How to Delete or Pause a Shopify Store: Step-by-Step Guide From a Shopify Expert

If you want to delete your Shopify store, log into your Shopify Admin on a desktop, go to Settings > Plan, click Deactivate Store, follow the prompts, and confirm with your password.

If you prefer to pause it instead of closing permanently, you can choose either the Pause and Build Plan (pay a small monthly fee) or a Full Pause (freeze everything for free) from the same Settings menu.

In this guide, I will walk you through exactly how to delete your store safely, back up your important data, cancel apps to avoid extra charges, and protect your SEO if you are moving to a new platform.

I will also explain how to pause your store properly if you just need a break.

Understanding Your Options: Delete or Pause?

When you are managing a Shopify store, there may come a time when you need to either delete or pause it. Maybe you are pivoting to a new business, taking a break, or simply closing shop.

Shopify offers two main paths:

• Pause your store if you want to keep your work but stop selling temporarily.
• Delete your store if you are ready to permanently shut it down.

Each option has different steps and consequences. I will walk you through both clearly so you can make the best decision without stress.

What You Need to Know Before You Delete or Pause Your Shopify Store

Before you delete or pause your Shopify store, there are a few important things you need to handle first. Skipping any of these steps could lead to extra charges, lost data, or domain issues later on.

This part is not complicated, but it is critical if you want to avoid problems.

Here’s what you need to sort out:

• Clear any outstanding bills.
  Shopify will not let you pause or deactivate your store if there are unpaid invoices. Make sure all fees, including app charges and subscription costs, are fully paid.
• Cancel third-party apps manually.
  Many apps operate separately from your Shopify subscription. Even after you close your store, these apps might continue billing you unless you cancel them yourself through the Shopify billing settings.
• Understand there are no refunds.
  Shopify does not refund monthly subscription fees or charges you have already paid. Whether you use the service for one day or the entire month, the fee stays.
• Backup your data.
  Once your store is deleted, you lose access to all your customer information, product listings, and order history. Export and save your important data before making any changes.
• Manage your domain subscriptions.
  If you purchased a domain through Shopify, it does not automatically cancel when you deactivate your store. Domains can still auto-renew and charge you annually unless you manually remove or transfer them.

Quick Checklist:

Taking these small but important steps now makes the entire process of pausing or deleting much easier — and saves you a lot of frustration later.

Skipping any of these could result in unexpected charges or lost information.

How to Properly Delete Your Shopify Store Step-by-Step

When you are ready to close your Shopify store for good, it is important to follow the correct steps. Deleting a store is permanent, and there is no easy way to undo it once the process is complete.

Here is exactly how to do it:

• Log into your Shopify Admin from a desktop.
  The Shopify mobile app does not allow you to delete your store. You must use the desktop version for full account management features.
• Go to Settings.
  Click the Settings option located in the bottom-left corner of your dashboard.
• Select Plan.
  Inside Settings, click on Plan to access your store’s subscription details.
• Choose Deactivate Store.
  Scroll down until you see the option to Deactivate Store. Shopify will likely suggest other options like pausing or transferring ownership. If you are sure about closing, proceed by selecting Deactivate Store again.
• Provide a reason (optional).
  Shopify will ask you to pick a reason for closing. You can choose one or skip this step if you prefer.
• Confirm with your password.
  To finalise the closure, you must enter your Shopify account password when prompted.

After you complete these steps, your store will be officially closed.

Important Reminder:

If you bought a custom domain through Shopify and plan to use it elsewhere, make sure you either transfer it to another domain provider or remove it from Shopify before closing. Otherwise, managing it later becomes complicated.

What Happens After You Delete Your Store:

• Your Shopify admin will be locked. You will no longer be able to log in and make any changes.
• All your store data — products, customers, orders — will become inaccessible unless you backed it up beforehand.
• Shopify retains some limited data for legal and compliance reasons, usually for up to two years.

Quick Post-Deletion Effects Table:

By following this process carefully, you avoid surprises like locked domains, unpaid app charges, or lost data after your store is closed.

How to Pause Your Shopify Store Instead of Deleting It

If you are not ready to permanently close your Shopify store, pausing it can be a smarter option. Shopify offers two different ways to pause your store depending on your needs and how much you want to spend.

