Want to back up your Shopify store database, import data to third-party apps, or migrate to a new platform? Lucky for you, it’s not difficult to export data out of your Shopify store – you can do it either manually or automatically using an app. And LitExtension – #1 eCommerce Migration Tool is here to guide you through every step of performing Shopify data export.
Here’s a quick glance at what we’ll cover in this guide:
- An overview of Shopify data export
- How to do Shopify data export manually?
- How to export Shopify data automatically?
Let’s dive right in!
Shopify Data Export Overview: What You Need To Know About
Before we show you a detailed guide on how to perform Shopify data export, let’s spend a few minutes to better understand:
- What kinds of data types you can export
- How many methods to export your data
- Whether you can import all the exported files into another Shopify store
💡 Interested in launching a profitable eCommerce store with Shopify? Check out our honest Shopify review to better understand Shopify’s features, pricing, pros & cons!
What kind of data can you export out of your Shopify store?
Shopify data export is Shopify’s built-in functionality that allows you to download various types of data from your store as CSV files, which you can open in Excel, Google Sheets, or other spreadsheet programs. These include:
|
Data type |
What’s included |
|
Products |
Product titles, descriptions, prices, variants, image URLs, and inventory levels |
|
Customers |
Contact details, addresses, marketing consent, total orders and spending, and tags |
|
Orders |
Order history with customer, payment, and fulfillment details (or transaction histories only) |
|
Inventory |
Stock quantities of each product variant at each location |
|
Discount codes |
Codes with their value, status, and usage counts |
|
Gift cards |
Gift card list with balances, customer, and status (only the last 4 characters of each code are included for security) |
|
Reports and financial data |
Sales, finance, and other reports for bookkeeping and analysis, exportable as CSV, XML, JSONL, or Parquet files |
|
Admin and POS users |
Staff accounts and their details |
|
Blog posts and pages |
Not supported natively, but you can export them with a Shopify exporter app |
|
Data from third-party apps |
Depends on what each app supports |
Why do you need to export Shopify data?
Shopify exporting functionality will come in handy when you want to sync your Shopify data to another tool, migrate to a new platform, or simply do a store back-up periodically.
- Back up Shopify database: Regularly exporting data helps you create backups, preventing loss from unintended deletions or store issues.
- Import to your third-party apps or tools: To run more effective email campaigns, better-targeted ads, or integrate with accounting software, you might want to export your Shopify data and push them to your desired tools.
- Migrate to a new platform: If you’re moving your store to another platform, you might want to export your Shopify product database and other crucial data under CSV files – which you can use to import to your new eCommerce platform.
How many methods are available to export Shopify data?
If your purpose of exporting data is to migrate to another Shopify store, read carefully our notes below first:
⚠️ Important notes
Shopify allows you to export several data types under CSV files. However, unlike exporting features, you should be well-noted that Shopify’s importing functionality only allows you to transfer some certain types of information.
Below is a list of data types you cannot import into your new Shopify store with Shopify’s built-in tools:
- You cannot import visitor traffic data to another Shopify store.
- Orders can’t be imported through the Shopify admin. Instead, you’ll need to use the Shopify API or a migration app, or hire an expert to move your orders for you.
- Discount codes can be exported, but you can’t import them with a CSV file.
- Issued gift cards can’t be imported with a CSV file (the export only shows the last 4 characters of each code), but they can be recreated through the Shopify API or a migration app.
- Your saved custom reports cannot be transferred to a new store.
If you are exporting data to move it into another Shopify store, our Shopify-to-Shopify migration service can transfer products, collections, customers, orders, coupons, pages, and blog posts without requiring you to prepare each CSV file manually.
If you only want to back up your store for safety reasons or to import your CSV files into other third-party tools, you can do it manually or via a Shopify exporter app.
Method #1: Manual method
The manual exporting process in Shopify is straightforward – it is built into Shopify and does not require additional tools or applications. As outlined in this Shopify tutorial, all you have to do is log in to your Shopify store, navigate to the data type you want to export, and choose to export your data (we’ll discuss it in greater length later).
|
Pros |
Cons |
|
– No extra cost since it’s built into Shopify – Quick to do and doesn’t rely on third-party services – Ideal for occasional exports |
– Limited customization and filtering options – Time-consuming if you need to export data frequently – Prone to human error |
Method #2: Using an app
If you are looking for more advanced features like automated exports and detailed customization options, performing Shopify data export automatically using a Shopify exporter app would better suit you.
|
Pros |
Cons |
|
– Scheduled, automated exports – Advanced filtering and customization options – Integrations with external systems and analytics tools – Some apps export directly to Google Sheets or via FTP |
– Subscription or purchase cost – A learning curve to set up and configure – Depends on the stability and access of a third-party service |
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How To Export Shopify Store Database Manually?
