
What You Can Do with Shopify Magic
Here are the main features Shopify Magic offers.
Automated Product Description Generation
Just enter a product name and keywords, and it automatically generates an SEO-conscious product description. Since you can also adjust the tone (formal, casual, etc.) and length, you can create content that matches your brand image. You can generate multiple variations too, so it's also useful for A/B testing.
AI Image Editing and Background Removal
You can automatically remove the background from a product photo, and touch up or create product images. You can also use the AI image generation feature to create lifestyle images or banner images for a product. Since everything can be completed within the Shopify admin without an external image editing tool, it improves the efficiency of your image production work.
Automated Email Copy Generation
It automatically generates copy for marketing emails and customer notification emails. Just enter your campaign content and goal, and it suggests a subject line and body copy designed to boost open rates. Combined with Shopify Messaging, you can go smoothly from writing your email to sending it.
Blog Post and FAQ Copy Generation
You can also generate a blog post outline and body copy, along with answers for frequently asked questions (FAQs). Since you can write articles that include SEO keywords, it's also useful for streamlining your content marketing.
How to Use Shopify Magic
Here are a few examples of how to use it in your store.
Generating Product Descriptions and Product Images
Shopify Magic can create creative content by referencing text or a source image.
Tips for Image Generation Using Text Prompts
With Shopify Magic's image generation feature, you can customize the content of an image by entering a text prompt (instructions). The key is to use simple, natural language and describe concretely what kind of image you want to create.
For example, you can build a prompt by combining elements such as the following.
Changing the background:
- "Studio background"
- "Kitchen with warm lighting"
Specifying the scene:
- "A park with grass and trees"
- "An outdoor cafe terrace"
Specifying the style:
- "Professional advertising photography"
- "Soft natural light"
Combining elements:
- "A studio set with a concrete background"
- "A product on a marble table"
Main Elements You Can Specify in a Prompt
To fine-tune how the image turns out, you can specify elements such as the following.
Location:
- Indoors
- Outdoors
- In a city
- Underwater
Lighting:
- Warm light
- Ambient light
- Overcast sky
- Studio lighting
Color:
- Vivid colors
- Pastel colors
- Muted colors
- Black and white
Size:
- Close-up
- Wide shot
Camera angle:
- Front shot
- Close-up
- Overhead view
How to Write an Effective Prompt
To get the most out of image generation, keeping the following points in mind makes it easier to generate an image close to what you intended.
- Use short phrases of about 3–7 words or more
- Format it as comma-separated keywords
- Avoid long sentences or complex instructions
Prompt Examples
Good example
product bottle, marble table, soft natural light, pastel background, close-up
Bad example
Please make a nice-looking image with a spring-like atmosphere
Tips for Making Product Images Look Natural
To balance the product against the background, it's also important to specify the product's size and placement.
Example:
- "A lotion bottle placed on a table"
- "Boots leaning against a wall"
- "An 8-ounce candle"
Specifying placement and size like this lets you generate an image where the product looks natural within the background.
Product management: clicking image generation from creating a new product
Product management: entering a prompt
Product management: re-adjusting the generated image, or saving it for use as the product image
Shopify's file editor comes with an AI-powered image generation feature. Using this feature, you can instruct it to change an image's background or generate a new scene, creating creative content while referencing your original product image.
The edited image is saved in its original file format. However, care is needed when using a transparent background — if you want to create an image with a transparent background, you need to save it in PNG format.
- To save a transparent background → PNG format
- JPG, etc. → can't save a transparent background
Also, saving a modified image overwrites the original image, so if you want to keep the original, we recommend saving it beforehand or duplicating the file.
Content: editing an already-registered image
Content: instructing a background fix for the image via prompt
Content: editing only the background image while keeping the original product image unchanged
Creating a Marketing Email
Shopify offers "Shopify Messaging," which lets you run marketing campaigns using email and SMS. The Sidekick icon appears within the app, and just like when creating product images or product descriptions, you can adjust your newsletter's design and copy by entering a prompt.
Source: the Shopify app "Shopify Messaging"
Here, we'll create a newsletter recommending a subscription product using Shopify Messaging. First, open the app and create an email template.
