Delaying the Vitals Script Loading (Script Loading Preference)

The Script loading option in the Vitals Preferences lets you delay when Vitals starts loading on your storefront — freeing up the first moments of each page load for your theme, which can help with page speed.

Where to find it

1. Open Vitals in your Shopify admin and click Preferences in the navigation menu.
2. Look for the Script loading section.
3. Set the "Delay (seconds)" — any value between 0 and 10 seconds. 0 loads the script immediately (no delay).

How the delay works

When you set a delay, Vitals doesn't just wait out the full timer. The script loads at whichever of these happens first:

• the visitor interacts with the page (scrolls, taps, or moves the mouse), or
• the delay you set runs out

This means engaged visitors still see your Vitals widgets almost right away — while the very first moments of the page load are left entirely to your theme.

The delay only applies to your live storefront. In the Shopify theme editor preview, Vitals always loads immediately so you can keep configuring your apps normally.

The trade-off

With a delay set, Vitals widgets (reviews, timers, upsell offers, and so on) appear slightly later than the rest of the page. For most stores a small delay is invisible in practice — by the time a visitor scrolls to a widget, it's already there — but it's worth checking your key pages after changing the setting.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will this improve my page speed score?

It can help — delaying the script keeps Vitals out of the initial page-load window that speed tests measure most heavily. Results vary by store and theme, so compare your scores before and after enabling it.

Will visitors miss my widgets?

Unlikely. The script loads on the visitor's first interaction with the page, so anyone who scrolls or taps triggers Vitals right away. Only a completely idle visitor waits the full delay.

What delay should I choose?

Start small — a couple of seconds is usually enough to move the script out of the initial load without any noticeable difference for shoppers. Set it back to 0 at any time to load Vitals immediately again.

Does the delay affect the Shopify theme editor?

No — in the theme editor preview, Vitals loads immediately regardless of this setting, so app placement and previews keep working as usual.