This guide takes you from install to your first two live schedules: a full theme publish and a single section change. Plan on about ten minutes.
Key takeaways
- Install from the Shopify App Store and pick a plan. Both plans start with a free trial.
- Prepare your campaign theme or add the campaign section to your live theme.
- Create a schedule with a start time and an end time.
- Use recurring schedules for promotions that repeat.
Before you begin
- Know your campaign dates and times, in your store's time zone.
- Decide whether the change is a full redesign (a whole theme) or a small change (a banner, slideshow or block).
- Have your campaign images and copy ready.
Step 1: Install the app and choose a plan
Open the Maestro Theme Scheduler listing, click Install and approve the permissions. Choose a plan:
| If you want to | Choose |
|---|---|
| Mostly publish whole themes on a schedule | Advanced, $9.99/month |
| Schedule several sections and blocks | Maestro, $49/month |
| Run many repeating promotions | Maestro, $49/month |
Step 2: Prepare what you want to schedule
- For a full redesignDuplicate your live theme, customize it for the campaign and leave it unpublished.
- For a single banner or blockAdd the section or block to your live theme in the theme editor. Maestro will control when it shows.
- Double-checkPreview the campaign content before you schedule it.
Step 3: Create a theme publish schedule
In Maestro, create a new theme schedule, select the theme you prepared and set the publish date and time. If the campaign has an end date, add a second schedule that publishes your regular theme again when it ends.
Always schedule the end of a campaign at the same time you schedule the start. That way sale content can never stay up by mistake.
Step 4: Schedule a section or block
Create a sections and blocks schedule, pick the section or block from Step 2, then set when it should appear and when it should be hidden. Your live theme stays published the whole time. Only that piece of content changes.
Step 5: Make it recurring
If the change repeats, such as a weekend deals banner, turn it into a recurring schedule so you don't have to recreate it every week.
Step 6: Review schedules and history
Before a big launch, review your upcoming schedules. Afterwards, use the theme publish history to confirm exactly what went live and when.
Common mistakes to avoid
Do
- Test with a small change first, such as an announcement block scheduled for tomorrow morning.
- Schedule start and end together.
- Keep campaign themes named clearly, for example 'BFCM 2026'.
Avoid
- Editing the live theme after duplicating it for a campaign, then forgetting to copy the edit over.
- Setting times without checking your store's time zone.
- Leaving old campaign themes in the theme library indefinitely.
Frequently asked questions
How long does setup take?
Most merchants create their first schedule within ten minutes of installing the app.
Do I need to know code?
No. You choose themes, sections and blocks and set dates and times. There is no code to edit.
Which plan should I start with?
Start with Advanced if you mainly publish whole themes. Choose Maestro if you plan to schedule several sections and blocks or want unlimited recurring schedules.
Can I get help with my first schedule?
Yes. Every plan includes live chat support, and the Maestro plan includes priority chat.