How do I Migrate to Shopify?

Every store owner has a different reason for migrating, but the most common ones include:

1. Rebranding or launching a new store

   • Sometimes it’s easier to start fresh with a clean Shopify account rather than fixing years of outdated apps and design.

2. Cleaning up technical debt

   • Over time, custom code, old themes, and unused apps slow your store down. Migration allows you to rebuild on a modern Shopify setup.

3. Improving performance and UX

   • Online Store 2.0 (and custom themes built with Shopify CLI) offer faster load speeds, better mobile experiences, and flexible layouts.

4. Preserving SEO during redesigns

   • If you’re upgrading or moving to a new store, migration ensures old URLs and rankings are protected with redirects.

5. Expanding globally

   • Migrating to a new Shopify Plus setup for multi-store or multi-currency operations.

Before starting, be crystal clear on why you’re migrating. Your reason will determine whether you can use CSV files, a migration app, or need a full-service replatforming partner.

Moving from one Shopify store to another is more common than most people think. Maybe you’re rebranding, splitting one store into multiple, or starting fresh on Shopify Plus. Here’s how to do it safely:

Step 1: Back Up Your Data

Never migrate without a backup.

• Use Rewind Backups (automatic daily backups) or export everything manually.

• Back up products, customers, orders, themes, and blog content.

• Keep a copy of your redirects in case something goes wrong.

Without a backup, one mistake could cost you years of order history or SEO value.

Step 2: Audit Your Current Store

Create a full inventory of your store:

• Products → number of SKUs, variants, and metafields.

• Customers & orders → active accounts, purchase history.

• Theme & design → custom code, scripts, and sections.

• Apps → note which ones hold important data (reviews, loyalty points, etc.).

• SEO → crawl all URLs (using Screaming Frog or Sitebulb).

This step ensures nothing gets left behind.

Step 3: Export Data from the Old Store

Shopify allows you to export most data via CSV:

• Products (with SKUs, variants, and images).

• Customers (basic info and contact details).

• Orders (Shopify’s native CSV export is limited, so use Matrixify if you need full exports).

• Content (pages and blogs need to be copied manually or via apps).

For large stores, manual exports quickly become messy. This is where migration apps shine.

Step 4: Import Data into the New Store

• Start with products and collections → import CSV or use Matrixify.

• Import customers and send account reactivation emails if needed.

• Import orders for historical reporting (apps handle this best).

• Double-check: Are images linked correctly? Are inventory counts accurate?

Step 5: Migrate Theme & Apps

Your theme controls the customer experience, and it’s often the most visible part of the migration process.

Options:

1. Reinstall your existing theme if you’re happy with it.

2. Upgrade to Online Store 2.0 for more flexibility and speed.

3. Custom build with Shopify CLI if you need advanced customisation.

Reinstall your apps and reconnect them carefully. Keep in mind that some apps, such as review or loyalty programs, store their data separately, so you may need to contact the providers for assistance during migration.

Migrating a theme isn’t only about copying the design; it’s also an opportunity to upgrade to a modern, stable, and faster storefront. Avoid carrying over old “hacks” or quick fixes, and rebuild with clean, modern code.

Our Creative Services team can assist in rebuilding custom sections and layouts for a modern Shopify 2.0 store.

Step 6: Redirect Old URLs

One of the biggest risks during migration is broken links.

• Map all old → new URLs in a spreadsheet.

• Use Shopify’s URL Redirects or import in bulk with Matrixify.

• Test top-performing URLs (product pages, collections, blogs).

Without redirects, your SEO rankings will drop immediately.

Step 7: Test Before Launch

Never launch without testing:

• Place real orders with different shipping and payment options.

• Test customer accounts, discount codes, and email notifications.

• Check site speed and mobile responsiveness.

Step 8: Launch & Monitor

• Switch your domain DNS settings to point to the new store.

• Submit your new sitemap in Google Search Console.

• Monitor traffic, conversions, and Search Console errors daily for the first 30 days.

Maintaining sales momentum after migration requires effective campaigns, and our Paid Advertising services can help achieve this.

Product data is the backbone of your store. Getting it wrong leads to broken catalogs, missing images, or inaccurate inventory.

Small Stores (up to 200 products)

• Use Shopify’s CSV import/export.

• Make sure SKUs, variants, and images are formatted correctly.

• Additional images can be added with extra CSV rows under the same product handle.

Large Stores (1,000+ products)

• Use Matrixify or Cart2Cart.

• These handle metafields, SEO tags, inventory, and bulk imports more reliably.

• They also allow staged imports (test with 10 products, then import all).

Always test imports on a staging store before pushing live.

Migrating a theme isn’t just about copying design; it’s about upgrading to a modern, stable, and faster storefront.

Options for Theme Migration:

1. Reinstall existing theme → Quick and simple if you like your current design.

2. Upgrade to Online Store 2.0 → Get access to sections everywhere, flexible app blocks, and improved performance.

3. Custom theme build → Use Shopify CLI for complete control. Best for brands needing unique layouts or advanced features.

