After choosing Shopify as the powerful eCommerce platform to help you kick off an online business, you should definitely start uploading items to Shopify to launch the store as soon as possible. Desiring to contribute to your effective store management, we will walk you through 8 steps on how to add products to Shopify.
- Step 1: Login to your Shopify account;
- Step 2: Write the product details;
- Step 3: Add media for each product;
- Step 4: Add product to collections and assign tags;
- Step 5: Adjust other settings;
- Step 6: Add product variants;
- Step 7: Optimize for search engines;
- Step 8: Publish products.
Let’s get cracking!
How to Add Products to Shopify Manually: 8 Steps
Step 1: Login to your Shopify account
If you don't have a Shopify store yet, visit the Shopify homepage and sign up for a free trial. Or, if you already have a Shopify account, log in to your admin dashboard to add new products to your store.
Since I’m showing how to add products manually in this Shopify tutorial, we will go to Products > Add product button.
Step 2: Write the product details
Once the product page is open, the first field you will see is Title. Here, enter a clear name that helps customers immediately understand what the product is. Details such as the brand, model, color, size, or quantity can also be included where relevant.
Below the title is the Description field. This is where you can provide the information customers may need before deciding to buy, such as:
- Main features and benefits
- Materials or ingredients
- Size and dimensions
- Care or usage instructions
- Other product-specific details
To make the description easier to read, you can divide it into short paragraphs, headings, or bullet points. Shopify’s rich text editor also lets you format the text and add links, images, or videos when needed.
Tip: Using keywords, you can use Shopify Magic to generate product descriptions with different tones and emotions.
Step 3: Add media for each product
The Media section comes next. Here, you can upload product images, videos, or 3D models by selecting (+) or dragging the files directly into the upload area.
For a clearer view of the product, include several high-quality images taken from different angles. The first image will be used as the main product image, but you can drag and drop the uploaded files to change their order.
Tip: Also, optimize your product images on Shopify to enhance your site's features. Descriptive file names and optimized image sizes can also support SEO without slowing down the product page.
Below this section, you will find the Product category field. You can browse the available categories or use the Search categories bar to find the closest match for your product. Once selected, Shopify may suggest relevant attributes that help organize the product and make it easier to discover through search and filters.
If the category you need is not yet available in your store, you can follow our guide on how to add a category in Shopify for detailed instructions.
Step 4: Add product to collections and assign tags
The Shopify collections field helps you group the product with similar items, making it easier for customers to browse your store. Click the field, then search for and select one or more relevant collections.
If you cannot find a suitable option, you can create a new Shopify collection for the product. Shopify supports two collection types:
- Manual collection: You choose which products to include individually.
- Automated collection: Shopify automatically includes products that match conditions based on tags, price, product type, vendor, or other attributes.
A single product can appear in multiple collections. For example, a linen shirt could belong to both “Men’s Clothing” and “Summer Essentials.”
Note: If you don't choose a collection picture, the image of your collection's first product will be automatically used in some Shopify templates.
Next, move to the Tags field. Here, you can select an existing tag or enter a new one and click Add. Tags are searchable keywords used to organize products, support store searches, and set conditions for automated collections.
Step 5: Adjust other Shopify products settings
The tutorial on “How to add products to Shopify?” is not that challenging if it stops at the above four steps, though you might later explore advanced customizations like how to add custom text field on Shopify product page. There are several additional settings that you should pay attention to.
(1) Pricing
Remember to set reasonable prices based on your brand positioning. When setting prices, let's also think about Discounts. Shopify allows users to set the time when customers can apply the discount code. For example, when customers buy a specific number of products, the discount code will automatically be applied.
(2) Inventory
The Inventory setting for Shopify products refers to how you manage and track the stock levels of your items. That's why I want to warn you to always have “Track Quantity” turned on to monitor stock levels accurately.
(3) Shipping
Suppose I mark the products as physical products; I will fill in the weight for that. I can also fill in custom information like Country/Region of origin or Harmonized System (HS) code for international shipping.
