---
title: Create a Flow template
description: Learn how to create a Shopify Flow template.
source_url:
  html: 'https://shopify.dev/docs/apps/build/flow/templates/create-a-template'
  md: 'https://shopify.dev/docs/apps/build/flow/templates/create-a-template.md'
---

# Create a Flow template

A template in Shopify Flow is an example workflow that can be copied into a merchant's shop. Templates help merchants automate a specific use case with minimal or no additional configuration. Flow's template library offers hundreds of templates with features to filter, browse, and search. You can create a template for Shopify Flow that showcases your custom triggers and actions and help merchants do more.

To create a workflow template that merchants can add to their workflow list, you need to add a Flow template extension to your app.

***

## Requirements

* A [dev store](https://shopify.dev/docs/apps/build/stores/development-stores) that has [Shopify Flow](https://apps.shopify.com/flow) and your app installed.
* Your existing custom triggers and actions are connected to your instance of Shopify Flow.
* [Shopify CLI](https://shopify.dev/docs/apps/build/cli-for-apps) installed with a version of `3.49` or higher.

***

## Step 1: Create a workflow

A workflow is the foundation of a Flow template.

1. In your dev store navigate to **Apps** > **Flow**.

2. Click **Create workflow**.

3. In the workflow editor, build a workflow that solves a merchant use case and showcases your custom trigger and or actions.

4. Optionally:

   * Include a workflow note with any additional details or instructions that a merchant might need to configure the template in their shop. You can add a workflow note from **More actions** > **Add notes** in the workflow editor. You may link to external documentation, but broken links might cause your template to be rejected or removed.
   * Tailor your template to a wider audience by [localizing your custom step descriptions](https://shopify.dev/docs/apps/build/flow/templates/reference#step-descriptions).

5. After you're satisfied with your workflow, [export the workflow](https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/shopify-flow/manage#export-a-workflow) and save the `.flow` file locally.

**Note:**

* Test your workflow thoroughly, ensuring the trigger, condition(s), and action(s) used provide the intended result.
* Always test the experience for your template by importing it into another store. This will help you identify any shop-specific data that may not work for all merchants.
* In some cases, templates may not make sense without shop-specific data. You may leave these fields in place, and Flow will highlight them as requiring a change after the template is installed.
* Avoid using placeholders for concepts like tag names. Instead, either use a recommended tag name, or leave the field blank.
* Don't edit `.flow` files directly. Only make changes within the Flow app and export the updated workflow.

***

## Step 2: Create a Flow template extension

Use the Shopify CLI to generate a new extension:

1. Navigate to your app directory.
2. Run the following command:

## Terminal

```terminal
#!/bin/bash
shopify app generate extension
```

1. Select the `Flow Template` as the type of extension.
2. Provide a meaningful name for your extension.



Follow these guidelines when choosing a name:

* Don't use punctuation.
* Separate words using spaces.

After you've followed the prompts, Shopify CLI generates the extension's file representation in your app's `/extensions` directory and returns a success message. You can then go into your app's `/extensions` directory and start editing your new extension.

**Note:**

Each Flow template extension can contain only a single template. To deploy multiple templates, you will need to create an extension for each template.

The file structure of your extension should look like the following:

## File

```ssh
/your-extension-name
  /locales
    en.default.json
    fr.json
  shopify.extension.toml
  template.flow
```

To learn more about the extensions file structure, refer to our [app structure](https://shopify.dev/docs/apps/build/cli-for-apps/app-structure) documentation and the [documentation](https://shopify.dev/docs/apps/build/flow/templates/reference) for the Flow template extension type.

***

## Step 3: Configure extension

Configure your template extension to include information describing it's function for merchants, and settings that control visibility.

1. Update the [shopify.extension.toml configuration file](https://shopify.dev/docs/apps/build/flow/templates/reference#toml).
2. Update and add any additional locales. [Localization reference](https://shopify.dev/docs/apps/build/flow/templates/reference#localization).
3. Replace `template.flow` with the workflow [that you exported](https://shopify.dev/docs/apps/build/flow/templates/create-a-template#step-1-create-a-workflow).
4. Be sure to update the filename to match your chosen file path in the `shopify.extension.toml` file. `template.flow` is the default.

***

## Step 4: Preview extension

Preview your template extension to see how it will be displayed to merchants before deploying and requesting review.

1. Run the following command in Shopify CLI:

## Terminal

```terminal
#!/bin/bash
shopify app dev
```

1. In your dev store's Shopify admin, navigate to [`/flow/editor/templates/dev`](https://admin.shopify.com/apps/flow/editor/templates/dev). From here you can preview your workflow, template card, and custom step descriptions.
2. Refer to our [approval criteria](https://shopify.dev/docs/apps/build/flow/templates/reference#approval-process) to ensure that your extension meets our requirements.

***

## Step 5: Deploy extension

Use Shopify CLI to deploy your extension.

1. Navigate to your app directory.
2. Run the following command to start deploying your extension(s):

## Terminal

```terminal
#!/bin/bash
shopify app deploy
```

1. Follow the command prompts

When you receive confirmation that the deploy was successful, the template extension enters the review queue. After the [approval process](https://shopify.dev/docs/apps/build/flow/templates/reference#approval-process) is complete and the template extension has been approved, your templates will display in Flow's template library.

***