Best Practices:

• Recreate brand styling (colors, fonts, images).

• Rebuild custom sections and scripts carefully.

• Test performance with Google Lighthouse or PageSpeed Insights.

• Avoid carrying over old “hacks” or quick fixes. Instead, rebuild your theme with clean, modern code for better performance.

SEO is often the most overlooked part of migration. If done wrong, you can lose years of organic growth.

1. Redirect Every Old URL

• Export all existing URLs.

• Set 301 redirects in Shopify (Settings → Navigation → Redirects).

• Avoid redirect chains (old → new directly).

Setting up accurate redirects is essential to protect organic traffic, and our SEO services ensure your search rankings remain intact during migration.

2. Preserve Metadata

• Copy page titles, meta descriptions, and alt text.

• Preserve H1s and structured data.

3. Update Sitemap & Submit to Google

• Generate new sitemap in Shopify.

• Submit in Google Search Console.

• Use the “Coverage” report to spot missing pages.

4. Monitor Rankings Post-Launch

• Watch traffic and conversions daily.

• Fix 404s as soon as they appear.

• Expect some fluctuations, but correct implementation keeps losses minimal.

Here are the tools most merchants rely on:

• Matrixify (Excelify) → Best for bulk data handling (products, customers, orders, redirects).

• Cart2Cart → Automated service that works across 80+ platforms (Magento, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, etc.).

• Rewind Backups → Ensures you can restore your store if migration goes wrong.

• Shopify CLI → Modern developer tool for theme migration and customisation.

Sometimes, the safest move is hiring a Shopify migration partner.

An agency can.

• Audit your current store.

• Handle complex product, order, and customer migrations.

• Rebuild or redesign your theme.

• Manage SEO redirects properly.

• Provide post-launch support and monitoring.

You should consider professional help if:

• You have thousands of SKUs.

• Your store has advanced customisations.

• You run multiple international storefronts.

• SEO traffic drives most of your sales.

• Skipping backups → Always back up before you start.

• Forgetting redirects → Broken URLs = instant SEO losses.

• Migrating during peak sales season → Avoid Black Friday or major launches.

• Assuming apps transfer automatically → Many apps require manual reinstallation.

• Not testing checkout → A broken checkout = lost revenue.

Migrating your Shopify store isn’t just about moving data; it’s about protecting your revenue, SEO, and customer trust.

• For small stores, you can often manage with Shopify CSVs and careful manual work.

• For medium to large stores, using migration apps like Matrixify (for data) and Rewind (for backups) makes the process safer.

• For high-revenue or complex stores, hiring a Shopify replatform service is often worth the investment.

When done right, migration is your chance to not only move your store but improve it for speed, SEO, and conversions.

Hiring experts guarantees a smooth migration while safeguarding data, traffic, and revenue. Get in touch with our team to start the process.

1. How long does a Shopify migration take?

The timeline depends on the size and complexity of your store:

• Small stores (under 200 products) → 1–3 days.

• Medium stores (200–2,000 products) → 1–2 weeks.

• Large stores (2,000+ products, customisations, multi-store setups) → 3–6 weeks.

Factors like custom themes, app data, and SEO redirects can add extra time.

2. Will I lose SEO when migrating my Shopify store?

Not if you do it properly. SEO losses usually happen when:

• Old URLs are not redirected.

• Page titles and meta descriptions are changed.

• Structured data (schema) is lost.

• Site speed slows down after migration.

To protect SEO: implement 301 redirects, preserve metadata, resubmit your sitemap, and monitor Google Search Console after launch.

3. What’s the best way to migrate products in Shopify?

• For small catalogs → Use Shopify’s built-in CSV import/export.

• For large catalogs → Use a tool like Matrixify to handle variants, metafields, SEO tags, and bulk data. Always test product imports on a staging store first to catch errors before going live.

4. Can I migrate my Shopify theme to a new store?

Yes, but not always directly:

• You can download your theme and upload it to the new store.

• If your theme is from the Shopify Theme Store, you can re-install it (as long as you use the same account).

• Customisations may need to be rebuilt, especially if upgrading to Online Store 2.0.

• Custom themes built with older frameworks may require developer updates for compatibility.

5. What tools help with Shopify migration?

The most commonly used Shopify migration tools are:

• Matrixify (Excelify) → Handles bulk imports/exports of products, orders, customers, and redirects.

• Cart2Cart → Automated migration between platforms (WooCommerce, Magento, BigCommerce → Shopify).

• Rewind Backups → Protects your store during migration.

• Shopify CLI → Developer tool for modern theme building.

6. When should I hire a Shopify migration service?

Hiring an expert makes sense if:

• You have thousands of products or orders.

• Your store relies heavily on SEO traffic.

• You run international or Shopify Plus setups.

• You can’t afford downtime or data loss.

A Shopify replatform service ensures data accuracy, SEO preservation, and smooth transition without lost sales.

7. Can I move just part of my store to Shopify?

Yes. Many merchants migrate only products, customers, or theme design while leaving behind old apps, scripts, or order history. This is common during rebrands or when simplifying a bloated store.