Flex sections
Flex sections in Combine: Flex slideshow, Flex grid, Flex cards and Flex columns build layouts from theme blocks such as heading, button and image.
Applies to: Combine 4.2.0 and later. Added in: Combine 3.1.0. Last checked: 2026-10-13 against Combine 4.2.0.
Flex sections are the four Combine sections you build yourself from small theme blocks: headings, text, buttons, images, ratings and more. Use them for landing pages, promotions and feature lists that no fixed section matches.
Where to find it: in the theme editor, select Add section and choose Flex slideshow, Flex grid (also listed as Media collage and Text cards collage), Flex promotion cards or Flex columns.
The four flex sections
| Section | What it shows | Containers inside it | Added in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flex slideshow | A carousel of full-width or boxed slides with text over the media | Image, Video | Combine 3.1.0 |
| Flex grid | A collage of media cards and text cards on a 12-column grid | Media card, Text card | Combine 3.1.0 |
| Flex cards | Promotion cards with media on top and text below | Card | Combine 3.1.0 |
| Flex columns | Columns of blocks as a grid or a slider, for features, steps or logos | Column | Combine 4.0.0 |
How cards and theme blocks fit together
A flex section has three levels:
- The section sets the layout: heights, text alignment, spacing, colors and margins.
- The containers are the slides, cards or columns you add to the section. Each one has its own media, link, colors and, in the grids, its width.
- The theme blocks go inside a container: Heading, Text, Button, Caption, Image, Star rating, Quick buy button, Divider, Empty space, Content group and Custom Liquid. Containers also accept app blocks.
The Media card of Flex grid is the one container that holds no blocks: it shows only an image or a video.
Building a layout with theme blocks
Add the flex section
In the theme editor, select Add section and choose Flex slideshow, Flex grid, Flex promotion cards or Flex columns. The section starts with a few containers and example blocks.
Add a container
Inside the section, select Add block and choose the container: Image or Video in Flex slideshow, Text card or Media card in Flex grid, Card in Flex cards, Column in Flex columns.
Add theme blocks to the container
Inside the container, select Add block and choose Heading, Text, Button or another theme block. Drag the blocks in the sidebar to change their order.
Put blocks side by side
To show two buttons or a row of logos in one line, add a Content group block and put the Button or Image blocks inside it.
Set the widths and the style
In Flex grid and Flex cards, set each container's Desktop columns to choose how much of the 12-column grid it takes. Then set the section's Text style and Custom card design, and the container's colors.
Why can I not add a flex block to other sections?
Because theme blocks work only inside the four flex sections. Every other Combine section, such as Rich text or Media with text overlay, has its own blocks declared by that section, and Shopify does not let you move blocks between them. To use theme blocks, add a flex section and rebuild the content there.
What is the difference between Flex cards and Flex grid?
Flex cards shows cards with the media on top and the text below, all with the same media height. Flex grid is a collage: text cards with the text over their media, and media cards with no text, each spanning columns and rows of a 12-column grid. Choose Flex cards for promotion tiles and Flex grid for editorial layouts.
Can I turn a flex section into a slider?
Flex slideshow is always a slider when it has two or more slides. Flex columns has Layout with Slider (the default) and Grid. Flex grid and Flex cards are always grids.
Related pages
- Flex slideshow section: slides with text over images or videos.
- Flex grid section: a collage of media and text cards.
- Flex cards section: promotion cards.
- Flex columns section: columns as a grid or a slider.
- Theme blocks: every block you can add inside them.
General section styling
General section styling in Combine: the section heading, section design colors, gutter margins and SEO heading tag that most sections share.
Discounts and bundles
How to sell bundles and kits in Combine: the Products bundle and Products set sections, the Shopify discount behind them, and the kit builder template.