Step 6: Add product variants
If your product is available in different versions, the Variants section lets you add options such as size, color, material, or style. Click + Add options like size or color, then enter the Option name and its corresponding values.
For example:
- Option name: Size
- Option values: Small, Medium, Large
You can select + Add another option if the product has more than one option. The current Shopify variant limit allows you to have up to 3 options for each variant and 2,048 variants per product.
Once the variants are generated, you can set a different price, inventory quantity, SKU, barcode, and image for each one where needed.
For a more detailed walkthrough, see our guide on how to add variants on Shopify. Then, click Done to finish adding the options and continue with the remaining product information.
Step 7: Optimize for search engines
SEO will partly contribute to the number of customers navigating your store site. Sadly, some store owners researching how to add products to Shopify stores may overlook the importance of SEO.
When you're updating the product settings, don't forget about the search engine listing section. It might seem small, but I really think it's worth paying attention to.
The search engine listing in Shopify allows you to customize how your product pages appear in search engine results (like Google). This includes the page title, meta description, and URL handle.
The key benefits of optimizing the search engine listing preview are:
- Improve visibility and click-through rates from search engines.
- Provide a clear and compelling first impression to potential customers.
Tip: There are simple but important Shopify SEO tips you should consider following when you upload products:
- Use Ahrefs or other SEO tools to determine what your target customers are searching for. Then, make a list of high-volume keywords.
- Use relevant keywords to help your products rank higher in search results.
- Find suitable Shopify SEO plugins to have the best SEO performance.
Step 8: Publish products and preview
You have reached the final step of how to add products to Shopify!
The Preview option helps you see a preview of your product so you can make updates if there are any issues. You can edit the products by returning to the first step.
Remember to quickly review all the information of new items added before clicking the Save Product button to enable Shopify product visibility.
How to Import Products from Other Websites to Shopify
If you already know how to add products to Shopify manually, the next step is learning how to import an existing catalog in bulk. Instead of recreating each product individually, you can transfer your product data from another website using these 2 methods.
1. Import Shopify products with LitExtension
LitExtension allows you to migrate products directly from another eCommerce platform to Shopify without manually exporting, formatting, and uploading product files. The process involves 3 main steps:
Step 1: Set up your source store
From your Shopify admin, install the LitExtension Store Migration app and start a new migration.
First, select your current eCommerce platform as the Source Cart and provide the requested store details. Depending on the platform, you may need to enter your store URL, upload the LitExtension Connector, or provide API credentials.
Your Shopify store will already be connected as the Target Cart through the app. Click Next: Configure your Migration to continue.
Step 2: Select products and configure the migration
On the migration configuration page, select Products as the data type to migrate since you are performing steps on how to add products to Shopify. If you want to migrate other data types, such as Orders, Customers, Pages, you can select them as well.
You can also choose Additional Options based on your store requirements and map the language between two platforms.
Step 3: Run and review the migration
After reviewing the settings, click Next: Start Free Demo Migration. If you'd like to test the process first, you can run a free demo migration with up to 100 entities. Otherwise, simply select Skip Demo Migration and proceed directly to the Full Migration.
LitExtension will run the transfer in the background, so you do not need to keep your browser open throughout the process. When the migration is complete, you'll receive an email notification. You can reopen the app and check the result.
For custom requirements or complex data, our All-in-One Migration Service offers another way to learn how to add products to Shopify, with a LitExtension expert managing the entire process from start to finish.
Let Our Experts Handle Your Shopify Migration!
With the All-in-One Migration Service, our experts take care of everything, ensuring a seamless and stress-free migration.
2. Import Shopify products with CSV files
We must say that LitExtension is generally the more convenient option when moving a large or complex catalog from another eCommerce platform. However, if you already have your product data in a properly formatted spreadsheet, Shopify CSV product import is another option.
