Activity logs in the Shopify admin
Activity logs help you track changes and monitor user activity in your Shopify admin. The store activity log includes recent actions taken by store owners and users, whereas page activity displays when multiple users are viewing or editing the same page simultaneously.
On this page
Store activity log
The store activity log displays the date and time of recent actions that are taken by the store owner or a user in your Shopify admin. Each event includes the name of the person, app, or channel that took the action.
Some examples of store activity might include the following actions:
- Deleting a product.
- Changing a store setting.
- Granting store access to an app.
Considerations for using the store activity log
Before you use the store activity log, review the following considerations:
- The store activity log is view-only. You can't expand or click the individual events that are listed.
- The information can't be exported from the store activity log.
- A maximum of 250 results can be displayed on the store activity log page. The list of actions goes back only as far as the maximum number of results.
- You can't use the store activity log to display Shopify admin actions that go back over a set number of days.
Access the store activity log
To access the store activity log, users need to have the Home and Store settings > Manage settings store permissions.
Steps:
From your Shopify admin, go to Settings > General.
In the Resources section, click Store activity log.
Understanding activity log entries
Sometimes the activity log displays Shopify as the actor for a change, rather than a specific user or app. This is normal behavior in certain scenarios and doesn't necessarily indicate unauthorized access.
Common reasons for "Shopify" displaying as the actor
The following table explains common scenarios where Shopify might display as the actor in your activity log:
| Scenario | Example | Why it happens |
|---|---|---|
| System automation | Order status update, inventory sync | Background jobs process actions that you initiated, such as bulk edits |
| App or channel action | Product published to sales channel | Third-party apps or sales channels sync data automatically |
| Sales channel operations | "Online Store" hid or published a theme | Actions taken through the theme editor or Online Store channel |
| Market changes | Product removed from Online Store | Deactivating or deleting a market removes products from that market's publication |
| Payment provider updates | Shopify Payments deactivated | Backend processes by payment partners, such as account reviews or migrations |
| User management | Shopify deleted staff | Staff deleted through admin or POS app logs as "Shopify deleted" rather than displaying who performed the action |
Common activity log entries and explanations
Review the following examples of common activity log entries and what they mean:
Product updates from channel sync
When you add a new sales channel, all existing products are automatically made available to that channel. If products display as being published or unpublished from channels, then check the following factors:
- Whether you recently installed a new sales channel or app
- Whether you activated the Storefront API for a custom app
- Whether another user with store access made changes to product availability
Theme changes displaying as "Online Store"
When theme actions display "Online Store" as the actor, it means a user made changes through the theme editor or Online Store channel. The action was initiated by a user, but the activity log displays the channel name instead of the individual.
Products removed from Online Store
If you notice products were removed from your Online Store, then check whether you recently:
- Deactivated or deleted a market
- Made changes to shipping settings
- Modified product availability in the Sales channels and apps section of a product
Market changes can trigger automatic updates to product availability.
Orders automatically fulfilled by Shopify
If orders display as fulfilled by Shopify unexpectedly, then check your order processing settings. Navigate to Settings > Checkout and review the After an order has been paid section. If this is set to Automatically fulfill the order's line items, then orders will be marked as fulfilled without manual intervention.
Payment provider changes
If Shopify Payments displays as deactivated in your activity log but you didn't make this change, then it might be due to a backend review or migration process by our banking partners. These processes are routine and don't affect your ability to accept payments. If you're concerned, then contact Shopify Support.
Evaluating activity log entries for suspicious activity
Use the following guidelines to determine whether activity log entries require further investigation:
Normal activity that doesn't require action:
- Changes that coincide with actions you recently took, such as bulk edits
- App or sales channel syncing activity
- Routine system updates and migrations
- Market or shipping setting changes that you initiated
Activity that might require investigation:
- Changes at unusual times when no one should be working
- Actions from unfamiliar users or apps
- Repeated unauthorized changes to sensitive settings
- Unexpected staff deletions or permission changes
If you notice suspicious activity, then review your user permissions and installed apps to identify the source.
Page activity
Page activity lets you know if other staff members are viewing or editing the same page in your Shopify admin. This feature helps your staff avoid conflicting changes.
Considerations for using page activity
Before you use page activity, review the following considerations:
- Page activity isn't available in Canada.
- You can view up to 250 users on a page at one time.
