When your Shopify store’s page titles aren’t displaying in browser tabs despite having title tags in your code, it typically indicates a content rendering issue rather than missing HTML elements. This guide provides systematic troubleshooting steps to resolve this common problem.
Immediate Diagnostic Steps
Check Page Source Content
- Right-click on your page and select “View Page Source”
- Search for
<title>using Ctrl+F - Verify if the title tag contains actual text:
Good example:
<title>Product Name - Your Store</title>Problem examples:
<title></title>
<title> </title>Test Liquid Variables
Add this temporary debug code above your existing title tag:
<!-- DEBUG: Remove after testing -->
<script>console.log('Page Title: {{ page_title }}');</script>
<script>console.log('Shop Name: {{ shop.name }}');</script>Check your browser’s Developer Console (F12) to see if variables are loading properly.
Common Causes and Solutions
Empty Liquid Variables
If your title tag exists but contains no text, replace it with this robust version:
<title>
{%- if page_title and page_title != blank -%}
{{ page_title | strip }}
{%- unless page_title contains shop.name -%} - {{ shop.name }}{%- endunless -%}
{%- elsif collection.title -%}
{{ collection.title }} - {{ shop.name }}
{%- elsif product.title -%}
{{ product.title }} - {{ shop.name }}
{%- elsif article.title -%}
{{ article.title }} - {{ shop.name }}
{%- else -%}
{{ shop.name }}
{%- endif -%}
</title>JavaScript Override Issues
Some apps or custom code may change titles after page load. Test this with:
console.log('Initial title:', document.title);
setTimeout(() => console.log('Title after 3s:', document.title), 3000);Common culprits include:
- SEO apps (SearchPie, TinyIMG, Smart SEO)
- Analytics apps
- Custom JavaScript in theme files
Theme Template Problems
For page-specific issues, add fallback titles in individual templates:
<!-- In product.liquid -->
{%- capture product_title -%}{{ product.title }}{%- endcapture -%}
<!-- In collection.liquid -->
{%- capture collection_title -%}{{ collection.title }}{%- endcapture -%}Browser Testing Protocol
Test across multiple scenarios:
- Incognito/Private mode (eliminates browser extensions)
- Different browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari)
- Mobile vs Desktop views
- Hard refresh (Ctrl+Shift+R)
Quick Diagnostic Test
Replace your current title tag with this simple test version:
<title>{{ shop.name }} - TEST TITLE</title>Results:
- If visible: Your Liquid variables need fixing
- If not visible: Deeper technical issue exists
Advanced Troubleshooting
Remove Hidden Characters
<title>{{ page_title | strip | escape }}</title>Identify App Conflicts
- Navigate to Apps in your Shopify admin
- Temporarily disable SEO-related apps individually
- Test after each deactivation to identify conflicts
Implementation Steps
- Access your theme code: Online Store > Themes > Actions > Edit Code
- Locate theme.liquid file in the layout folder
- Find the title tag in the
<head>section - Apply the appropriate fix based on your diagnostic results
- Test thoroughly across different page types and browsers
Prevention Tips
- Always backup your theme before making changes
- Test title modifications in a duplicate theme first
- Monitor title display after installing new apps
- Regularly check SEO settings in individual page configurations
By following these systematic troubleshooting steps, you can identify and resolve title display issues, ensuring proper SEO functionality and improved user experience across your Shopify store.
