Insights, Web Development
How to Pause Shopify Store in Few Easy Steps
When you run an online storefront, there might come a time when you need to take a break without shutting down your entire operation. You may need to go on vacation, refresh your product lineup, or simply need a breather from your business, pausing your Shopify subscription allows you to maintain your store’s build plan and data while temporarily going offline. In this guide, we will walk you through the steps to pause Shopify store safely so everything is in place when you’re ready to resume business as usual.
What You Need To Know Before Pausing Shopify Store?
Before pausing your Shopify store, there are other considerations to keep in mind.
- First, pausing your store means your current plan will no longer be valid, even if you decide to unpause it later. You’ll still have to choose the same plan or a new plan.
- This option is available only for paid Shopify plans, not for Shopify Plus members.
- While your store is paused, Shopify will continue to charge a discounted rate of $9 per month, so be sure to remove any paid third-party apps to avoid unnecessary charges.
- You’ll still have access to Shopify’s admin panel and can edit products, but the checkout process will be disabled.
- Keep in mind that the maximum pause period is 90 days. During this time, you can send draft order invoices, but customers won’t be able to complete purchases or convert those orders into live ones.
How To Pause Shopify Store- A Step-by-Step Guide
Here’s how to do it step by step:
Step 1: Log in as the store owner to access your admin.
Click on “Settings” at the bottom left corner of your dashboard.
Step 2: Select “Plan” to view your current subscription details.
Step 3: Click on “Deactivate store”
From Settings, go to Plan to open the Plan details screen and click Deactivate Store.
You will see a modal window with three different options when you click the button. It’s important to understand the difference between these options.
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Switch to Pause and Build
This action will put your store into a Pause and Build mode with a reduced cost at $9/month. Your store will still be active in terms of, you will be able to manage your content, change products, and images, but users won’t be able to checkout and purchase products.
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Start a New Store
This option deactivates your current store so you can start a new one for $1 for the first month’s trial period.
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Deactivate Store
Deactivating your store will put your store on hold. It won’t be accessible for users, there will be no storefront and you won’t be able to manage your content. Shopify will keep your store data for 2 years, so you will be able to restore your business during that time with all your info and content intact.
Step 4: Choose the “Pause and build plan.”
It will immediately take you to the next modal that warns you to review important changes such as losing access to some functionality, including key features (ex. users can’t access the checkout or purchase products during the pause period).
Carefully review the Pause and Build plan details, including the limitations and reduced monthly fee.
Select the ” I understand these changes” checkbox and hit Got it to confirm.
Step 5: Confirm
In the last screen, you will see the billing info that your store is still paid until the end of your current billing period. Once you click Pause and Build, your store will work as normal until the end of that period and will enter the Pause and Build mode at $9 a month immediately after.
Click Confirm.
Once you’re done, it won’t immediately change your store until it’s time to enter the new mode.
How to Reopen Your Shopify Store After a Pause
Reopening your Shopify store after a pause is a simple process, but keep in mind that you’ll need to choose a new plan, as your old plan is no longer valid. Here’s how to do it step by step:
Step 1: Log in as the store owner to access the Shopify admin. Click on “Settings” in the bottom left corner of your dashboard.
Step 2: Navigate to “Plan” to view your plan options.
Step 3: Click on “Pick a plan” and select the plan that best suits your business needs. It may be the same as your old plan.
Step 4: Carefully review the plan details to make sure it meets your requirements.
Step 5: Once you’re satisfied with your choice, click “Start plan” to confirm.
After selecting a plan, your store will be live again, and you can start selling right away!
When is it a good idea to pause your store?
Deciding to pause your Shopify store is an option that can offer some breathing room when business needs shift, but it’s not always the right move. It can help you save on costs and refocus your efforts, but it also comes with limitations like disabling the checkout process and restricting customer access.
So, when exactly is it a good idea to pause your store?
✔️ Redesign
If you’re planning to redesign the look, feel, and functionality of your online storefront, taking your business offline temporarily can give you the freedom to make changes without disrupting the customer experience. Your visitors will be able to see the finished product and not the in-progress changes.
✔️ Seasonal Break
For businesses that operate seasonally, such as those selling holiday-specific products or summer gear, pausing your store during the off-season can be a smart move.
This allows you to reduce expenses during periods of low sales while keeping your store’s data intact. When the busy season returns, you can quickly unpause and start selling products again.
✔️ Order and Inventory Management
If you’re struggling to keep up with orders or need to conduct a thorough inventory check, pausing can help you catch up on fulfillment, update stock levels, draft orders, update product prices, and resolve any supply chain issues.
✔️ Business Assessment
Sometimes, it’s necessary to step back and assess the overall health of your business like evaluating your financials, rethinking your marketing strategy, or considering a shift in focus. A period of reflection can lead to better long-term strategies and a more sustainable business model.
✔️ Operational Changes
If you’re planning significant operational changes, such as moving to a new warehouse, transitioning to a new supplier, or upgrading your technology stack, pausing your store can help you manage these changes more effectively.
How Do I Know If My Shopify Store Is Eligible for Pause?
Before you decide to pause your Shopify shop, you’ll need to confirm whether your store is eligible for this option.
Shopify only allows stores with a paid plan to use the pause feature, so if you’re still within your free trial period, you won’t be able to pause your shop. Additionally, this feature is not available to stores on the Shopify Plus plan.
If you meet these criteria, then your store is eligible to proceed with the Pause and Build Plan, allowing you to step back while still maintaining your store’s data and admin access.
