Whether you are pivoting your business strategy, migrating to a new platform, or simply closing down, knowing how to delete Shopify account correctly is essential. Closing a store isn’t just about clicking a button; it requires handling your data and finances first to avoid future issues.
This guide covers the necessary preparation and the exact steps to permanently deactivate your store.
5 Steps Before You Learn How to Delete Shopify Account
Once a store is closed, it cannot be reactivated, and data is purged. Before initiating the deletion process, ensure you complete these five prerequisites to prevent data loss or unexpected charges.
1. Clear Outstanding Bills
You cannot close your store if you have pending payments. Check your billing history to ensure all transaction fees, subscription costs, and app charges are paid. If there are outstanding balances, Shopify may bill your card even after the store is closed.
2. Export and Backup Data
Shopify deletes your data 30 days after cancellation. You must manually back up your information.
Export Data: Go to your admin dashboard and export CSV files for Products, Customers, Orders, and Gift Card codes.
Save Assets: Download any theme files or images you may need later.
3. Uninstall Third-Party Apps
Deleting your Shopify store does not automatically cancel subscriptions to third-party apps (especially those billed externally). Navigate to the Apps section and manually cancel recurring subscriptions to avoid being charged by app developers after leaving Shopify.
4. Unlink Custom Domains
If you bought a custom domain (e.g., yourbrand.com) via Shopify or a third party, you must remove it.
Third-party domains: Remove the domain from your Shopify settings so you can use it on another platform.
Shopify-purchased domains: Transfer the domain to another registrar (like Namecheap or GoDaddy) before deletion, or you may lose ownership.
5. Disable Domain Auto-Renewal
If you are abandoning the brand name entirely, ensure auto-renewal is turned off in your domain settings. This prevents you from being charged annually for a domain name you no longer use.
Step-by-Step: How to Delete Shopify Account
Once you have secured your data and settled finances, follow these steps to permanently close your store.
Step 1: Log in to Admin Log in to your Shopify store as the Store Owner. Staff accounts do not have the permission to close stores.
Step 2: Navigate to Settings In the bottom-left corner of your dashboard, click on Settings (the gear icon).
Step 3: Access Plan Settings From the sidebar menu, select Plan. This section displays your current subscription details.
Step 4: Deactivate Store Scroll to the bottom of the page. You will see an option labeled Deactivate Store. Click this button.
Note: You may also see an option to “Pause and Build.” Ensure you select “Deactivate” for permanent deletion.
Step 5: Select a Reason Shopify will ask for a reason why you are leaving. Select the most appropriate option from the dropdown menu (e.g., “I’m switching to a different platform”).
Step 6: Confirm Deactivation You will be prompted to enter your password one last time to verify your identity. Click Deactivate Store to finalize the process.
Once confirmed, you will be logged out, and your store will no longer be accessible to the public. You will receive an email confirming the cancellation.
FAQs
1. Can I reactivate my store after deleting it? Generally, no. Once you choose how to delete Shopify account permanently, the data is removed after a short period. However, Shopify sometimes retains data for a brief window (30 days). If you log back in within that window and select a new plan, you might be able to restore it, but this is not guaranteed.
2. Will I get a refund for my subscription? No. Shopify does not offer refunds. If you cancel in the middle of a billing cycle, the store closes immediately, and you forfeit the remaining days you paid for.
3. How do I close a store during a Free Trial? If you are on a free trial and have not selected a pricing plan yet, you do not need to do anything; the store will freeze automatically when the trial expires. If you did choose a plan, follow the steps above to deactivate it before the trial ends to avoid charges.
4. Can I pause my store instead of deleting it? Yes. If you need a break but want to keep your data, use the Pause and Build plan. This costs a reduced fee (usually $9/month) and keeps your admin accessible while disabling the checkout for customers.
Conclusion
Closing a business chapter requires attention to detail. By following this guide on how to delete Shopify account, you ensure a clean break without financial loose ends or data loss. Always remember to export your customer and product lists first—this data is the most valuable asset for your future ventures.
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