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How to Find or Complete an Existing Draft Order

Sam|
November 18, 2024|
5 min read

As a Shopify merchant, have you ever started crafting an order for a customer, only to get sidetracked and forget to finish it? Those lingering draft orders can clutter your Shopify dashboard and create confusion.

If you are in this mess, let us assist you with instructions on how to effortlessly locate and complete existing draft orders on Shopify, ensuring a seamless sales process and happy customers. Continue your reading to discover the simple steps and reclaim control of your pending orders!

How to Find or Complete an Existing Draft Order on Shopify

In my early days of running a Shopify store, I often created draft orders for custom requests or wholesale deals. I’d sometimes get sidetracked, leaving a trail of unfinished orders cluttering my dashboard. Thankfully, Shopify makes it simple to find and complete these existing draft orders, ensuring no sale slips through the cracks.

Here are the exact steps you need to find/ complete an existing draft order on Shopify for now:

Step 1: Go to Draft Orders

  • Log into your Shopify admin.
  • In the left-hand sidebar, click on “Orders.”
  • In the “Orders” page, click on the “Drafts” tab.
find or complete an existing draft order 1

Step 2: Open the Draft Order

  • You’ll see a list of all your existing draft orders.
  • Click on the specific draft order you want to view or complete.
find or complete an existing draft order 2

Step 3: Complete the Draft Order

On the draft order page, you can:

  • Review or edit customer details.
  • Add or remove products.
  • Apply discounts.
  • Choose payment terms or collect payment immediately.
find or complete an existing draft order 3

Step 4: Create the Order

  • Once you’re ready, click “Mark as paid” or “Send invoice” depending on your chosen payment method.
find or complete an existing draft order 4

  • The draft order will be converted into a regular order and will appear in your “Orders” list.
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Troubleshooting options

While finding and completing draft orders on Shopify is generally straightforward, I’ve encountered a few hiccups along the way that caused some head-scratching. If you’ve also run into unexpected roadblocks, here are some troubleshooting tips to get you back on track:

Can’t Find a Specific Draft Order

  • Check Spelling/Filters: Ensure the search terms (customer name, order number) are accurate and filters (date range, etc.) aren’t too restrictive.
  • Archived Status: Draft orders are auto-archived after 60 days and then deleted. They’re not completable once archived.
  • App Interference: Some apps might affect draft order visibility. Temporarily disable them to see if the draft order reappears.

Can’t Edit/Complete a Draft Order

  • Archived Status: As mentioned, archived orders can’t be edited or completed.
  • Payment Issues: If trying to mark as paid, ensure the customer’s payment method is valid.
  • Inventory Changes: If products in the draft are now out of stock, you’ll need to adjust quantities or remove them before completing the order.
  • App Conflicts: Certain apps might interfere with the checkout process. Try disabling them temporarily.

General Tips:

  • Use the Shopify Search Bar: The top search bar in your admin can often find draft orders directly, even if filters are misbehaving.
  • Reach Out to Support: If the issue persists, contact Shopify Support for assistance. They can check the backend for the draft order and help diagnose any technical glitches.

FAQs

Yes, you can utilize the search bar within the “Draft Orders” section to search by customer name, email, or even order number to quickly locate the desired draft order.


You can easily modify a draft order by opening it and editing the product list, quantities, or even adding discounts before sending an invoice or marking it as paid.


Yes, Shopify allows you to send an invoice for a draft order, giving the customer a secure checkout link to pay at their convenience. The order will be automatically created once payment is received.


Yes, you can customize payment terms (e.g., due on receipt, net 30) for each draft order individually, providing flexibility for different customer agreements or payment arrangements.


Shopify doesn’t automatically delete unpaid or incomplete draft orders. However, it’s good practice to regularly review your draft orders and archive or delete those that are no longer relevant to avoid clutter in your admin.

Final words

This guide has walked you through the process of finding and completing existing draft orders on Shopify, enabling you to efficiently manage pending sales and provide a seamless experience for your customers. Do you have any specific scenarios or challenges you’ve faced when working with draft orders in Shopify? Share your experiences in the comments below!

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Sam
Sam Nguyen is the CEO and founder of Avada Commerce, an e-commerce solution provider headquartered in Singapore. He is an expert on the Shopify e-commerce platform for online stores and retail point-of-sale systems. Sam loves talking about e-commerce and he aims to help over a million online businesses grow and thrive.
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