- This feature works only in a web browser, not in the Shopify mobile app.
Using page activity
You can use page activity in the following sections of the Shopify admin:
- Product details
- Marketing
- Customer details
- Collection details
- Discount details
If another user is editing one of these pages, then you'll notice a icon next to their name.
Page activity works in the following ways:
- If another user is viewing or editing the same page, then their name displays. If they're actively editing, then a
icon displays beside their name.
- If you try to edit a page that's already being edited, then you'll get a warning letting you know. You can choose to ignore the warning and edit anyway, but this might lead to conflicting changes.
Troubleshooting activity log issues
Review the following common issues and steps to resolve them:
Troubleshoot missing activity log entries
The store activity log has limitations on how many events it can display and how far back it goes.
Steps:
- Confirm that the change occurred within the retention period. The activity log displays a maximum of 250 results.
- Check if the action is tracked in a different location, such as the order Timeline or the user management activity log.
- Review your installed apps to check if an app might have made the change. App install and uninstall dates are displayed in Settings > Apps and sales channels.
Troubleshoot activity log access issues
Access to the store activity log requires specific permissions.
Steps:
- Confirm that your user account has the Home and Store settings > Manage settings permissions.
- Ask the store owner or a user with permission management access to update your permissions.
- If you're the store owner and still can't access the activity log, then contact Shopify Support.
Troubleshoot deleted users still displaying as viewing a page
After a user is removed from your store, they might briefly continue to display as viewing a page.
Steps:
- Wait a few minutes for the system to update.
- Refresh your browser page.
- If the issue persists after 24 hours, then contact Shopify Support.
Troubleshoot unknown actors in the activity log
If the activity log displays "Shopify" as the actor, or if you can't identify who made a change, then try the following steps.
Steps:
- Review the Understanding activity log entries section to determine if this is expected behavior.
- Check your user management activity log for user-related changes.
- Review your installed apps and their permissions to identify if an app might be responsible.
- If you need more detailed information about who made a specific change, then contact Shopify Support with the specific timestamp and action.
FAQ
I didn't make this change—should I be worried?
Not necessarily. There are several legitimate reasons why changes might display in your activity log that you don't remember making:
- Background jobs: When you perform bulk actions, such as editing multiple products, individual changes are processed by background jobs that log as "Shopify."
- Apps and integrations: Installed apps can make automated changes based on their permissions.
- Other users: If you have staff or collaborators, then they might have made the change.
- Scheduled actions: Some features, such as Shopify Flow automations, can trigger changes automatically.
Review the timestamp and correlate it with any actions you or your team might have taken. If you're still concerned, then review your security settings and consider resetting your password.
Can I export or download my activity log?
No, the store activity log can't be exported or downloaded. If you need a record of specific events for compliance or auditing purposes, then you can take screenshots or manually document the entries.
For user-related activity, you can review the user management activity log, which provides more detailed event information.
How long are activity log entries retained?
The store activity log displays a maximum of 250 results. The time period this covers depends on how active your store is. Stores with frequent changes will have a shorter historical view than stores with less activity.
Can I find out who deleted a staff member?
When staff members are deleted through the Shopify admin or Shopify POS app, the activity log might display "Shopify deleted [staff name]" instead of displaying who performed the action.
To investigate who deleted a staff member, review the user management activity log in Settings > Users > Security. If you need more information, then contact Shopify Support.
Requesting an investigation
If you've reviewed the activity log and still have concerns about specific entries, then you can request that Shopify Support investigate further.
Preparing an investigation request
To help Shopify Support investigate efficiently, gather the following information:
- Specific timestamp: The exact date and time of the log entry you're concerned about.
- Action logged: What the activity log says happened, such as "Shopify changed Checkout settings."
- Why you're concerned: A brief explanation of why this change is unexpected or problematic.
- Recent changes: Any actions you or your team took around that time that might be related.
Before you contact Shopify Support about activity log entries
Before reaching out to Shopify Support, gather the following information to help resolve your issue faster:
- The exact date, time, and timezone of the activity log entry you're asking about
- A screenshot of the specific activity log entry
- What action you expected to find, compared to what was logged
- Whether you or anyone on your team took any related actions around that time
- A list of apps that might have permissions related to the logged action
- Steps you've already tried from the troubleshooting section above
Having this information ready helps Shopify Support assist you more efficiently.