Fix Overlapping Header Icons in Shopify

Help! My Shopify Header Icons Are a Jumbled Mess!

Ever landed on your Shopify store and thought, "Wait, why are my login, wishlist, and cart icons all piled on top of each other like a digital traffic jam?" You're not alone! A store owner named sittiamz recently posted in the Shopify Community about this very issue, and it sparked a really helpful discussion. Let's break down what causes this and, more importantly, how to fix it.

Sittiamz's original post showed a screenshot of the problem, which is always super helpful for getting context. They'd already contacted Shopify support, who pointed them towards needing a theme or CSS expert. Sounds daunting, right? But don't worry, often it's a pretty simple fix.

What's Causing the Icon Overlap?

As mastroke pointed out in the thread, this kind of issue rarely stems from Shopify itself. It's almost always a conflict within your theme's CSS or caused by a third-party app messing with the header layout. Here are the usual suspects:

App Interference: Wishlist, cart, or other UX apps injecting their own styles that clash with your theme.
Custom CSS Gone Rogue: Custom CSS you (or a developer) added that's unintentionally altering the display, positioning, or flexbox behavior of the header icons.
Breakpoint Blues: Issues with how your theme handles different screen sizes (desktop, mobile, etc.), leading to incorrect styling on certain devices.

Troubleshooting Steps: Let's Get Those Icons Sorted!

So, how do we untangle this mess? Here's a step-by-step approach, combining the advice from the community thread:

1. Force a Stable Flex Layout

mastroke suggested trying this CSS snippet to ensure your icons are nicely aligned using flexbox. Add this to your theme's CSS (usually in the theme editor under "Actions" -> "Edit code", then look for a `theme.scss.liquid` or similar file, or in the theme customizer if it has a custom CSS section):

.header__icons {
  display: flex;
  align-items: center;
  gap: 12px;
  white-space: nowrap;
  min-width: 120px;
}

What this does is:

`display: flex;` Turns the icon container into a flexbox, allowing for easy alignment.
`align-items: center;` Vertically aligns the icons in the center.
`gap: 12px;` Adds a 12-pixel space between each icon. Adjust this value to your liking.
`white-space: nowrap;` Prevents the icons from wrapping to the next line.
`min-width: 120px;` Ensures the icon area has a minimum width, preventing it from collapsing.

2. Prevent Absolute Positioning

Sometimes, absolute positioning can throw things off. Add this CSS to make sure the icons are positioned relatively to their container:

.header__icon {
  position: relative;
}

3. The App Conflict Investigation

This is where things get interesting. As tim_1 cleverly spotted, a wishlist app was injecting some custom CSS that was causing problems for sittiamz. The key is to temporarily disable any recently added apps, especially those related to wishlists, carts, or header modifications. Here's how:

Go to your Shopify admin.
Click on "Apps".
One by one, disable the apps you suspect might be causing the issue.
Refresh your store's page after disabling each app to see if the overlap disappears.

If disabling an app fixes the problem, bingo! You've found the culprit. Now, you have a few options:

Check the App's Settings: Many apps have customization options where you can adjust the CSS they inject. Look for a "Custom CSS" section, like tim_1 suggested, and see if you can tweak the settings to resolve the conflict.
Contact the App Developer: Reach out to the app developer and explain the issue. They might be able to provide a fix or suggest alternative settings.
Find an Alternative App: If the app is causing too many problems, consider switching to a different app that offers similar functionality but doesn't mess with your header layout.

4. A Little Padding Can Go a Long Way

Tim_1 also suggested adding some padding to the right side of the header. This can create some extra breathing room for the icons and prevent them from overlapping. Try adding this CSS:

.site-header-right {
  padding-right: 60px;
}

Adjust the `60px` value to find the right amount of padding for your store.

Wrapping Up: A Community Effort

The Shopify Community is a fantastic resource for troubleshooting issues like this. As excess.tech mentioned, it's often a case of checking theme settings or app conflicts. By systematically trying the solutions offered in the forum thread – checking for app conflicts, adjusting CSS, and tweaking theme settings – you should be able to get your header icons back in order. Remember, a little bit of CSS tweaking and app management can go a long way in keeping your store looking its best!

Overlapping Header Icons Got You Down? Quick Fixes for Your Shopify Store