Add the vacation message right in your theme using the inline block.
- In the Shopify admin, go to Online Store → Themes.
- Find your theme and click Customize.
- Use the top dropdown to pick the product template you want.
- Choose where the message should show, then click + Add block or + Add section.
- In Apps, select Inline message.
- Click Save.
If Inline is turned on for a rule, the message will appear in the spot you added.
Vacation mode only blocks the online store
Vacation mode only disables the Add to Cart button on your online store theme. Orders can still come through via Apple Pay, Shop Pay, Google Pay, Shop app, PayPal Express, saved cart links, and other sales channels. The app hides the button via frontend injection on your theme — it cannot block checkout at the API level. If you need to fully prevent orders, also pause inventory or disable sales channels directly in Shopify. This is the biggest misunderstanding about vacation mode: it does not make it impossible to place orders, only harder for customers using the standard store flow.
Originally from our Help Center