How to Create an Image Link in Shopify Without an App

You can host images, PDFs, spec sheets, manuals, and downloads directly on Shopify and link to them from anywhere on your storefront. No app required. The feature has been in Shopify for years and still works in every modern theme.

Here is the full process for a current Shopify store.

Why You Would Want This

A few common use cases:

• Link a product to a downloadable PDF spec sheet
• Link an image in a blog post to a larger version, a product, or an external URL
• Share a tutorial or installation guide from a product page
• Host a press kit or media file for partners

Shopify even gives you basic performance tracking on file links, so you can see what is getting clicked.

How to Upload a File to Shopify

1. From your Shopify admin, go to Settings.
2. Click Files in the left menu.
3. Click Upload files in the top right.
4. Pick the image, PDF, or asset you want to host.
5. Once it uploads, click the link icon next to the file to copy its public URL.

That URL is now live on Shopify's CDN and ready to use anywhere.

How File Links Work on Shopify

The URL Shopify generates points to its CDN. It is fast, cached globally, and stable. You can paste it into product descriptions, blog posts, theme sections, email campaigns, or even external sites. The link does not expire as long as the file stays in your Files library.

Embed the Image Link with a Custom Liquid Section

Most modern Shopify themes include a Custom Liquid section you can drop onto any page from the theme editor. Here is the cleanest way to embed a clickable image link in 2026.

Basic clickable image (same tab)

<a href="https://your-shopify-cdn-link-here.com/file.pdf">
  <img
    src="{{ 'your-image.jpg' | asset_url }}"
    alt="Download the spec sheet"
    loading="lazy"
    width="600"
    height="400"
  >
</a>

Open the link in a new tab

<a
  href="https://your-shopify-cdn-link-here.com/file.pdf"
  target="_blank"
  rel="noopener noreferrer"
>
  <img
    src="{{ 'your-image.jpg' | asset_url }}"
    alt="Download the spec sheet"
    loading="lazy"
  >
</a>

Plain text link

If you only need a clickable text link, the same custom Liquid section works with:

Check out our spec sheet
<a href="https://your-shopify-cdn-link-here.com/file.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">
  here
</a>.

A couple notes on the 2026 standard:

• Use rel="noopener noreferrer" whenever you open in a new tab. target="none" is not valid HTML; the correct attribute is target="_blank".
• Always set descriptive alt text. It helps accessibility and SEO.
• Add loading="lazy" to images below the fold for a free speed win.

For a related trick that helps with external links on product pages, see open Shopify external links in new tab.

Where to Add the Custom Liquid

In the theme editor (Online Store > Themes > Customize), pick the page (product, collection, blog, custom page), click Add section, and pick Custom Liquid. Paste the snippet, save, and you are done.

Why This Beats Installing an App

Every app adds JavaScript and config to your store. For something as simple as a linked image, that is overkill. Native Liquid is faster, free, and one less thing to break when you switch themes. If your store is feeling sluggish, this is the kind of small win that adds up. More on that in Shopify store speed and SEO guide.

The Bottom Line

You do not need an app to put a clickable image or file link in your Shopify store. Upload to Files, grab the CDN URL, drop a six-line Liquid snippet into a Custom Liquid section. That is the entire job.