Preparing your Shopify store for launch

Before you launch your store, place some test orders to review how the checkout process works. When you're ready, remove the password on your store so that it's open to the public.

Placing a test order

By placing a test order, you can make sure that your settings for the following parts of your store are working correctly:

• checkout process
• order processing
• inventory
• shipping
• taxes

Charges don't apply to test orders. You should place at least one test order during your store setup, or whenever you make changes to your payment settings.

Test a transaction with Shopify Payments' test mode

You can turn on Shopify Payments' test mode at any time from your Shopify admin. In test mode, you can simulate successful transactions and failed transactions to preview different transaction flows. After you place your test orders, make sure to turn off test mode to accept real payments from your customers. Learn more about test mode.

Steps:

Desktop

1. From your Shopify admin, go to Settings > Payments.

2. In the Shopify Payments section, click Edit.

3. Check Use test mode.

4. Click Save.

iPhone

1. From the Shopify app, tap > Settings.

2. In the Store settings section, tap Payments.

3. In the Shopify Payments section, tap Edit.

4. Check Use test mode.

5. Tap Save.

Android

1. From the Shopify app, tap > Settings.

2. In the Store settings section, tap Payments.

3. In the Shopify Payments section, tap Edit.

4. Check Use test mode.

5. Tap ✓.

Test a transaction with other payment gateways

If you aren't using Shopify Payments, then you can check if your payment gateway provider offers solutions for testing transactions. If the payment gateway provider doesn't have any options for testing transactions, then you can place a test order in the following ways:

• Use Shopify's bogus gateway to simulate a transaction.
• Use a real payment provider, and then immediately cancel and refund the order.

Preview your store

Before you remove your password, you can preview your storefront. In your Shopify admin, navigate to the Sales channels section and hover your mouse pointer over Online store. Then, click the eye icon that's displayed.

The preview opens in a new tab and displays your store as it would be displayed to a customer. To return to the Shopify admin, return to your previous tab or click Navigate to admin at the bottom of the screen.

Removing your online store password

During your free trial, your online store is automatically password protected. With the password page, you can create a password and add a custom message for your customers when they visit your store.

When you're ready to launch your online store, you can remove your online store password. If you're ready to launch your store during your free trial, then choose a subscription plan to be able to remove your online store password.

There are two ways to remove your online store password: from your Themes page or from the Preferences page under Online Store in your Shopify admin.

Remove your online store password using the Themes page

1. From your Shopify admin, go to Online Store > Themes.
2. There is a banner displayed that says, "Your online store is password protected." Click Remove password. If the banner isn't displayed, then your online store isn't password protected.

Remove your online store password using the Preferences page

1. From your Shopify admin, go to Online Store > Preferences.

2. In the Password protection section, deselect the Restrict access to visitors with the password option.

3. Click Save.