Shopify Development 
This guide walks you through the process how to add multiple variant images in Shopify for each product variant using the NS Color Swatch Variant Images app. You’ll learn how to install the app, enable its features, and assign specific images to each variant. Thus, your customers can view only the relevant images based on their selected options.
❓ Why choosing an app? While it’s possible to achieve this manually with custom code, using an app is preferable to save time, avoid theme code edits that can break during updates, and offer easier long-term maintenance. Plus, with built-in support from the app’s development team, it’s a reliable solution for store owners who want more control over their product display without the hassle of coding.
Let’s get started!
Step 1: Install NS Color Swatch Variant Images
1. Go to the Shopify App Store and search for NS Color Swatch Variant Images.
2. Click Install, then click Open to launch the app in your Shopify Admin.
3. Complete the onboarding process as guided in the app.
4. Head to App Embeds, toggle the switch to enable NS Color Swatch Variant Images, and click Save.
Step 2: Assign specific variant images to the selected variant
1. Back in the app’s dashboard, navigate to the Variant Images section from the left-hand menu.
2. Click Add Product.
📝 Note: You can select and customize one product at a time, so repeat the process individually for each product where you want to manage variant images.
3. From the list of variants under the selected product, click the pencil (edit) icon next to a specific variant to start assigning images.
4. Choose the relevant images from the product’s image gallery that should be displayed for that variant only.
5. Click Save to confirm.
Repeat these steps for each variant within the product to ensure every one displays only its appropriate images.
Once you’ve finished configuring, visit your online store to see the updated variant image display.
FAQs
How can images change based on the selected variant in Shopify?
By default, Shopify doesn’t hide or update images dynamically when a variant is selected. With a variant image app like NS Color Swatch Variant Images, you can assign specific images to each variant. The app automatically updates the image gallery based on the selected variant, giving your customers a cleaner and more intuitive shopping experience.
Why does Shopify show all the variant images together on my product page?
Shopify’s native setup doesn’t filter images by variant, so it loads all associated images at once. This can clutter the product page and confuse shoppers. NS Color Swatch Variant Images solves this by displaying only the images relevant to the selected variant.
How do I hide variant images on Shopify?
To hide images for variants that are not selected, you’ll need a third-party app like NS Color Swatch Variant Images. It automatically hides unrelated variant images and shows only the ones tied to the customer’s current selection, keeping your product gallery tidy.
How to use variant images as swatches in Shopify?
NS Color Swatch Variant Images supports you to turn each variant image into a clickable swatch. When a customer clicks the swatch, the app updates both the selected variant and the displayed images, helping you replace dropdowns with visual, user-friendly variant selectors.
