Getting started

What products you're going to sell and how your store is going to look are two of the most important choices you'll make for your store. To get started, add your first product, try a few different themes to decide which one looks best, and then set up a domain for your store.

Add your first product

You can add and update products directly from the Products page in your Shopify admin. If you're looking for ideas on what products to sell, then you can check out the Shopify Blog.

Steps:

Desktop
  1. From your Shopify admin, go to Products.

  2. From the Products page, click Add product.

  3. Enter a title for your product, along with additional details.

  4. Click Save.

iPhone
  1. From the Shopify app, go to Products > All products.
  2. From the All products screen, tap +.
  1. Enter a title for your product, along with additional details.
  2. Tap Save.
Android
  1. From the Shopify app, go to Products > All products.
  2. From the Products screen, tap +.
  3. Enter a title for your product, along with additional details.
  4. Tap to save your product.

Choose a theme

To help you get started, the Themes page of your admin has a default theme set up when you open an account with Shopify. If you want to customize a different theme for your online store, then you will need to add one to your admin.

To add a theme for your online store:

Add a free theme from the admin

Free themes are developed by Shopify. Help with customizations for free themes is supported by Shopify.

Steps:

Desktop
  1. From your Shopify admin, go to Online Store > Themes.
  2. In the Free themes section near the bottom of the page, click Explore free themes. A window containing all of the free themes will display.
  3. Click any theme to read about its features and to preview the available theme styles.
  4. Click the Add button for the theme. The theme will be added to the Themes page of your admin.
iPhone
  1. From the Shopify app, tap the button.
  2. In the Sales channels section, tap Online Store.
  3. Tap Manage themes.
  4. In the Free themes section near the bottom of the page, click Explore free themes. A window containing all of the free themes will display.
  5. Tap any theme to read about its features and to preview the available theme styles.
  6. Tap the Add button for the theme. The theme will be added to the Themes page of your admin.
Android
  1. From the Shopify app, tap the button.
  2. In the Sales channels section, tap Online Store.
  3. Tap Manage themes.
  4. In the Free themes section near the bottom of the page, click Explore free themes. A window containing all of the free themes will display.
  5. Tap any theme to read about its features and to preview the available theme styles.
  6. Tap the Add button for the theme. The theme will be added to the Themes page of your admin.

Add a theme from the Theme Store

Paid themes are developed by third-party designers. Help with customizations for third-party themes is provided by the theme designer.

Steps:

  1. Visit the Shopify Theme Store and choose a theme. If you're still in your free trial period, then choose a free theme to avoid paying any charges.
  2. If you've chosen a free theme, then click Add theme or Start with this theme. If you've chosen a paid theme, then click Buy theme to buy the theme. Paid themes are non-refundable. To be sure that it suits your needs, you can try a paid theme before you buy it.
  3. For paid themes, click Approve charge to approve the payment. The theme will be added to the Themes page of your admin.

Try a paid theme in your store

You can try a paid theme to preview how it looks with your products, brand colors, and style, before you commit to buy the theme. When you preview a theme, you can make customizations by using the theme editor. Any changes you make will be saved when you purchase the theme. You can preview up to 19 paid themes, which allows you to compare different themes before buying.

Steps:

  1. Visit the Shopify Theme Store and choose a paid theme.
  2. Click Try theme. A preview of the theme will load for your online store. In the toolbar at the bottom of the page, there are three buttons: Close preview, Buy theme, and Customize theme.
  3. Do one of the following:
    • To stop previewing the theme, click Close preview.
    • To purchase the theme, click Buy theme.
    • To modify the theme settings using the theme editor, click Customize theme.

The paid theme will be added to the Themes page of your admin, even if you choose not to buy it. Paid themes that you are trying will have a Theme trial label.

Set up a domain for your store

Your store's domain is the URL, or the website address, where your customers go to find your online store. You can either buy a new domain for your store or transfer an existing one.

Buy a new domain from Shopify

  1. Purchase your domain through Shopify.
  2. Activate auto-renewal so that your domain registration doesn't expire by mistake.
  3. Set your Shopify domain as your primary domain so it becomes the domain that displays to your customers in their browser, in search results, and on social media.
  4. Set up email forwarding so that your customers can email you at your @mycustomdomain.com address.
  5. Send yourself a couple of test emails to make sure that you can receive customer inquiries.

Buy a new domain from a third-party provider

  1. Purchase your custom domain from a third-party provider.
  2. Follow the instructions for custom domains to set up your root domain and subdomains.
    • If you purchased your domain from Google Domains, GoDaddy, or IONOS, then connect your domain automatically.
    • If you purchased your domain from a different domain provider and you have their requirements, then connect your domain manually.
  3. Set up your primary domain so it becomes the domain that displays to your customers in their browser, in search results, and on social media.
  4. Set up email hosting so your customers can email you at your custom domain email address.

Transfer an existing domain

If you want to transfer an existing domain to use with your Shopify store, then follow these steps.

Next steps

After you add your first products, choose a theme, and set up a domain, it's time to continue setting up your store.

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