Setting up a Shopify ID

A Shopify ID (also known as single login, single sign-on, or SSO) includes your email address and a password. You use your Shopify ID to log in to all the stores, programs, and resources on Shopify to which you have access. A Shopify ID belongs to an individual user, and not to a store. Each user must create and use their own Shopify ID to access any store, Shopify Learn, the Partner Dashboard, or the Shopify Community forums.

It takes only a moment to review your stores and set up your Shopify ID. After the setup is complete, you will use this email address and password any time you log in.

Benefits of a Shopify ID

The Shopify ID simplifies logging in, and offers the following benefits:

  • You can switch between your stores faster.
  • You can log in less often.
  • You have only one password to remember for all Shopify products.

All staff need to set up a Shopify ID for their own individual accounts. They'll be prompted to do so when they log in.

Using a Shopify ID does not affect the following:

  • Access to Shopify POS; staff still use a PIN to log in.
  • Store settings or Partner Dashboard settings.
  • Customer accounts.

Before you start

You are only prompted to set up a Shopify ID if you use the same email address for more than one store, program, or resource. To see which email address you use for a store, check your account settings. Make sure that you use the same email address for any store, program, or resource that you want to access with the same Shopify ID.

  • If you use the same email address for stores that you don't want to include in the Shopify ID, then you should use a different email address for those stores. A good way to double check this is by reviewing your list of stores in the store switcher. This is the same as the list of stores that display when you set up the Shopify ID.
  • If you currently share login credentials with your staff, or if staff share login credentials with each other, then make sure that you send all staff an invitation to create their own Shopify ID. It’s important for your store security that all staff have their own Shopify ID. Otherwise, staff who have your Shopify ID login credentials will effectively have store owner permissions to all your stores that you log in to with that ID.
  • If you use a password manager, then make sure that you have access to its settings so that you can update your password, if necessary.
  • If you have activated two-step authentication, then make sure that you still have access to the phone number or authenticator application that you used. Authentication is required as part of the Shopify ID setup process.
  • If you have an unverified email address, then you need to verify your email before you set up a Shopify ID.

You can make changes to staff in your Shopify admin at Settings > Users and permissions.

Set up a Shopify ID

Steps:

  1. Log in to a Shopify store that shares the same email address as your other stores.
  2. After you log in, you're presented with a list of stores and services that are associated with that email address. Review the stores to make sure that you want to set up a Shopify ID for all the stores.
  3. Click Set up Shopify ID.
  4. Enter your current password for that store.
    • If you have two-step authentication set up for some stores that are associated with this email address, then you need to authorize these stores before proceeding.
  5. Create a new password. This email and password combination is the one that you use to log in to all the stores that are included in the Shopify ID.
  6. Recommended: Set up two-step authentication for your Shopify ID. This is the best method to ensure that your store remains secure.

After you complete these steps, you use the Shopify ID to log in to your Shopify stores, programs, and resources.

Example

Fatima works at StoreCo, and has staff permissions for three different Shopify stores: StoreCo1, StoreCo2, and StoreCo3.

StoreEmailPassword
StoreCo1fatima@storeco.copassword0ne
StoreCo2fatima@storeco.cosecondpassword
StoreCo3fatima@storeco.coartem1s

When Fatima logs into StoreCo3, the prompt to set up a Shopify ID displays. After Fatima completes the process, she has one Shopify ID with a single email and password combination that she can use to access all three stores.

StoreEmailPassword
StoreCo1, StoreCo2, StoreCo3fatima@storeco.coc0mb1inedpassword

Add a new store to your existing Shopify ID

When you create a new store by using the email address that you've already used for a Shopify ID, you can add or merge your login information for your new store.

If you want to use your existing login credentials to log in to the new store, then enter the password for your new store. If you want to use a different login for your new store, then click Remind me later to log in to your store without merging your stores. After you've logged in to your store, you can change your email address settings on the Settings > Users and permissions in your Shopify admin.

FAQ

I only have one store. Does this affect me at all?

Yes, though no action will be required on your part. If you have only one store, then a Shopify ID is created for it automatically. This means that if you add new stores and services in the future, then you can use the same Shopify ID to access them.

If you have one store, but you also use other programs or resources, such as Shopify Partners or Shopify Community, then you are prompted to create a Shopify ID.

How do I know which stores will be accessed by a Shopify ID?

The stores that display in your store switcher can be accessed by using a Shopify ID.

If you haven't set up your Shopify ID yet, then you will have the opportunity to review a list of stores when you are prompted to set up a Shopify ID.

Can I exclude stores from being accessed by a Shopify ID?

Yes. When you're prompted to set up a Shopify ID, you can exclude stores by clicking ... next to the store name. You can then change the email address for the excluded store to a different email address. You can also skip stores for which you cannot complete two-step authentication.

However, if you want to exclude a store because you're no longer staff, then remove your own account from the store before you set up a Shopify ID.

My list is missing a store. How can I add it to a Shopify ID?

If your list is missing a store, then that means it’s associated with another email address. After you finish setting up your Shopify ID for your other stores, then you can add a missing store to your Shopify ID.

Will my orders, products, or billing settings be combined, too?

No. All the information within your Shopify admins remains separate and unchanged. Your Shopify ID only affects your login credentials. This includes your username, password, and two-step authentication settings.

Will this change my staff permissions?

No. The permissions that you've granted your staff are still granted on a store-by-store basis. The Shopify ID does not grant your staff any additional permissions.

If you share your Shopify ID with other people, then they can access anything that your Shopify ID has access to. We recommend that you keep your Shopify ID private and secure, and never share it with anyone else.

What if more than one staff shares the same account?

Before you remove the shared staff account, create a separate account for each active staff. Partners should use a collaborator account.

Can I skip this process?

No. As of March 2020, you won't be able to log in to your store until you set up your Shopify ID.

How do I log in after setting up a Shopify ID?

After you've set up a Shopify ID, you use the email address and the password that you chose to log into all stores that use that email address. You can also use this email address and password to log into other Shopify resources.

If I use a password manager, then how will this affect me?

As part of the Shopify ID setup process, you're prompted to choose a new password for your Shopify store. You'll need to make sure that this is updated in your password manager. In most cases, your password manager should prompt you to update your password. If the password manager that you use is managed by someone else, then you might need to speak to the person who is responsible for the password manager to have the password updated.

Can I set up a Shopify ID on behalf of my staff?

In most cases, no. Setting up a Shopify ID requires a user password, so typically this isn't possible. The exception to this would be if you manage the user passwords and your staff uses a password manager to log in.

Can I require my staff to use multi-factor authentication?

No. Staff can't be forced to use two-step authentication.

Can I remove staff from a store if the accounts are no longer active?

Yes. Store owners can remove any staff, and staff can remove their own.

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