Whether you're just getting started with your brand's development or are planning a major overhaul, you may find yourself wanting to switch things up visually at some point. To get the most out of your website design, we will guide you through a tutorial on How to change themes on Shopify effectively.
In today’s tutorial, we will focus on the following key points:
- The preparation steps
- How to change themes on Shopify with ease
- Most-asked questions about how to change theme on Shopify
Not gonna let you wait any longer, let’s jump right into it!
How to change themes on Shopify in 6 steps:
- Back up your data
- Choose a suitable theme
- Open the Theme Library
- Preview your new template
- Publish the design
- Test the live version
What to Prepare for the Shopify Changing Themes?
When we started running our first online business on Shopify last year, our team clearly had difficulty picking the right website design. Hence, it is inevitable that we would have to change theme on Shopify multiple times (even after the website has been published).
Before guiding you on how to change themes on Shopify, there are a few things we need to do to minimize possible issues.
Back up your data
Most of you have gone through a phase where you build the Shopify website from scratch. Then you must know how exhausting and time-consuming it could be to start over again. This means that none of us would dare to lose any data appearing on the current website.
Shopify has already auto-saved most of your design and content along the way. This means that no content is lost or altered when you switch Shopify themes. However, any customizations to the source code (CSS, HTML, or Liquid Code) or the store’s URL structure might disappear. For this reason, we suggest you to back up data ourselves to avoid data loss possibilities after Shopify change theme.
From our experience, your file should include the Products, Customers, Orders, and Theme files. These are the crucial elements that every store needs to operate their businesses smoothly.
Fortunately, Shopify has added a direct “Export” button to your main web pages. For instance, you can easily download the Shopify CSV file by clicking “Export” at the top of your Products page. In addition, you can also easily import Shopify products following our tutorial here.
This applies the same for the Customers page, too:
Another noticeable thing is to save your existing theme file. This way, you can still recover the old theme if the new style does not satisfy you enough. Firstly, open the Sales Channels > Online Store > Themes in Shopify page:
Scroll to the “Current Theme” section and choose “Download theme file” from the “Actions” dropdown as what we are doing below:
Now, the theme file has been downloaded to your device for future use.
Apart Shopify, we also have multiple tutorials on data back up and products import/export on other eCommerce platforms such as:
Choose a new Shopify theme for your store
Of course, if you are looking for steps on how to change themes on Shopify, you will need a new theme to replace the current one. Don’t worry because there are 100+ themes available in the Shopify theme store for you to choose from (free and paid).
Shopify premium themes will cost around $180 – 360. We love that most of them come with multiple customization tools, SEO optimization, and high-converting features to grasp your customers’ attention from the first visit.
To save you time and effort, we have already done the research and tested out many Shopify themes in the following articles:
- 25+ Best Shopify Themes – Have You Got One?
- Best Shopify Themes For Clothing You Shouldn’t Miss
- 15+ Best Shopify Themes for Conversion: The Ultimate Picks
- Top 20 Best Shopify Themes For Dropshipping
How To Change Themes on Shopify in 4 Simple Steps
Here we go, the part that you are most waiting for! We’ll show you how to change themes on Shopify in just 4 simple steps. If everything goes right, it will only cost you a few minutes.
#Step 1: Get access to your Shopify theme library
Navigate to Online Store > Themes and scroll to the “Theme Library” section. All of your old, current, and new Shopify templates will be stored here. Shopify allows you to add up to 20 themes in this library:
#Step 2: Preview your chosen Shopify website template
You can easily notice your new Shopify website theme at the top of this “Theme Library” section. Select the “Preview” options from the “Actions” drop-down menu to check your newly customized template before publishing:
We recommend going through the site beforehand to ensure nothing goes wrong after changing your Shopify website themes. Once you have finished checking, exit the preview version by clicking on the “Close Preview” button at the bottom right corner of the screen:
#Step 3: Publish your Shopify theme
Now, it’s time to give your website a brand-new look! Hit “Publish”:
After that, a notification window will pop up on your device to confirm that you are attempting to change the current theme. Continue choosing “Publish” to allow visitors to see and use the new theme.
#Step 4: Test your live theme
For the final step on how to change themes on Shopify, you should test your live theme to ensure that your customers receive the best shopping experience. Doing this can fix possible issues on time (if needed).
Want to migrate to Shopify?
If you are intending to migrate to Shopify, LitExtension offers a great migration service that helps you transfer your data from the current eCommerce platform to a new one accurately, painlessly with utmost security.
How To Change Themes on Shopify – FAQs
Where do I change my Shopify theme?
You can easily change theme Shopify by opening the Shopify panel and going to Online Store > Themes page. From here, you may check out each accessible theme and choose the one you like most.
Can I update my Shopify theme without losing content?
Of course, there will be no data loss if you change your Shopify theme from products, collections, pages to blog entries, etc. Nevertheless, a backup of your shop should be made before any significant modifications are made.
How hard is it to switch themes on Shopify?
The difficulty of changing themes for Shopify depends on your familiarity with the platform and the intricacy of your store's design. More specifically, switching themes might be more difficult and may need the aid of a Shopify specialist if you are using a complicated theme or have made major adjustments to your present theme.
How To Change Themes on Shopify – Recap
We must say that the steps on how to change Shopify theme were not as difficult as you might think. By altering the theme settings Shopify, you will be able to impress visitors and increase your conversion rate in no time. As we have taken you through the tutorial, here’s a quick recap in case you need it:
How to change themes on Shopify in 6 steps:
- Back up your data
- Choose a suitable theme
- Open the Theme Library
- Preview your new template
- Publish the design
- Test the live version
Besides how to edit the Shopify website, we also have more Shopify tutorials to get you started, such as:
- How to Sell on Shopify: Actionable Guides to Get Sales
- A Guide to Change Shopify Domain Name and Store Name
- How to Connect Shopify to Instagram: A Detailed Guide
Final Thoughts
If you go into the process with a clear idea of what you and your customers want, switching to a new Shopify theme has never been easier. Hopefully, our article today on how to change themes on Shopify has helped you to update your brand aesthetic and functionality. As a result, you can boost your conversions and gain higher profits.
If you have any related questions, LitExtension – #1 The World Shopping Cart Migration Expert is always here to help. For more information related to eCommerce platforms or Shopify in particular, feel free to check out our LitExtension Blog or join Facebook Community group.