Use this Shopify launch checklist to run 30 checks before you remove the storefront password: settings, products, policies, taxes, shipping, a test order, domain, email, SEO, a backup and the first week.
This Shopify launch checklist lists 30 things to check before you take the password off your store, grouped by area so you can work through them in a few sittings. Most take minutes. The ones that matter most are the test order, the policies, the taxes and the sender email, because customers meet them on day one. Menu names are as of October 2026, and Shopify changes its admin often, so if a label differs, follow the linked help page.
In short
Shopify's guide to preparing for launch sets three prerequisites: select a plan, add a store address in Settings > General, and set up a payment method with test mode off. Then it asks for test orders, an optional preview and the launch. The checks below add what prevents early embarrassment, such as a wrong currency or emails that land in spam. Numbers run from 1 to 30 across the tables.
| # | Check | Done when |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Store name and legal business name | Set in Settings > General. The myshopify.com address does not change if you rename the store |
| 2 | Business address and store email | The address is under Business details, which launch requires. The store email is where Shopify contacts you |
| 3 | Currency | Chosen in Store defaults before the first order. Shopify asks you to confirm a risk box if you change it after one |
| 4 | Time zone, units, order IDs | Time zone, unit system and default weight unit are set. Order numbers start at 1001, and only the prefix and suffix can change |
| 5 | Plan and billing | A plan is chosen and billing details are added. Shopify requires a plan before you can launch |
| # | Check | Done when |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Titles and descriptions | Every product has a clear title and a description written for buyers, in Arabic too if you sell in Arabic |
| 7 | Images | One aspect ratio per collection, with alt text. Shopify says square 2048 x 2048 px usually displays best, under 20 MB |
| 8 | Variants, SKUs and prices | Options such as size and colour are correct, and each variant has its price and SKU |
| 9 | Inventory | Tracking is on and quantities are set. Decide on Continue selling when out of stock on purpose |
| 10 | Collections and status | Products sit in collections, and anything not ready is Draft rather than Active |
| # | Check | Done when |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Menus and links | In Content > Menus, links open real pages. Select pages from the list, because pasted URLs can cause 404 errors |
| 12 | Mobile layout, apps and speed | Online Store > Preview store on a real phone: menu, search, gallery, add to cart. Remove apps you do not need (best Shopify apps). Outside tools see the password page until launch, so measure speed in week one (guide) |
| 13 | Accessibility basics | You can Tab through the menu and a product page with a visible focus, text contrast is readable and images have alt text |
| 14 | Favicon and logo | Added in Theme settings (Online Store > Edit theme) at 16x16 or 32x32 px. The editor preview does not show it, so recheck after launch |
| # | Check | Done when |
|---|---|---|
| 15 | Policies | Refund, privacy, terms and shipping policies are written under Settings > Policies and linked in the footer. Shopify's help page says its templates are not legal advice and do not ensure compliance |
| 16 | Privacy and cookies | Settings > Customer privacy is reviewed. Shopify says notice duties depend on where you trade and where customers live, and its automated settings are not legal advice |
Saudi readers: store details, policies, VAT and invoices have rules of their own. Start with how to start an online store in Saudi Arabia and VAT and invoices for online stores in Saudi Arabia, then confirm with ZATCA, the Ministry of Commerce and a lawyer. Elsewhere, use your own authority.
| # | Check | Done when |
|---|---|---|
| 17 | Taxes | Settings > Taxes and duties is set for where you must collect, and you have chosen whether prices include tax. Tax is your responsibility, and Shopify files nothing unless you use Shopify Tax with automated filing |
| 18 | Shipping rates and delivery | Settings > Shipping and delivery has your locations, rates, local delivery or pickup and honest delivery times. Gulf stores: shipping and cash on delivery |
| # | Check | Done when |
|---|---|---|
| 19 | Payment methods | A provider is active in Settings > Payments. Shopify Payments is listed for the UAE but not Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain or Oman (guide). Cash on delivery is manual: orders stay Pending until you mark them paid |
| 20 | Test orders | A successful order, a failed payment, a fulfilment with tracking, a full and a partial refund, and a cancellation all work |
| 21 | Test mode off, tidy-up | Test mode is off, the Test payment gateway is deactivated and test orders are deleted or archived |
How to run check 20, as Shopify documents it:
For check 21, Shopify says you should not enable Shopify Payments test mode on a live store. Orders paid with the Test payment gateway or Shopify Payments test mode can be deleted, and orders from other gateways count as real, so archive them. See processing a test order.
| # | Check | Done when |
|---|---|---|
| 22 | Domain | Connected under Domains, with the right primary domain. Shopify says a TLS certificate is free and can take up to 48 hours on a third-party domain |
| 23 | Sender email | In Settings > Notifications, the sender is on your domain and authenticated. Shopify says unauthenticated senders are rewritten to a shopifyemail.com address, and Gmail and Yahoo require authentication and DMARC |
| # | Check | Done when |
|---|---|---|
| 24 | Notification templates | Under Customer notifications, logo and colour are set, and Preview and Send test email read well, in each language you activated |
| 25 | Shipping email and status link | A fulfilled test order with tracking sends the shipping email with its order status link. Shopify says customised templates need {{ order_status_url }} added, or a revert to default |
| # | Check | Done when |
|---|---|---|
| 26 | Analytics and Search Console | Google Analytics 4 is connected through the Google & YouTube channel, which Shopify recommends. Search Console verification waits until the store is public |
| 27 | SEO basics | Home page title and description are set in Online Store > Preferences, and key products have a Page title, Meta description and URL handle (Shopify SEO guide). If you migrate, add 301 redirects first (migration guide) |
| 28 | Arabic and right-to-left, if you sell in Arabic | Shopify says its latest Horizon themes support right-to-left languages and you must confirm it for any other theme. Test home, product, cart and checkout on a phone (Arabic store guide, RTL checklist) |
| # | Check | Done when |
|---|---|---|
| 29 | Export and duplicate | Products > Export (images are not included), Customers > Export and Orders > Export are saved, and the live theme is duplicated from Online Store > Themes |
| 30 | Remove the storefront password | Preview the store, then click Launch store, or turn off Private mode under Online Store > Preferences > Store access and save |
Shopify's launch guide for Plus merchants says it does not back up your store data by default, which is why check 29 exists.
Launch Check
Shopify's Launch Check app (Apps > Launch Check) scans your setup and marks tasks Ready, Not ready, Confirm set up or Check manually. It uses AI, so review every result.
These are not part of the 30. Do them once the store is public.
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| Day 1 | In Search Console, add a URL-prefix property, verify it and submit sitemap.xml under Sitemaps. Shopify says private mode must be off for this |
| Day 1 | Place one real order on a phone and refund it, after reading your provider's terms. Check the email, favicon and footer links |
| Days 1 to 2 | Run PageSpeed Insights on the home page, a collection and a product, and save the numbers |
| Days 2 to 7 | Follow each real order to delivery, check that emails reach inboxes, remove unused apps, and read your reports |
Yes. Shopify's launch prerequisites say test mode must be off, and customers cannot place live orders while a provider is in test mode.
Shopify says private mode must be off while you verify a URL-prefix property, and Google cannot crawl a private store. Launch first, then verify.
Yes. On the Online Store page, click Public, choose Private, optionally set a new password and click Update.
No. Policies, taxes and consumer rules differ by country. Confirm them with the authority, a lawyer or an accountant.
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