Native Image Lazy Loading
Native lazy loading uses the HTML loading='lazy' attribute to defer off-screen image loading without JavaScript. It's supported by all modern browsers and is the recommended implementation for product images below the fold in Shopify stores.
Why It Matters for Shopify Stores
Product pages with multiple images, collection thumbnails, and related product sections can load dozens of images. Without lazy loading, all images begin downloading simultaneously at page load, increasing LCP for the visible hero image and wasting bandwidth on images the user may never scroll to. Adding loading='lazy' to all below-fold images is one of the simplest, highest-impact performance improvements — a single attribute change per image tag.
How to Check Your Store
View page source and check img tags for the loading attribute. Hero images should have loading='eager' (or no attribute); below-fold images should have loading='lazy'.
Use the free shopify speed test toolHow to Fix It
In your Shopify theme's product, collection, and section liquid files, add loading='lazy' to img tags for below-fold content. Never add it to the LCP element (hero/featured image). Modern OS2.0 themes do this by default.
Related Terms
Lazy Loading
PerformanceLazy loading is a technique where images and other resources are only loaded when they're about to enter the user's viewport — rather than all at once when the page first loads.
LCP (Largest Contentful Paint)
Core Web VitalsLargest Contentful Paint measures how long it takes for the largest visible content element on a page — usually a hero image or headline — to finish loading.
Page Weight
PerformancePage weight is the total size of all resources required to load a web page — HTML, CSS, JavaScript, images, fonts, and other assets.
WebP Image Format
PerformanceWebP is a modern image format developed by Google that provides superior compression compared to JPEG and PNG — typically 25–35% smaller at equivalent visual quality.
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