Here is how to pause your store:

• Log into your Shopify Admin.
  Just like deletion, pausing can only be done through the desktop version, not the mobile app.
• Go to Settings > Plan.
  Inside your dashboard, click on Settings, then find and select Plan.
• Select Pause or Pause and Build.
  Shopify gives you two different pause options depending on your situation:
  • Pause and Build Plan (£6–£9/month):
    This plan hides your online storefront but keeps the backend active. You can still access your admin, edit products, manage apps, and work on SEO or design without selling anything.
  • Full Pause Plan (Free):
    This option freezes your store completely. Customers cannot visit your store, and you cannot make any edits. You are not charged a monthly subscription fee while your store is paused.
• Confirm your selection.
  Choose the best option for you and confirm the change. Shopify may ask you to review the terms before finalising.

Table: Comparing Pause and Build vs Full Pause

Key Things to Remember When Pausing

While pausing is easier than deleting, there are still a few points to keep in mind:

• You need to manually cancel any apps you do not want to be charged for, even if the store is paused.
• Domains continue to renew unless you cancel or transfer them separately.
• If you are on the Pause and Build plan, you are still responsible for the small monthly fee.
• SEO rankings are generally preserved better when pausing compared to full deletion because your store content stays intact.

Pausing keeps your store alive behind the scenes, which makes it easier to come back when you are ready without rebuilding everything from scratch.

What Happens to Your SEO When You Pause or Delete a Shopify Store

If you care about keeping your search rankings, it is important to understand the impact pausing or deleting will have.

Here is the breakdown:

• If you delete your store:
  All indexed pages disappear from Google. Links to your site from blogs, social media, or news articles will lead to dead pages (404 errors), damaging your domain authority.
• If you pause your store:
  Your site is hidden from customers, but Google can still technically access the structure depending on how you manage it. SEO damage is much smaller because your content does not vanish overnight.

SEO Management Tips:

• If you are deleting, set up 301 redirects if you plan to move your domain elsewhere.
• Remove your Shopify store URL from your sitemap if it is fully deleted.
• Keep an eye on your Google Search Console for broken links and 404 errors after making changes.

Quick Table: SEO Impact by Action

Taking the right approach helps you avoid unnecessary traffic losses and keeps your options open if you want to start selling again in the future.

Costs You Might Still Owe After Pausing or Deleting

Many store owners think that closing or pausing means they are instantly free from all bills. That is not always the case.

Here are the main charges you need to watch for:

• Third-Party App Charges:
  Shopify does not automatically cancel apps. Go into your Apps section and cancel them manually before pausing or closing.
• Domain Renewal Fees:
  Domains purchased through Shopify are separate from your store subscription. They continue to renew annually unless you manually cancel or transfer them.
• Outstanding Balances:
  If you have Shopify Capital loans or a Shopify Balance card with an outstanding amount, you must pay it off completely before your store can be closed.

Checklist: Avoiding Post-Closure Bills

Taking a few minutes to clear everything properly saves you from surprise charges appearing months later.

Backing Up Your Shopify Store Before Making Any Changes

Whether you are pausing or deleting, backing up your data is essential. Shopify does not save your store content once you are no longer an active user.

Here is what you should back up:

• Products: Export a CSV file with your full product catalogue.
• Customers: Export customer information including emails, names, and buying history.
• Orders: Keep a record of past orders for legal and accounting purposes.
• Blog Posts and Pages: Manually copy or export any blog articles or important pages you want to keep.
• Theme Files: If you have custom designs, download your theme files and save them.

Quick Guide: How to Export Data

1. Go to the area you want to back up (Products, Customers, Orders).
2. Click on Export.
3. Choose All or a date range.
4. Download the CSV file and save it securely.

Taking this step ensures you have all the important information available if you ever want to restart, build a new store, or simply need records for legal compliance.

Quick Summary Table: Delete vs Pause Shopify Store

Final Thoughts

Whether you decide to delete or pause your Shopify store, following the right steps saves you from a lot of unexpected problems. Always back up your data, cancel your apps manually, and handle your domain properly.

If you are closing down for good, deleting makes sense. If you are unsure or plan to return, pausing is the smarter and safer move.

If you need more help setting up redirects or planning your next move, there are always tools and resources available to make that easier.