Currently, the native Shopify data export feature allows you to manage tasks like a Shopify export products action and export these data types under CSV files:
- Products
- Customers
- Orders
- Inventory
- Discounts
- Gift cards
- Reports (including financial data)
Because the process of exporting Shopify data is similar across these data types (open the data’s page in your Shopify admin and click Export), we will show you how to export the most important one, Shopify products. If you want to export other information within your Shopify admin dashboard, just follow the same steps, and you’ll be doing perfectly fine!
Here’s how easy-peasy it is to do Shopify data export:
Step 1: Choose the data you want to export
On your Shopify admin dashboard, click the Products tab > Click the Export button.
Step 2: Configure your export settings
In the Export section, tick the All products option. In the Export as section, tick the CSV file for Excel, Numbers, or another spreadsheet program option. Then, hit the Export products button.
💡Pro tip:
If you want to export some specific products out of your Shopify product database instead of your entire catalog, you should leverage Shopify’s search and filter features.
For instance, if you want to export only products from a specific brand, click Add filter > Vendors and select that vendor.
Afterward, follow the same steps above. But instead of ticking All products, choose Products that match your search and filters.
If nothing goes wrong, a notification pop-up should appear as shown:
Step 3: Download your CSV file
If you export all products or products that match your filters, Shopify emails the CSV file to you (and to the store owner if you’re a staff member). Smaller exports, such as the current page of products, download directly to your device.
So, check your mailbox and click on the CSV file to download it.
And that’s how simple it is to perform Shopify data export manually before preparing your files for a Shopify CSV import on another platform or store.
How To Perform Shopify Data Export Using A Shopify Exporter App?
If you need custom reports or data that Shopify doesn’t export natively (such as metafields, line item properties, or payout details), let’s learn next how to do Shopify data export using a Shopify exporter app.
And the app we’ll use for this guide is Data Export IO: Reports, as this tool excellently passes our app testing team’s quality standards. Data Export IO currently holds a 5.0/5 rating from over 2,000 reviews. It offers a 15-day free trial, and paid plans range from $12 to $50 per month depending on your Shopify plan.
Step 1: Install the Data Export IO app to your Shopify store
First, install Data Export IO to your Shopify store by clicking Install on the app’s listing page.
Click Install app to confirm your installation.
You will then be asked a few prompts. Answer them all so the app developer can better understand your demands or simply Skip if you want.
Step 2: Choose the data or report you want to export
Afterward, you’ll be directed to Data Export IO’s admin dashboard as shown:
Click Builder on the top control panel. On the left, you’ll see tons of pre-made reports – including custom setups like a Shopify export collections report – that you can export with Data Export IO.
For instance, we choose to export all products.
Step 3: Apply filter to refine your data
After you have selected the report you want, click Export button to export the data you want right away.
However, we suggest using Data Export IO’s filter to fine-tune the information you’ll export.
Click Filter and define your logic. For instance, we use the filter to exclude the gift card items from our exported file.
Next, click Apply to activate the filter.
Step 4: Export the data you want
After you have activated the exporting filter, click Export on the top right corner, and you’re all set. Besides CSV, Data Export IO lets you export your data to Excel, Google Sheets, JSON, or TXT files, and you can schedule reports to be sent automatically via email, FTP/SFTP, or Google Drive.
Shopify Data Export – FAQs
Can I export data from Shopify?
Yes, you can export data from Shopify. Shopify lets you export different types of store data, including products, customers, orders, inventory, reports, discounts, and user management information. Most commerce data is exported as a CSV file, while reports may also support formats like XML, JSONL, and Parquet.
What CSV format does Shopify use?
Shopify uses CSV files, which means comma-separated values. Each row represents a record, and each comma separates one field from another. Shopify CSV files must use UTF-8 encoding, especially if your store data includes special characters, accents, symbols, or non-English text. For product exports, Shopify offers two CSV options: one for Excel, Numbers, or other spreadsheet tools, and one plain CSV file for text editors.
Where do my Shopify exports go?
It depends on the export type and file size. Smaller exports usually download directly to your device through the browser. Larger exports are normally sent to your email, and in case you are not the store owner, it’s also sent to the store owner’s email. For reports, exported files are saved in the default downloads folder on your device.
What is a Shopify CSV file for?
A Shopify CSV file is used to import, export, back up, update, or transfer store data in bulk. You can use it to move products to another store, edit product details in a spreadsheet, import customer lists, export order records, manage inventory, or analyze store data outside Shopify. However, some data types have restrictions; for example, Shopify supports order CSV export, but not native order CSV import.
Conclusion
Whether you want to migrate to a new eCommerce platform, execute a Shopify import inventory update, or integrate your existing Shopify data with another third-party tool, exporting your data under CSV files is the prerequisite step. Thus, we hope after reading this article, you can perform proper Shopify data export!
And if you want to migrate your store to a new platform, trust LitExtension to handle it all for you. Backed by 15+ years of expertise, we have completed 300,000+ migrations for more than 200,000 customers.
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