How-to's · Shopify · 3 min read
How to Delete a Shopify Store Without Losing What Matters
Short answer
To close a Shopify store, export your data, uninstall paid apps, decide what to do with your domain, settle any outstanding bills, then go to Settings > Plan and choose Deactivate store. Shopify keeps the store's information for two years, so you can reactivate if you change your mind.
Closing a store feels like a single button press, and technically it is. The problems show up afterward: a domain you forgot to transfer, an app that keeps billing your card, or tax records you can't access anymore. Do the prep first and the button press becomes a non-event.
Before you deactivate: a checklist
1. Export your data
From the admin, export:
- Products (Products > Export) as CSV
- Customers (Customers > Export)
- Orders (Orders > Export)
- Analytics reports you might need for tax or a future sale
Store these somewhere you'll find them. Even if you never reopen, customer lists and order history can be useful for a future business, subject to your privacy policy and local law.
2. Download invoices and payouts
Under Settings > Billing, download your Shopify bills. If you use Shopify Payments, export payout and transaction reports from Finances. Your accountant will want these.
3. Uninstall paid apps
App subscriptions bill through Shopify, but some apps also bill separately (email tools, review platforms, shipping software). Uninstall everything in Settings > Apps and sales channels, then log in to any app that has its own account and cancel there.
4. Handle your domain
- Bought through Shopify: Transfer it to another registrar if you want to keep it. You can start this from Settings > Domains. Once the store is deactivated, managing it gets harder.
- Connected from elsewhere: Remove the DNS records pointing to Shopify or point them at a placeholder page.
5. Cancel connected services
Email marketing (Klaviyo, Mailchimp, Shopify Messaging), fulfillment partners, print-on-demand providers and ad accounts. Pause running ads first so you're not sending traffic to a dead store.
6. Settle outstanding charges
Shopify won't deactivate a store with unpaid bills. Any final charges for apps or transaction fees will appear on your last invoice.
How to deactivate
- Log in as the store owner. Staff accounts can't do this.
- Go to Settings > Plan.
- Click Deactivate store.
- Pick a reason, confirm your password and finish.
You'll get an email confirmation. The storefront stops loading, and billing for the plan ends.
What happens after
Shopify says it keeps your store information for two years after deactivation. If you log back in during that window, you can choose a plan and reopen with your products and settings intact.
Your myshopify.com address stays reserved to your account, and nobody else can claim it.
Delete vs. pause vs. sell
Deactivation isn't the only exit.
- Taking a break? See how to pause a Shopify store for options that don't involve shutting down.
- Have revenue and customers? A store with real sales history can be worth selling. Read how to sell your ecommerce store before you close it.
- Just want a different setup? Changing themes, removing channels or rebuilding pages is often enough. See how to change themes on Shopify.
Tell your customers
If you have an email list, send a short note explaining that the store is closing, when the last orders can be placed and how to reach you about existing orders or returns.
Common mistakes
Deactivating mid-cycle. Plan fees are billed in advance, so close near your billing date.
Forgetting gift card liabilities. If customers hold unused gift cards, check your local consumer laws. In many places you're obligated to honor or refund them.
Leaving subscriptions active. Customers on subscription apps may keep getting charged through the app's own billing. Cancel those subscriptions and notify customers.
Ignoring the email list. A short goodbye email that tells customers what's happening is courteous and reduces support headaches and chargebacks.
Closing a store is a normal part of business. Done carefully, it leaves your records clean and your options open.
Frequently asked questions
Can I delete a Shopify store permanently?
Shopify calls it deactivating. The store stops working and billing ends, while data is kept for two years in case you return.
Will I get a refund for unused days?
Generally no. Plan fees are billed in advance and aren't refunded for partial periods, so time the deactivation close to your billing date.
What happens to my domain?
A domain bought through Shopify stays yours until it expires, but you should transfer it to another registrar if you want to keep it long term.
Sources and further reading
Platform features, prices and policies change. Check the official help pages linked above before you act on a detail that matters to your store.