---
title: >-
  Sidekick can now invoke app intents without tools - Shopify developer
  changelog
description: >-
  Shopify’s developer changelog documents all changes to Shopify’s platform.
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source_url:
  html: >-
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  md: >-
    https://shopify.dev/changelog/posts/sidekick-can-now-invoke-app-intents-without-tools.md
metadata:
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  affectedApi: []
  primaryTag:
    displayName: Platform
    handle: platform
  secondaryTag:
    displayName: Update
    handle: update
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  createdAt: '2026-09-25T14:29:54-04:00'
  postedAt: '2026-09-28T12:00:00-04:00'
  updatedAt: '2026-09-28T15:41:20-04:00'
  effectiveAt: '2026-09-28T12:00:00-04:00'
---

September 28, 2026

# Sidekick can now invoke app intents without tools

DateSeptember 28, 2026

FlagsUpdate

SurfacesPlatform

Sidekick now surfaces app extensions that declare only `intents`, with no `tools` file. Previously an extension had to declare `tools` to be eligible for Sidekick, so an `admin.app.intent.link` or `admin.app.intent.render` extension that registered only an intent was skipped and Sidekick never suggested the app. This applies to all apps on all stores, with no API version to target and nothing to opt into. If your app has an intent-only extension and no `extensions_summary` in its `shopify.app.toml`, then your next `shopify app deploy` fails validation until you add one.

## What changed

An extension is Sidekick-eligible when it declares `tools`, `intents`, or both. Before this change, only `tools` counted. Nothing about the configuration format changed: the `[[extensions.targeting.intents]]` block you already declare for [app actions](https://shopify.dev/docs/apps/build/sidekick/build-app-actions) is now enough on its own, on both the `admin.app.intent.link` and `admin.app.intent.render` targets.

## Who's affected

You're affected if your app has at least one extension that declares `intents` without `tools`. Those extensions become visible to Sidekick immediately, and if your `shopify.app.toml` has no `extensions_summary`, your next deploy fails with a validation error naming the missing field.

You're not affected if every Sidekick extension in your app already declares `tools`. Those extensions were already eligible and already required an `extensions_summary`, so nothing changes for them. Apps with no Sidekick extensions are unaffected.

There's no feature preview, permission, or scope condition attached to this. It applies to every store at once, and it isn't tied to an API version, so pinning an older version doesn't opt you out.

## What to do

Most apps need no change. If you have an intent-only extension, do this before your next deploy:

1. Check each `shopify.extension.toml` for a `[[extensions.targeting.intents]]` block on `admin.app.intent.link` or `admin.app.intent.render` with no `tools` file alongside it.
2. If you find one, confirm your `shopify.app.toml` has an `extensions_summary` under `[sidekick]`. Add one if it's missing.
3. Run `shopify app deploy` against a development store.
4. Ask Sidekick something that matches your registered intent and confirm your app is suggested.
   ```toml
   [sidekick]
   extensions_summary = "Search and analyze product reviews, create review request campaigns, and manage review display settings"
   ```

## Related docs

* [Build for Sidekick](https://shopify.dev/docs/apps/build/sidekick)
* [Add an extensions summary to your app](https://shopify.dev/docs/apps/build/sidekick#add-an-extensions-summary-to-your-app)
* [Build app actions for Sidekick](https://shopify.dev/docs/apps/build/sidekick/build-app-actions)
* [Admin UI extensions intents API](https://shopify.dev/docs/api/admin-extensions/api/intents)