Shopify has announced four changes in the last few weeks that affect how customers pay, online and in your shop: two for Shopify POS with Shopify Payments, and two for checkout. None needs urgent action, but each is worth a quick check before the holiday rush, especially if you sell in France or elsewhere in Europe.
What changed
More ways to pay in store with Shopify POS
On 6 November 2026, Shopify announced two additions to Shopify POS for stores using Shopify Payments.
The first is for France. POS can now process Cartes Bancaires transactions that are debit only, for in-person sales in France. If you take card payments at a counter, pop-up or market in France, this is the change to look at. Shopify lists support on two pieces of hardware: the WisePad 3 card reader and the POS Terminal.
The second is a set of five local payment methods for in-person sales: Alipay, WeChat Pay, Satispay, Scalapay and GrabPay. The customer pays by scanning a QR code. Shopify says these run inside Shopify Payments with no extra integration, and that each one is switched on from the Payments settings in your Shopify admin. Two caveats from the announcement: the methods are offered to "eligible stores", and which methods you can use depends on your country. The announcement links to a Help Center list showing which methods are supported where.
Checkout now shows one "Terms and policies" link
As announced on 26 October 2026, the footer of Shopify checkout no longer lists each store policy as its own link. There is now a single Terms and policies link. Clicking it opens a window where the customer chooses which policy to read.
Shopify says the content of your policies stays the same and that you don't need to do anything. Stores on Shopify Plus have an extra option: they can replace the default footer with their own policy links built with Checkout UI extensions.
A new tiled look for payment methods at checkout
Announced on 22 October 2026, checkout can now show payment methods as tiles instead of a list. Shopify shows the tiled layout only when the payment options meet certain display criteria, one of which is offering four payment methods or fewer. If your checkout doesn't meet those criteria, customers keep seeing the standard list.
Who it affects
- Stores with a physical presence in France that use Shopify POS and Shopify Payments, on WisePad 3 or POS Terminal hardware. If your customers in France pay with Cartes Bancaires debit cards at your counter, events or markets, this applies to you.
- Stores using Shopify POS with Shopify Payments elsewhere, if your store is eligible and your country supports one or more of the five new local methods. Retailers who serve tourists or visitors, or who already accept one of these payment methods online, have the most reason to look.
- Stores whose checkout footer listed each policy separately, for the footer change. Your policy text isn't touched, but customers now reach it through one link.
- Shopify Plus stores that want separate, always-visible policy links can rebuild the footer with Checkout UI extensions.
- Stores with a short list of payment methods may see the new tiled layout appear without changing anything.
- Merchants planning a move to Shopify from another platform: Shopify Payments and POS features like these vary by country and eligibility, so check what's available in your markets when you compare payment providers. Our [migration overview](/migrate-to-shopify) covers how payments fit into a move.
What to do now
- Check your POS hardware if you sell in France. Cartes Bancaires debit support is listed for WisePad 3 and POS Terminal. If your shop uses a different reader, check Shopify's list of supported card brands in POS before you count on this.
- Look at the local payment methods in your admin. Open your Payments settings in the Shopify admin and see which of the five methods are offered to your store. If one is missing, your country or store may not be eligible.
- Only switch on what your customers use. Each extra option at the counter means more for staff to explain. Turn on a method if you have a reason to expect customers who pay that way.
- Brief your staff before switching on QR payments. Customers pay these methods by scanning a QR code, so staff should know what that step looks like on your device and how to confirm the sale went through. Run a small test sale before a busy day.
- Review your store policies now that they sit behind one link. Open each policy and read it as a customer would: refund and return terms, shipping, privacy and terms of service. Make sure each one is complete and current, since customers have to choose it from a list rather than seeing it directly.
- Ask your legal adviser whether one link is enough for your markets. Some countries have rules on how clearly you must show terms, withdrawal rights or other information before purchase. Shopify says no action is needed, but your obligations depend on where you sell. If you sell across the EU, our guide to [selling in Europe](/shopify-europe) explains the wider set-up; for the legal wording itself, check with your adviser.
- If you're on Shopify Plus and need separate links, plan a Checkout UI extension that hides the default footer and adds the links you want. Test it thoroughly before it goes live for customers.
- Walk through your own checkout up to the payment step. See whether the tiled payment layout now shows for you, check that your payment methods are shown in the order you expect, and confirm the Terms and policies window opens and lists every policy.
Deadlines and dates
- 22 October 2026: tiled payment method layout announced for checkout.
- 26 October 2026: checkout footer change announced: a single Terms and policies link.
- 6 November 2026: Cartes Bancaires debit for in-person sales in France, and five new in-store local payment methods, announced for Shopify POS with Shopify Payments.
There are no deadlines attached to these changes. Shopify describes them as live now, though the tiled layout appears only when your checkout meets its display criteria, and none needs you to act by a set date.
The bigger picture for European stores
Taken together, these changes point the same way: Shopify is making more of the payment and checkout experience standard, rather than something each store builds itself. That's useful when you want consistency across countries, but it also means checkout can change without you touching it. Build a short routine to check your own checkout and POS after each wave of updates, and keep your policies in good shape, because they're now one click further away.
If you sell in France specifically, see our [France guide](/shopify-france) for the local set-up that usually goes with it, from language to payments.
Planning a move to Shopify or selling in more countries? [Talk to Veriqo](/contact).