---
title: settings_schema.json
description: About the settings_schema.json config file.
source_url:
  html: https://shopify.dev/docs/storefronts/themes/architecture/config/settings-schema-json
  md: https://shopify.dev/docs/storefronts/themes/architecture/config/settings-schema-json.md
---

ExpandOn this page

* [Location](https://shopify.dev/docs/storefronts/themes/architecture/config/settings-schema-json#location)
* [Schema](https://shopify.dev/docs/storefronts/themes/architecture/config/settings-schema-json#schema)
* [Usage](https://shopify.dev/docs/storefronts/themes/architecture/config/settings-schema-json#usage)

# settings\_schema.json

The `settings_schema.json` file controls the organization and content of the **Theme settings** area of the theme editor. All setting selections in the theme editor are saved in [settings\_data.json](https://shopify.dev/docs/storefronts/themes/architecture/config/settings-data-json).

***

## Location

The `settings_schema.json` file is located in the `config` directory of the theme:

```text
└── theme
  ...
  ├── config
  |   ├── settings_data.json
  |   ├── settings_schema.json
  |   └── markets.json
  └── locales
```

***

## Schema

The `settings_schema.json` file is an array of objects that represent setting categories. Each object needs to have the following attributes:

| Attribute | Description | Required |
| - | - | - |
| `name` | The name of the category of settings. | Yes |
| `settings` | An array of associated [settings](https://shopify.dev/docs/storefronts/themes/architecture/settings). | Yes |

The `settings_schema.json` file should follow the following basic format:

```json
[
{
  "name": "Category",
  "settings": [
    ...
  ]
},
...
]
```

The `settings_schema.json` file is a JSON file, so all content must be valid JSON. Additionally, make sure you follow the appropriate syntax for your desired setting.

***

## Usage

When working with the `settings_schema.json` file, familiarize yourself with the following:

* [setting types](#setting-types)
* [accessing settings](#access-settings)
* [adding theme metadata](#add-theme-metadata)

### Setting types

There are two categories of settings:

| Category | Description |
| - | - |
| [Input settings](https://shopify.dev/docs/storefronts/themes/architecture/settings/input-settings) | Settings that can hold a value, and are configurable by app users. |
| [Sidebar settings](https://shopify.dev/docs/storefronts/themes/architecture/settings/sidebar-settings) | Settings that can’t hold a value, and aren’t configurable by app users. They’re informational elements that can be used to provide detail and clarity for your input settings. |

### Access settings

Theme settings can be accessed through the [settings object](https://shopify.dev/docs/api/liquid/objects/settings). To learn more about the syntax and considerations, refer to [Access settings](https://shopify.dev/docs/storefronts/themes/architecture/settings#access-settings).

### Add theme metadata

As a theme author, you can include additional metadata for your theme in the **Theme actions** menu of the theme editor. This menu appears at the left of the theme editor top bar:

![](https://cdn.shopify.com/shopifycloud/shopify-dev/production/assets/assets/images/themes/theme-editor/theme-info-panel-highlighted-C-q5OSAw.png)

To add this metadata, you can include a `theme_info` object in the `settings_schema.json` file. This object must include the following attributes:

| Attribute | Description | Required |
| - | - | - |
| `name` | The value of this attribute must be `theme_info`. | Yes |
| `theme_name` | The name of the theme. | Yes |
| `theme_author` | The author of the theme. | Yes |
| `theme_version` | The version number of the theme. | Yes |
| `theme_documentation_url` | A URL where merchants can find documentation for the theme. | Yes |
| `theme_support_email` | An email address that merchants can contact for support for the theme. | See note |
| `theme_support_url` | A URL where merchants can find support for the theme. | See note |

Caution

All of the above attributes are required. However, you need to specify only `theme_support_email` or `theme_support_url`, not both. Including both of these attributes, or excluding any other attributes, will result in an error.

For example:

## settings\_schema.json

```json
[
  {
    "name": "theme_info",
    "theme_name": "Dawn",
    "theme_author": "Shopify",
    "theme_version": "1.0.0",
    "theme_documentation_url": "https:\/\/help.shopify.com\/manual\/online-store\/themes\/os20\/themes-by-shopify\/dawn",
    "theme_support_url": "https:\/\/support.shopify.com\/",
  },
  ...
]
```

***

* [Location](https://shopify.dev/docs/storefronts/themes/architecture/config/settings-schema-json#location)
* [Schema](https://shopify.dev/docs/storefronts/themes/architecture/config/settings-schema-json#schema)
* [Usage](https://shopify.dev/docs/storefronts/themes/architecture/config/settings-schema-json#usage)