How Long Can You Pause a Shopify Store?
You can pause your Shopify store for up to 90 days. During this period, your shop remains inactive, meaning customers can’t make purchases or view your storefront.
However, you can still access your Shopify admin and all your apps, to manage products, review reports, and make necessary updates.
After the 90-day limit, you’ll need to either reactivate your store by choosing a new plan or close it permanently. Pausing is designed as a short-term solution, so it’s important to plan accordingly and use this time to prepare your store for reactivation.
What is Shopify vacation mode?
There is an unofficial workaround to temporarily disable or pause your store’s operations while you take a break from selling. Although Shopify doesn’t have a built-in vacation mode, you can achieve a similar effect by adding password protection to your store.
This method prevents customers from accessing your site, viewing products, or completing orders, while still keeping your store visible to search engines.
This way, your store’s SEO efforts remain intact even when you’re taking time off.
Follow these steps to add password protection:
Step 1: Log in to your Shopify store. From your dashboard, go to Online Store > Preferences.
Step 2: Enable “Password protection,”
Step 3: Set a password. It must be different from your Shopify login.
Step 4: Add a message explaining the temporary closure with a reopening date and Click “Save.”
What is a Shopify Pause and Build plan?
The Shopify Pause and Build plan is a handy option for store owners who need a break from selling but still want to keep their store data and features intact. When you switch to this plan, your store goes offline, so customers can’t browse or buy anything.
However, you still have full access to your Shopify admin dashboard, allowing you to access the storefront, manage inventory, update product listings, access basic reports regarding the store’s performance, and make changes as needed.
Also, Shopify offers this plan at a reduced monthly fee, making it a budget-friendly way to prepare for a relaunch without losing all your hard work.
How Much Does It Cost to Pause a Shopify Store?
Going through with the Pause and Build plan does NOT come with an additional fee specifically for the pause itself, but there are some costs to keep in mind:
- Reduced Subscription Fee: While you can switch to the Pause and Build plan for a reduced subscription fee, you’ll still pay this fee to use the platform.
- Ongoing App Costs: If you use third-party apps, their subscription fees may continue during the pause.
- Custom Domain Fees: If you have a domain purchased through Shopify, you’ll keep getting charged for its registration.
- Payment Gateway Fees: Some payment gateways may also charge monthly fees, regardless of your store’s status.
What Is the Difference Between Pausing and Deactivating Your Shopify Store?
You can choose to pause your Shopify store or click Deactivate store, however, there are a few differences to consider:
Pausing Your Store 👈
- Moves to a Different Subscription: Switch to the Pause and Build plan.
- Product Pages Live: Your products remain visible on the website.
- Shopify Admin Accessible: You can still use all the features and settings.
- Website Usable: Customers can browse, but they can’t complete purchases (checkout function disabled).
- Myshopify Domain: This domain will remain usable in the future.
- Re-enable Anytime: You can continue working on your store and reactivate it whenever you’re ready.
Deactivating Your Store 👈
- Cancels Subscription: Ends your subscription entirely.
- Products Not Live: Your products are removed from the website.
- Shopify Admin Not Accessible: You lose entry to all features in your Shopify account unless you start a new plan and pay.
- Website Not Usable: Your site becomes inactive.
- Myshopify Domain: You can’t reuse this domain once deactivated.
- Limited Re-enable: You can only re-enable the store up to two years later.
The Pause and Build Plan is the perfect solution if you want to keep your store and products accessible. Deactivating is more of a permanent step.
Note that when you deactivate your subscription, the Shopify app will pause your store for up to 2 years. If you wish to do that, cancel your store by following the instructions from the previous section. During the pause state, you can no longer access your admin unless you re-activate the store.
FAQ
1. Do You Have To Pay When Pausing Shopify Store?
Yes, when you pause your Shopify store, there is a reduced fee compared to your regular plan. This fee allows you to keep your store running in a limited capacity, preserving your data, products, and store settings.
2. How To Delete Shopify Store?
To delete your Shopify store, go to your Shopify Admin, navigate to Settings > Plan, and click Cancel Subscription. Make sure to export any necessary data before proceeding, as deletion is permanent and cannot be undone.
3. What Is The Difference Between Deleting And Pausing Shopify Store?
Pausing your store keeps your data intact and allows you to resume operations later, though some features are restricted. Deleting your store permanently removes all your data and closes your account, with no option to recover it.
4. Is Your Store Hidden From Customers If Paused?
Yes, when your Shopify store is paused, it’s hidden from customers. Your products won’t be available for purchase, and visitors won’t see your storefront until you reactivate it.
5. What Happens to Abandoned Checkout Recovery When My Store Is Paused?
If your store is paused, abandoned checkout recovery features are also paused. Customers who left items in their cart won’t receive recovery emails until your store is reactivated.
6. Can Customers Still Access the Online Store Checkout if My Store Is Paused?
No, when your store is paused, the online store checkout is disabled. Customers won’t be able to complete purchases until you unpause your store.
7. How Do I Manage My Shopify Admin While My Store Is Paused?
Even when your store is paused, you can still access your Shopify Admin. You can update your products, manage orders, and adjust settings, though some features may be limited based on your paused plan.
8. Can I Reactivate My Store After Pausing It?
Yes, you can easily reactivate your Shopify store at any time. Simply log into your Shopify Admin, choose a plan, and your store will be back online with all your previous settings intact.
Hey, before you go, don’t forget to check out our other awesome articles on UI/UX design! We’ve got loads of tips and inspiration to help you create stunning designs that will blow your mind.