Online stores operate 24×7. Yet, sometimes you may need to pause the Shopify store to fix things up or if you simply need a break.
Thankfully, there is an in-built option for that in Shopify. You can activate the Shopify Pause and Build plan.
In this micro post, you’ll learn how to pause Shopify store.
What is Shopify Pause and Build Plan?
Shopify Pause and Build plan allows you to pause the selling process, while continue working on the store at a reduced cost of $9 per month.
Pausing your Shopify store disables the checkout on the front end. That means the customers will no longer be able to place orders in your store. Except, everything remains as it is. You can use this feature when you’re closing your store on vacation or if you need a break to fulfil current orders.
This will be more helpful when you will wish to cancel or delete Shopify subscription but you want to keep your store.
How to Pause Shopify Store ? – 3 Easy Steps
You can simply pause your store by switching to the Pause and Build plan. Follow these steps to pause Shopify store:
Step 1: Head to Plan from Admin Panel
In the Shopify admin, go to Settings and click Plan.
Step 2: Click Pause and build
Now, click the deactivate account.
Then, you will see the pop-up switch to pause and build. Select the option.
Step 3: Review Details and Switch to Pause and build
Confirm the terms displayed on the screen, review the changes in the plan, and switch to Shopify Pause and Build plan.
Now, you’ve successfully paused your Shopify store.
Shopify Pause and Build – Best Practices
After pausing your store, you must communicate to your customers about your store’s status.
They can still access the store, but the store is paused from your end. So, to avoid any confusion, the best thing here to do is:
- Add an Announcement Bar: You can use an announcement bar or banner in Shopify to inform customers that you’re not accepting orders.
- Hide Add to Cart Button: It is advisable to hide the add to cart button to prevent a disappointing customer experience.
- Collect Leads: Add a “notify me when available” option to collect emails of potential customers.
Things to Consider Before You Pause Shopify Store
Pausing your Shopify store is a critical business decision. Here are a few things you should consider before you pause Shopify store:
- The customers will not be able to buy products on your store while you’re on the Shopify pause and build plan.
- You can only pause Shopify store after completing at least 60 days on the paid plan (excluding the trial period.)
- Shopify Pause and Build plan is not available for Shopify Plus users.
- Shopify apps with recurring charges are billed during the Pause and Build plan. You need to manually uninstall them to avoid any charges.
To be extra sure, if pausing is the pick, understand the difference between pausing vs. deactivating a Shopify store.
Pausing vs. Deactivating Shopify Store – Quick Glance
| Pausing Shopify Store | Deactivating Shopify Store |
| Temporary action to disable the store for a few months | Permanently shuts down your store |
| The store is accessible and visible to the customers and admin | The store is inaccessible to admin and customers |
| The products and collections remain intact in the store | The products are removed from the store and can get deleted as well. |
| You can reopen your paused store | You can re-enable your deactivated store after 2 years |
How to Reopen Shopify Store After Pause and Build?
When you decide to reopen your Shopify store, you’ll need to choose a new plan for Shopify when you want to unpause it.
Follow these steps to reopen the Shopify store after Pause and Build:
Again log into the store as admin. Go to Settings > Plan. This time select the Change Plan option.
Select the plan as per your preference. Review the details and confirm the plan change.
Now, you’ve successfully reopened your Shopify store after Pause and Build!
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How long can you pause your Shopify store?
You can pause your Shopify store for as long as you wish.
2. How much does it cost to pause Shopify?
Shopify charges a reduced fee of $9/month for this option.
3. Is my Shopify store hidden from the public if it’s paused?
No, your store is not hidden if you have paused it. Here only the checkout option is disabled.
Continue Your Online Selling Journey
Shopify Pause & Build plan is an excellent option to put your Shopify store on vacation mode. You can switch to the plan to pause the store and reopen whenever you want to. In the above article, we provided complete steps on how to pause your Shopify store.
You can unpause the store by switching the plan and continuing your online selling journey. We offer a range of Shopify services to help businesses succeed – ranging from theme designing and customization to development and SEO. Feel free to contact us for any of your Shopify solutions requirements.
