How to Use Videos in Shopify: Uploads, Metafields & Best Formats

If you’re designing Shopify sections or custom pages, video can instantly elevate the experience. Whether it’s a looping background, a product demo, or a fullscreen mobile reel — the key is knowing how to manage videos inside the customizer.

At Flexi, we keep things simple and powerful by supporting two main ways to work with video inside Shopify:

Option 1: Video Uploads (via Files)

You can upload your video files in Shopify under Settings → Files.

Once uploaded, you just paste the video URL into the customizer — usually through a setting like “Video File URL” in a section.

This method is ideal when:

• You want full control over layout and playback
• You’re creating something like a background hero or autoplay banner
• You don’t need the client to manage the video often

This method is fast, simple, and reliable — especially for background video loops that need to load quickly and look clean.

Option 2: Video Metafields

If you want merchants to manage video content per product, page, or collection, use Shopify’s video metafield.

With the right setup, clients can:

• Add videos directly from the Shopify admin
• Choose from uploaded files or YouTube/Vimeo
• Update content without touching the customizer

In the theme editor, you’ll typically see a setting like “Product Video” or “Section Video” that pulls from the metafield. This makes it easy to create reusable video templates that stay dynamic.

 

This is great for:

• Product pages
• Collection intros
• Or any place where the video needs to change dynamically

 

Aspect Ratio	Use Case	Standard Size	Retina (2x)	Lightweight	Mobile-Friendly
1:1	Product loops, grids	1080 × 1080 px	2160 × 2160 px	800 × 800 px	540 × 540 px
16:9	Banners, homepage heroes	1920 × 1080 px	3840 × 2160 px	1280 × 720 px	960 × 540 px
9:16	Mobile fullscreen, Reels	1080 × 1920 px	2160 × 3840 px	720 × 1280 px	540 × 960 px

 

We recommend using MP4 as the default format for the best compatibility across browsers.

 

Final Thoughts

 

If you’re building custom sections or working with merchants, these two video options cover 99% of real-world needs:

• Use file uploads for high-impact sections where you control the design

• Use metafields when you want content to be dynamic and editable in the Shopify admin

At Flexi, we support both options in our modular sections — so whether you’re building a homepage hero or a dynamic PDP layout, you’re covered.