AutomationBackup Shopify theme
Last updated: October 07 2024
Backing up your Shopify theme is essential to protect your customizations and design changes. Whether you’re preparing for major updates or just want a safeguard, having a backup allows you to easily restore your theme if needed.
In this guide, we’ll explore two simple methods to back up Shopify themes: downloading the theme file and creating a duplicate within Shopify.
Let’s get started!
2 Ways To Backup Shopify Themes
Here are two effective methods to back up your Shopify themes:
Download the Shopify Theme File
You can manually download your theme files to save a copy on your computer. This is a simple way to back up your theme, especially if you’re making significant changes.
- Step 1. From your Shopify admin, go to Online Store > Themes.
- Step 2. In the “Current theme” section, click … Icon.
- Step 3. Select Download theme file.
- Step 4. Shopify will email a download link for your theme, which you can use to download the theme as a zip file.
Benefits:
- Safe and easy way to store your theme externally.
- Provides a full copy of your theme, including all customizations.
Duplicate Themes
Shopify allows you to create a duplicate of your theme directly in your store. This creates an internal backup that can be useful if you’re about to make changes and want a rollback option.
Steps:
- Step 1. From your Shopify admin, go to Online Store > Themes.
- Step 2. In the “Current theme” section, click … Icon,
- Step 3. Select Duplicate.
- Step 4. A copy of your theme will appear in the theme library with the label Copy of [Theme Name].
However, please note that you can have only 20 themes in your theme library. If your store has reach that number, consider deleting another unused theme to make room for the copy.
Benefits:
- Quick and easy way to create a backup without leaving Shopify.
- Enables you to work on the duplicate theme without affecting your live store.
Bottom Line
Backing up your Shopify themes is a simple yet essential practice for protecting your store’s design and ensuring you can easily revert to a previous version if needed. By following these steps and creating regular backups, you can customize and experiment with confidence, knowing that your store’s design is safe and secure.
FAQs
Which method is better: manual download or duplication?
Both methods are effective for creating backups. Manual download is ideal for long-term storage or transferring themes between stores, while duplication is quicker for creating a working copy for experimentation.
Can Shopify automatically back up my theme?
No, Shopify doesn’t offer an automatic backup feature for themes. To ensure you have copies of your custom theme, you must either manually download the theme files or use a third-party backup app like Rewind or ThemeWatch to automate this process.
What happens if I make changes to my theme and want to revert back?
If you’ve made changes to your theme and want to revert back to a previous version, you have two options:
- If you have a duplicate theme: You can quickly restore your previous settings by publishing the duplicate version of your theme. This will replace the current live theme with the older version.
- If you downloaded your theme file: You can upload the downloaded zip file back to Shopify and republish it.
Without a duplicate or downloaded version, reverting changes is difficult. You’d have to manually undo any changes made or, in some cases, contact Shopify’s support for assistance.
How often should I back up my Shopify theme?
How frequently you back up your theme depends on how often you make changes. It’s a good practice to:
- Back up before making major design changes: Whenever you’re about to make significant customizations, create a backup by duplicating the theme or downloading the theme file.
- Regular intervals: If your store’s theme is updated often (such as during seasonal changes or marketing campaigns), consider scheduling backups weekly or monthly.
- Before theme updates: Always back up before applying a new theme version or update to prevent losing any custom work.
Are theme customizations included in the backup?
Yes, both methods (downloading the theme file and duplicating the theme) will include all of your customizations:
- Downloading theme files: This will save the entire theme’s structure, including any custom HTML, CSS, Liquid code, and settings you’ve changed. The downloaded theme file is a zip file containing all of the theme’s assets and custom code.
- Duplicating the theme: This method creates an exact copy of the current state of your theme, including all customizations, app integrations, settings, and code modifications. You can later work on the duplicate version without affecting the live theme.
However, keep in mind that theme backups don’t include other store data, such as products, orders, or customer information. To back up your entire store, you would need a broader solution, such as a third-party app.
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