# Customer Accounts

DRIFT supports both Shopify's classic and new customer account systems. Customers can:

* Create an account
* Log in
* View order history
* Manage saved addresses
* Edit account info
* Log out

## Classic vs new customer accounts

Shopify offers two account systems. Both work in DRIFT, but they have different behavior.

### Classic accounts (legacy)

* Customers log in with email + password
* Account pages are built into your theme
* DRIFT styles them to match your brand

### New customer accounts (recommended for new stores)

* Customers log in with a magic link sent to their email (no password)
* Account pages are hosted by Shopify on a separate URL
* Less customizable, but more secure and simpler for customers

To choose between them:

1. Shopify admin → **Settings** → **Customer accounts**
2. Pick **Classic accounts** or **New accounts**
3. Save

Most new stores should use **New accounts** unless you have a specific reason to use classic.

## Pages DRIFT renders

If you're using **classic accounts**, DRIFT renders these pages:

| Page           | URL                      | What it does                                      |
| -------------- | ------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------- |
| Login          | /account/login           | Customer enters email + password                  |
| Register       | /account/register        | New customer creates an account                   |
| Account        | /account                 | Logged-in customer's dashboard with order history |
| Addresses      | /account/addresses       | Manage saved shipping addresses                   |
| Order          | /account/orders/\[id]    | View a specific past order                        |
| Reset password | /account/reset\_password | Forgot-password flow                              |

If you're using **new accounts**, Shopify hosts these pages — DRIFT just shows a "Sign in" link in the header that redirects to Shopify's hosted login.

## Customizing account pages (classic only)

Each account page is rendered by a Liquid template in your theme. To customize:

1. **Online Store** → **Themes** → **Edit code**
2. Find the `templates/customers/` folder
3. Edit the relevant `.liquid` file (e.g., `customers/login.liquid`)
4. Save

Most customization needs (colors, fonts, button styles) are handled automatically by DRIFT's theme variables. Only edit the templates if you need to add/remove fields or change layouts.

## Tips

* **Decide early** — switching between classic and new accounts mid-launch is messy. Pick one before going live
* **For most modern stores, use new accounts** — fewer support tickets ("I forgot my password"), better security
* **Test the full flow** — register → confirm email → log in → place an order → log out. Make sure each step works on mobile and desktop
* **Personalize where possible** — if you have a customer's name, use it. "Hi Sarah" beats "Welcome back" for return visits


---

# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://docs.webexp.dev/drift/drift-pro/customer-accounts.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.