Template editing screen: clicking Sidekick
Just like with image generation, specifying the tone and target audience for the copy you want to create lets Sidekick generate a draft. You can also ask it to create the design, not just the copy.
Template editing screen: specifying the target audience and requesting the newsletter copy
Template editing screen: applying the generated copy
Template editing screen: changing the newsletter's tone to match the season
Requirements and Pricing for Shopify Magic
Here we'll cover the requirements and pricing for using Shopify Magic.
Setup Required to Get Started
Shopify Magic is available on most Shopify plans. No special setup is required — you can use it automatically as soon as you log into the admin.
Also, generally available features can be used on every plan and in every language.
Shopify Magic Pricing Plans
Shopify Magic's basic features can be used at no extra cost on every Shopify plan. There's no difference in features or number of generation requests based on plan.
That said, some features (particularly ones in early access) may have different availability depending on your region or account. (As of March 2026.)
Things to Watch Out for When Using Shopify Magic
Shopify Magic is convenient, but there are a few points worth keeping in mind when using it.
Always Check and Edit AI-Generated Content
Always have a person check AI-generated content, and edit it as needed. Generated text may contain factual errors or unnatural phrasing. It's especially important to carefully check information that needs to be accurate, such as product specifications or legally required disclosures.
Adjust It to Match Your Brand Tone
Rather than using generated content as-is, it's important to adjust it to match your brand's personality and tone. Specifying color and style in your prompt, and then fine-tuning it manually, lets you finish content that keeps your brand's distinctive voice.
Use It with SEO in Mind
You can also use AI to generate text with SEO in mind. When creating product descriptions or blog posts, including your target keywords in the prompt lets you produce text that reflects those keywords.
That said, rather than publishing AI-generated text as-is, it's important to check keyword placement and content accuracy. Making final adjustments that include title tags and meta descriptions can further boost your SEO results.
Frequently Asked Questions About Shopify Magic: "Commercial Use and Copyright"
When using Shopify Magic's image generation feature, it's important to also understand the rules around commercial use and copyright. Here we summarize common questions and points to watch out for.
Can I Use Generated Images Commercially?
Images generated with Shopify Magic can be used for business purposes both inside and outside of Shopify. Shopify doesn't claim ownership of images created with the media generation feature, and doesn't restrict where they can be used.
Because of this, you can also freely use them for purposes such as the following:
- Product page images
- Social media posts
- Ad creative
- Marketing materials outside of Shopify
You can use it not just for running your ecommerce site, but also for advertising and branded content. For details on using generated content, also check the Shopify Help Center pages "Media generation in the file editor" and "Legal takedowns and intellectual property."
Copyright and Rights Around Generated Images
Shopify's media generation uses multiple generative AI models, and is provided based on Shopify's privacy and data protection principles.
Also, if there's a possible copyright or trademark infringement, the rights holder can file a report through Shopify's copyright/trademark report form.
Because of this, when using generated images, it's important to avoid prompts that intentionally reproduce a brand logo or existing character.
Generated Images Include a Digital Watermark
Images generated with Shopify Magic include a digital watermark (metadata) that's invisible to the human eye. This watermark is used to identify AI-generated content, and to investigate misuse or rights infringement. This digital watermark doesn't affect the image's appearance, and doesn't restrict commercial use either.
You Can Report Problematic Images
If there's a problem with a generated image, you can report the content directly from the image editor. In cases such as the following, you can request action through Shopify's reporting feature:
- An inappropriate image was generated
- There's a possible copyright infringement
- Misuse is suspected
Summary: Streamline Your Ecommerce Operations with Shopify Magic
Shopify Magic is a feature that uses AI to support all kinds of content creation that comes up in running an ecommerce business — writing product descriptions, editing images, writing email copy, and more. Work that used to take time can now move forward much faster with the help of AI.
That said, rather than using AI-generated content as-is, it's important to check the content and adjust it to match your brand's tone. Start by trying out features you'll use regularly, like generating product descriptions. Making good use of Shopify Magic frees up more of your time for running your store.
Since it's built into the Shopify admin, another major benefit is that you don't need to go back and forth with external tools. It's available at no extra cost, so feel free to give it a try.