Before importing, download Shopify’s sample product CSV file and use it as a template. Your existing product data must be mapped to the correct Shopify columns. Once the file is ready, follow these steps on how to add products to Shopify with CSV:
- From your Shopify admin, go to Products.
- Click Import in the upper-right corner.
- Upload your completed CSV file.
- Review the import settings and product preview.
- Click Import products to begin the process.
When the import finishes, open several products to check their information, images, variants, prices, and inventory. Any missing or incorrectly formatted data may need to be corrected in the CSV file and imported again.
For a closer look at each step, watch our video tutorial on how to import products to Shopify using a CSV file.
Bonus: Further Actions to Manage Shopify Products
Once you have learned how to add products to Shopify, the platform provides several options to help you manage them. Below are quick guides to the most common actions.
1. Archive products on Shopify
Archiving removes a product from sale without permanently deleting its information.
- From your Shopify admin, go to Products.
- Open the product you want to archive.
- Click More actions > Archive product.
- Select Archive product again to confirm.
The product will move to the Archived tab and can be restored later.
2. Delete products on Shopify
If you no longer need a product:
- Go to Products and open the product.
- Click More actions > Delete product.
- Select Delete product again to confirm.
Deleted products cannot be restored. If you may sell the product again, consider archiving it instead.
3. Duplicate a product
Duplicating is useful when creating a new product with similar information.
- From Products, open the product you want to copy.
- Click Duplicate.
- Enter a title for the new product and select the product details you want to copy.
- Choose its status: Draft, Active, or Unlisted.
- Click Duplicate product and update any necessary details.
Note: Videos and 3D models are not copied to the duplicated product.
4. Set product availability
You can control which sales channels display an active product.
- Open the product from your Shopify admin.
- Find the Publishing section and click the adjustment icon.
- Select or deselect the relevant sales channels.
- Click Done, then save the product.
To make the product accessible only through its direct URL, change its status to Unlisted.
5. Add a barcode
The process depends on whether the product has variants.
- For a product without variants, enter the code in the Barcode (ISBN, UPC, etc.) field.
- For a product with variants, open each variant and enter its corresponding barcode.
- To scan a barcode using the Shopify mobile app, tap the barcode icon and position the code within the camera frame.
How to Add Products to Shopify: FAQs
Why are my products not showing up on Shopify?
A product may not appear on your storefront if its status is set to Draft, Archived, or Unlisted, or if it has not been published to the Online Store sales channel.
Open the product in Shopify admin and check its Status and Publishing settings. You should also review its inventory and collection conditions, especially if your store automatically hides out-of-stock products.
How many products can I add to Shopify?
Shopify does not restrict the number of products you can add, regardless of your plan. However, stores with at least 500,000 variants can upload no more than 10,000 new variants per day through apps or CSV imports.
This daily limit does not apply to Shopify Plus stores.
How do I optimize Shopify product pages for SEO?
A well-optimized Shopify product page should include a descriptive product title, original content that addresses customer needs, and naturally placed keywords. High-quality images with descriptive alt text can also help search engines understand the product.
How do I add product variants on Shopify?
From your Shopify admin, open the product and find the Variants section. Click + Add options like size or color, enter an option name and its values, and add further options if needed. Shopify will generate the possible variant combinations, which you can then edit with separate prices, SKUs, inventory quantities, barcodes, and images.
How do I add multiple products to Shopify at once?
To learn how to add products to Shopify in bulk, you can import a compatible CSV file. From Products, click Import, upload the file, review the import details, and select Import products. Each CSV file must be no larger than 15 MB, so larger catalogs may need to be divided into several files.
Final Words
Congratulations! You’ve just walked through a detailed guide on how to add products to Shopify. How do you add products to Shopify? If you have a source cart available, you can also go through our detailed guide on how to perform the Shopify import products process. This is a simple stage. However, it is quite time-consuming.
Besides how to add products to Shopify, you probably have other questions and find advice from experts. Don't hesitate to check our other Shopify tutorials or contact LitExtension for further support regarding Shopify migration.
