Frequently asked questions

Answers for merchants using Uvatime: Product Families Sync. For a step-by-step walkthrough, see the getting started guide.

What is a product family?

A family is an ordered group of separate Shopify products that belong together—for example colorways of the same style, each with its own SKU, URL, and inventory. The app keeps those products linked so your storefront can show swatches that take shoppers from one sibling to another.

How is this different from Shopify variants?

Variants live on a single product. Families link multiple products. Use families when each sibling needs its own product page, SEO URL, or inventory—not when one product with variant options is enough. The app does not create Combined Listings or merge products into variants.

How do I install and get started?

Install from the Shopify App Store, approve the requested permissions, then open the app from Shopify Admin → Apps. Create a family under Families, add sibling products, and save. Next, add the theme blocks so swatches appear on your storefront—see the questions below, or follow the getting started guide.

How do I show swatches on the product page?

In the theme editor, open your product template and add Apps → Product Families. Place it right above Variant picker, then save. In the embedded app, Settings → Theme editor setup includes “Add above variant picker”, which opens the theme editor with the block staged in the main product section—you may still need to drag it into place above the variant picker on your theme.

How do I show swatches on collection or product cards?

Use the Families (card) block. In the theme editor, open a collection, search, or home template, select a product card in the sidebar, then Add block → Apps → Families (card). Adding an Apps section at the section level places a full-width block below the grid—not inside each card. Placement is flexible: you can put the card block wherever your theme allows app blocks inside a product card.

Card swatches work on Online Store 2.0 themes that support app blocks inside product cards. If your theme’s product cards do not accept app blocks, you can still use Product Families on product pages; for grids, check whether a recommendation or featured section on your theme supports nested app blocks, or ask your theme developer.

Why don’t I see Families (card) under Apps?

Make sure you selected a product card first, then Add block → Apps. If you only see Product Families (the product-page block) and not Families (card), refresh the theme editor or accept any app update Shopify prompts you for. Both blocks ship with the app—card swatches are not limited to a single theme brand.

Can product-page and card swatches look different?

Yes. Product Families and Families (card) each have their own Theme Editor settings for shape and size. “Use app Settings defaults” is off by default so a Settings → Storefront swatch defaults save does not force every placement to match. Turn that checkbox on per block only when you want shared defaults.

How do I add “new” / “limited” badges on swatches?

Tag the sibling product in Shopify Admin with new or limited (case-insensitive). Both theme blocks use a configurable allowlist (default new, limited). For custom wording, use a prefixed tag like swatch:new or pf-badge:limited, or set a product metafield and enter that namespace/key in the block’s Badges settings. Metafield text wins over tags. Keep labels short—badges sit under circular swatches or along the bottom edge of square ones.

Free vs Pro — what’s the difference?

• Free: up to 5 families, unlimited members per family, Admin linking tools, metafield sync, integrity scan, theme blocks, and daily sync capacity suited to smaller catalogs
• Pro ($9 / 30 days via Shopify Billing): unlimited families (fair use), higher daily sync capacity, CSV import/export, REST API access, and priority email support

Billing runs through Shopify. Switch plans from Settings in the embedded app. You can always downgrade to Free without deleting families. Up to 5 active families keep syncing and showing storefront swatches. If more are active, the 5 oldest-created remain active; the rest are paused and their storefront links are cleared. From Families, pause one active family to activate a different saved family. On Pro, activate as many paused families as you need.

Where does family data live?

Family membership is stored in your Shopify store on each linked product. Our servers keep only what is needed to run the app (install session, settings, and sync job status)—not a full copy of your catalog. See the Privacy Policy.

Can I import or export CSV, or use an API?

Yes on Pro. Use Families → Import / Export, or generate an API key under Settings → API & CSV. Free merchants see an upgrade prompt when opening those tools. API details live in the embedded app help once you have a key.

Can a product be in more than one family?

No. Each product belongs to at most one family (including paused families). If Integrity reports that a product belongs to multiple families, open those families and remove it from the extras. Update product links will not move a product out of another family for you.

What does the integrity scan do?

It finds broken or out-of-date family links—for example a product still pointing at siblings that are no longer in the family—and offers repair so every member stays consistent.

What happens if I uninstall?

Uninstalling stops the app and clears our sync job history for your shop. After Shopify’s standard post-uninstall window, we delete remaining app data we hold for your shop. Family data already saved in your Shopify store stays under your control unless you remove it in Admin.

Why does Theme scan say “not detected” when I already added the block?

The scan checks your published (live) theme. Draft or unpublished themes do not count. After you add Product Families and place it above Variant picker, save the theme if needed, then click Scan again on Home. Setup step 3 should turn green when the block is active. If it still fails, confirm you are editing the live theme and that the block is not disabled.

How do I get support?

Email support@uvatime.com, or open Support inside the app (also via Admin → Get support) for chat when available. Include your shop domain and a short description of what you expected vs what you see. Release notes are on the changelog; setup steps are in the tutorial.