Whether you’re going on vacation, taking time to revamp your store, or re-evaluating your business strategy, pausing your Shopify store can be a helpful option. Shopify provides two main options for temporarily pausing a store without permanently closing it, allowing you to save on costs while keeping your store in standby mode.

Here’s everything you need to know about how to pause Shopify store, including how to do it, what each option means, and how to reactivate your store when you’re ready.

1. Understand Your Pause Options on Shopify

Shopify offers two pause plans, each with different features and limitations:

• Pause and Build: For a reduced monthly fee, you can keep your store online in a restricted state where customers can view it, but they cannot make purchases. You’ll have access to your admin area to make changes and prepare your store for reopening.
• Pause Store Completely: This option is available for up to three months and completely disables checkout, making your store inaccessible to customers. During this time, you won’t be charged any subscription fees.

2. Eligibility Requirements

Before pausing your store, ensure that:

• Your Shopify account is active and in good standing.
• You don’t have outstanding payments or unpaid invoices.
• You’ve been on a paid plan for at least 60 days if you want to use the Pause and Build option.

3. Option 1: How to Enable “Pause and Build” Mode

The “Pause and Build” plan costs a reduced monthly fee (typically around $9) and is ideal if you want to make adjustments to your store behind the scenes without taking it entirely offline.

Steps to Enable Pause and Build:

1. Log in to your Shopify admin panel and go to Settings in the bottom-left corner.
2. Navigate to Plan.
3. Scroll down and click on Pause or deactivate store.
4. Choose the Pause and Build option.
5. Click Switch to Pause and Build and review the terms. Then, click Confirm changes.

Features of Pause and Build:

• Your store remains visible, but checkout is disabled, so customers can’t complete purchases.
• You’ll retain access to the admin area, allowing you to edit products, pages, and layouts.
• Apps, discounts, and certain storefront functionalities may be limited.

4. Option 2: How to Enable “Pause Store Completely” Mode

The “Pause Store Completely” plan is free for up to three months, but it fully disables the store, making it inaccessible to customers. This option is best if you need a complete break without incurring any fees.

Steps to Enable Pause Store Completely:

1. Go to Settings > Plan in your Shopify admin panel.
2. Click Pause or deactivate store.
3. Select Pause for 90 days and review the terms.
4. Click Confirm changes to finalize.

Features of Pause Store Completely:

• No monthly subscription fees are charged for up to three months.
• Your store is offline, and customers won’t be able to view or access it.
• You’ll still have limited access to the admin area to view reports and basic information, but you cannot make changes.

5. Reactivate Your Shopify Store

When you’re ready to reopen, follow these steps to reactivate your store:

1. Log in to Shopify and go to Settings > Plan.
2. Under Your current plan, select Choose a plan.
3. Pick a plan that suits your needs and complete the steps to reactivate your store.

Note: If your store has been paused completely and you’ve reached the three-month limit, you’ll need to select a new plan to reopen your store. Failing to do so may result in your store being deactivated entirely.

6. What Happens to Apps and Integrations?

• Pause and Build Plan: Apps may still run in the background, and you may still incur charges for them. Check with each app provider if you wish to pause or cancel subscriptions temporarily.
• Pause Completely: Apps will stop working, and no charges will accrue. However, make sure to verify any terms with your app providers as pausing might impact their functionality or settings.

7. Considerations Before Pausing Your Store

• Communicate with Customers: Let customers know via social media, email, or your store’s homepage if you’ll be pausing or limiting store operations.
• Manage Subscriptions and Inventory: If you have inventory or subscriptions, manage them accordingly to avoid conflicts or lost sales when your store is reactivated.
• Backup Your Store: It’s good practice to back up your store data and settings before making any changes. Shopify doesn’t provide a native backup option, so you may need to use an app or download key data manually.

8. Frequently Asked Questions about Pausing a Shopify Store

Q: Will pausing affect my SEO and Google rankings?

• A: A fully paused store can affect SEO as Google won’t be able to crawl it, and rankings may drop over time. The Pause and Build option keeps your store accessible, which can help preserve your SEO rankings.

Q: Can I still view reports and analytics?

• A: Yes, but your access will vary. With Pause and Build, you’ll have full access to reports and analytics. With the complete Pause option, access may be limited.

Q: Can I cancel the Pause and Build plan anytime?

• A: Yes, you can switch back to a regular plan whenever you like. Simply select a new plan under the Plan settings.

Pausing a Shopify store is a flexible solution for business owners needing a break without fully closing down. With the option to pause and build or pause completely, Shopify gives sellers the freedom to step away while keeping their business setup intact. By following the steps above and creating a pause and build plan, you can pause your store, save on costs, and prepare for a smooth reopening when the time is right.