Erase your data

When using Shopify's services as a merchant, you have choices regarding the collection and use of your personal data. Keep in mind that your personal data is different from your customers’ personal data. Your personal data includes things like the names and contact information for the people who administer your Shopify account.

Erasing your personal data from Shopify as a merchant

The personal data processed by Shopify when you use the Shopify services as a merchant includes information about yourself and other individuals associated with operating your business. This information includes, but isn't limited to, name, address, email address, and payment details from all your stores, as well as your Shopify account information that may be associated with multiple stores. Instructing Shopify to erase your personal data erases personal data from all Shopify shops and accounts that you own.

Review the following considerations before requesting that your personal data be erased:

• Your merchant personal data can only be erased after you've deactivated all stores and all accounts that are associated with your email address. You're prompted to confirm that all accounts are closed as part of the merchant personal data erasure process.
• After your personal data is erased, it isn't recoverable.

To request the erasure of your personal data, go to the Shopify Privacy controls and click Erase my data to begin the process. It might take up to 30 days for Shopify to process your request, and erasure may be subject to exceptions and limitations provided by applicable law.

Erasing customer personal data from your store

If you're a Shopify merchant who has received a request from a customer to delete their personal data, then follow the steps to process a customer data request.

Erasing customer personal data from a deactivated store

If as a Shopify merchant you choose to deactivate your store, then all your store's information is retained for 2 years, in case you decide to re-open your store. However, you can request the erasure of the personal data of your customers from your deactivated store at any time before that timeframe.

Review the following considerations before requesting that your customers' personal data be erased:

• Personal Data of all your customers can only be erased from a deactivated store.
• Erasing your customers' personal data applies to only the store you request to be deactivated. If you have other active or inactive Shopify stores, then the personal data of customers in those stores isn't erased.
• After personal data is erased, it isn't recoverable and the store can't be re-opened.
• Only the store owner can request the erasure of that store’s customer personal data. No other staff member can submit the request on the store owner's behalf.

To submit your request to erase your customers’ personal data, contact Shopify Support. Subject to exceptions and limitations provided by applicable law, your store’s customer personal data is erased within 14 days after a request is completed.

Note

If you change your mind about erasing the data, then you must contact Shopify Support again before 14 days have passed to stop the data erasure process. After 14 days, your customers’ personal data is erased and your store isn't recoverable.

You don't need to deactivate your store to process an individual customer's request to erase their data. Learn more about processing customer data requests.

Shop or Shop Pay erasure requests

If your customer is using Shop or Shop Pay and wants to erase the personal data that Shopify has about them, then they can go to the Shopify Privacy controls and click Erase my data to begin the process. Note that this doesn't erase personal data from any merchant stores they purchased from.