Frequently Asked Questions
Last Updated: June 30, 2026
These are the questions we hear most often from Shopify merchants considering or already running PC Builder: MW. Each answer covers what the app actually does today, not just marketing promises — including limits, edge cases, and how things behave under real-world conditions. If your question isn't here, jump to the "Still Need Help?" section below to reach a real person on our support team.
Does the app slow down my store?
No. The PC Builder widget is lazy-loaded — it only initializes when a shopper scrolls it into view. On pages where the widget isn't embedded, the app loads zero JavaScript and has no effect on page speed. Even on pages that include the widget, Lighthouse performance scores stay above 90 in our internal tests.
Can I use it with any Shopify theme?
Yes. PC Builder: MW uses the Shopify section block system and works with every Online Store 2.0 theme (Dawn, Refresh, Sense, Spotlight, Origin, and all premium themes from Themes.app). It also works with older vanilla-liquid themes as a snippet include, though we recommend OS 2.0 themes for the best drag-and-drop experience.
How do compatibility rules work?
You assign tags to each product (e.g., cpu_socket: AM5, cpu_brand: AMD). When a shopper picks a CPU, the app filters the next step (motherboards) to only show products with matching tags. This happens client-side in real time — no page reload, no waiting. Rules can be one-to-one (socket-only) or compound (socket AND chipset AND RAM type).
Can customers save their builds?
Yes. Every in-progress build gets a unique shareable URL. Customers can bookmark it to come back later, send it to friends for feedback, or share it on social media. The build is restored exactly as they left it, including any quantities and multi-select choices. Builds persist for at least 30 days, configurable in Settings.
What happens when a product goes out of stock?
Out-of-stock products are automatically hidden from the builder by default. When inventory comes back, they reappear instantly without any manual intervention from you. You can override this behavior in Settings if you want to keep out-of-stock items visible (greyed out with an "out of stock" label) so customers know what's coming back.
Is the builder mobile-friendly?
Yes. The widget is fully responsive — step navigation, product cards, the build summary, and checkout all adapt to phone and tablet screens. We test on iPhone SE / 14 / 15 Pro, Pixel 7, and Galaxy S23 every release. Touch targets meet WCAG accessibility guidelines (44×44px minimum).
Which AI providers are supported?
On the Basic plan, you connect your own Google Gemini API key (free tier from Google AI Studio covers most stores). On the Pro plan, built-in AI is included — no key required and no Google account needed. Both produce the same compatibility-fill output; the difference is convenience and quota.
Is my Gemini API key stored securely?
Yes. Your key is encrypted at rest and only decrypted in-memory when the app makes an API call to Gemini on your behalf. It's never logged, never exposed to the storefront JavaScript, and never sent to any third party. If you ever suspect compromise, you can revoke and rotate the key in Google AI Studio — the app handles the swap with no downtime.
Does using the Gemini API cost money?
Google's free Gemini tier covers a generous monthly quota — typically several thousand compatibility-fill requests per month — which is more than enough for stores with up to a few thousand SKUs. You only pay if you exceed the free tier, and even then Gemini's paid pricing is among the lowest in the industry (cents per million tokens).
Can I use my own API key with the Pro plan?
Yes. Pro includes built-in AI for convenience, but if you have a high-volume Gemini quota or prefer to keep all AI calls under your own Google billing, you can paste your own key into Settings and the app will route through it instead. Switching between keys takes effect immediately.
Still need help?
Our support team typically replies within 24 hours. Pro plan gets 8-hour priority responses.