Articles on: Kite - Free Gift App

How to use test mode to test Kite offers and widgets

This guide explains how to use Test Mode to preview a Kite widget (like a free gift offer or progress bar) on a draft theme before making it visible on your live store.



⚠️ Important Limitation Test Mode is for previewing WIDGETS only. It cannot be used to test the discount logic itself in isolation. Once a discount campaign is enabled in the app, it is active across your entire store, including your live theme. To safely test discount functionality, you must use a separate development or staging store.


1. Prepare Your Themes


  1. Disable on Live Theme: Go to your live theme's customizer (Online Store > Themes > Customize). In the App embeds section, ensure the Kite app extension is disabled (toggled off). This prevents the widget from showing to your customers.
  2. Have a Draft Theme Ready: Make sure the theme you want to test on is available in your theme library below your live theme.


2. Enable Test Mode in the Kite App


  1. In the Kite app, navigate to Settings > Widget settings.
  2. Find the section labeled Test mode.
  3. Enable the Test mode toggle switch.
  4. From the dropdown menu that appears, select the draft theme you want to test the widget on.
  5. Click Activate and then Save your changes.


3. Preview and Test on the Draft Theme


  1. In your Shopify admin, go to Online Store > Themes.
  2. Find your draft theme, click the ... button, and select Preview.
  3. In the theme preview, navigate to a relevant page (e.g., a product page). You should now see the Kite widget.
  4. Interact with the widget as a customer would (e.g., add a product to the cart) to confirm it looks and functions correctly. For a free gift offer, ensure the gift is added to the cart as expected.


4. Going Live with Your Widget


When you are ready to show the widget on your live store, do one of the following:

  • In Shopify: Go to your live theme's Customize > App embeds and enable the Kite app extension.
  • In the Kite App: Return to the Test mode settings and use the provided option to activate the widget on your live theme.

Updated on: 20/08/2025

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