If your URL redirects are improper, your interested shopper will quickly move to your competitor, who has better navigation.
The URL redirect process is simple.
I will show you how to set up a URL redirect from Magento to Shopify here. This direct method ensures your Magento to Shopify SEO redirects work properly without any 404 error.
Why Redirect URLs from Magento to Shopify?
The difference in the URL structure is the main reason for redirection.
Shopify follows a specific URL structure, which is slightly different from what Magento follows. For example,
- Shopify product URL structure: https://example.com/products/apple-aidpods/
- Magento product URL structure: https://example.com/apple-aidpods.html
Shopify enforces a /products/ before the product slug, which is not the case with Magento. If you don’t set a proper redirect here, the Magento URL will show a 404 error.
And honestly, no one is a fan of a 404 error —
- Search engines see them as broken links leading to ranking drops
- Old URLs lose value if not redirected, especially if you have a backlink from other websites
- Shoppers quickly leave your site and start looking elsewhere
Now, let’s see how to fix these URLs for a smooth Magento to Shopify SEO migration.
Redirect Product URLs from Magento to Shopify
The steps I have mentioned here assume that your domain and the product handles stay the same during migration. In case they are different, then you might have to apply a different strategy.
For your new product URLs from Magento to Shopify to work smoothly, you will first need to map the old URLs to the new ones and then implement bulk redirects in Shopify using a CSV file.
Here are the steps to do so.
Steps to Bulk Redirect Product URLs
Step 1: Export Product URLs from Magento 2
Step 2: Prepare the Redirect Mapping File
Step 3: Import the Redirect CSV into Shopify
Step 1: Export Product URLs from Magento 2
Open your Magento Admin panel and head to System > Export > Products. Then export the product list in a CSV format.
Step 2: Prepare the Redirect Mapping File
Now, open the exported CSV file in a spreadsheet tool (Excel or Google Sheets) and delete all columns except url_key.
Then, add two new columns: Redirect from and Redirect to.
- In the ‘Redirect from’ column, apply this formula:
=”https://example.com/” & A2 & “.html”
- Drag till the end to populate the entire column
- Copy the column and paste as values to remove formulas.
- In the ‘Redirect to’ column, apply this formula:
=”https://example.com/products/” & A2
- Drag till the end to populate the entire column
- Copy the column and paste as values to finalize the data.
- Remove the url_key column and save the file as CSV.
Step 3: Import the Redirect CSV into Shopify
Now, log in to the Shopify Admin panel and head to Content > Menu > URL Redirects. First, click on Import and upload the CSV file.
After uploading your CSV, you will see a preview of your redirects. Go ahead and click Import redirects to start the process.
Once your domain is transferred from Magento to Shopify, all old product URLs will be redirected to their new Shopify equivalents. You can view them in the URL redirects dashboard from your Shopify admin panel.
👉 Note: You can repeat this process for category and CMS pages by adjusting the redirect formulas accordingly.
Better Option: Consult Migration Experts
If SEO is not your line of expertise, you might be missing out on various elements that can help you have a smooth Magento to Shopify SEO migration.
A migration expert takes care of SEO elements like
- 301 redirects
- Canonical Tags
- Broken internal links
- Make URL parameters
- URL structure
- & more
The end result?
Your store is migrated to Shopify with complete SEO elements in place so you don’t lose your traffic and your new store runs at optimal speed.
Migrate with no downtime or data loss!
Consult a Migration ExpertFrequently Asked Questions
How to Monitor 404 Issues in Shopify After Migration?
Use tools like Google Search Console or use Shopify’s in-built report to understand broken link issues in your store.
Can I edit the .htaccess file in Shopify?
Shopify doesn’t allow you access to the .htaccess file. You will need to add the old Magento URLs and map them to new Shopify URLs for redirects.
Will the store rankings drop after migration to Shopify?
The chances of a sudden drop in your traffic are very low when SEO is done correctly. You might notice some changes, but with proper SEO in place, you can win back the ranking position.
Other Helpful Shopify SEO Resources
I hope you are clear on the SEO redirects for the Magento to Shopify migration. But there is more to SEO. Here are some helpful resources that will help you optimize your new Shopify store for better results:
