Collaborator accounts
Collaborators are Shopify Partners who you've allowed to access your store. They're similar to staff, but they offer additional benefits. For example, Shopify Partners have access to training courses, Shopify's product roadmap, and other resources to help you run your business. Collaborators can log in to your store from their Partner Dashboard or from the Shopify mobile app. Collaborator access to your store can be managed and removed from your Shopify admin. Collaborators don't count towards your store's staff limit.
Only the store owner, or staff with Manage collaborator requests permission, can view collaborator access requests or grant collaborator access to a store. After a Shopify Partner submits a request to access your store, you receive an email about the request and a notification on your Shopify Home.
You can require Shopify Partners to enter a collaborator request code when they submit a collaborator request, to more effectively control the requests that you receive. When the code is required, only the Partners who you share the code with can request access to your store.
Collaborators can request and be given all available permissions in your store. Carefully consider which permissions a collaborator needs to complete their tasks. Learn more about staff permissions.
Collaborators don't have access to Shopify POS. Collaborators need to be given a staff account to log in to POS.
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Collaborator FAQs
- I'm working with a freelancer or agency. How do I give them access?
- Do I need to require a collaborator request code for a freelancer or agency to request access to my store?
- How do I change my collaborator request code?
- What permissions should I give the freelancer or agency?
- Can I control a collaborator's access to specific apps and channels?
- Can a freelancer use a collaborator permission to log in to the Shopify app?
- I accidentally rejected a request from a freelancer or agency, how can I get it back?
- What should I do when I'm finished working with a collaborator?
- How do I report an issue with a freelancer or agency?
- I got an email from a freelancer or agency that I don’t know or don’t want to work with, what should I do?
I'm working with a freelancer or agency. How do I give them access?
Freelancers or agencies that you are working with can request access to collaborate on your store.
If your store is on the Basic, Shopify, or Advanced plan, then you can find your collaborator request code and review collaborator requests in your Shopify admin. Go to Settings > Users and Permissions, and then find the Collaborators section.
If your store is on the Shopify Plus plan, then you can generate collaborator codes in the Shopify admin by navigating to Settings > Users > Security. Go to the Store security section and then find Collaborators. Learn more about managing collaborators in Organization settings.
To protect your store's security, Shopify Partners must enter a 4-digit code when they submit a collaborator request. If you're working with a freelancer or agency, then you must provide them with your unique collaborator request code before they can send a request. Refer your freelancer or agency to Requesting access to a client's store to get them started.
After the Partner, freelancer, or agency submits their collaborator request, you can accept or reject the request in the Collaborators section of your Shopify admin, where you can also find a list of your accepted collaborators.
Do I need to require a collaborator request code for a freelancer or agency to request access to my store?
In the Collaborators section of your Users and permissions page, Only people with a collaborator request code can send a collaborator request is selected by default. It's recommended that you require a collaborator request code to more effectively control the requests that you receive.
If you don't want to require collaborators to provide a code to request access to your store, then select Anyone can send a collaborator request.
How do I change my collaborator request code?
As a layer of security, a freelancer or agency must enter your 4-digit collaborator request code to send you a request for access to your store.
You can change your collaborator request code at any time by generating a new code. After you generate a new collaborator request code, any old codes no longer work.
Steps:
From your Shopify admin, go to Settings > Users and permissions.
In the Collaborators section, click Generate new code.
In the Generate new collaborator request code dialog, click Generate code to confirm.
What permissions should I give the freelancer or agency?
Give only the permissions that you feel comfortable giving. If a freelancer or agency asks for certain permissions, then there might be a good reason. If you aren't sure, then ask the freelancer or agency why they need the permissions.
If a collaborator requires access to your shipping profiles, then you need to give them the View products and Manage settings staff permissions.
For more information about permissions, refer to Staff permissions.
Can I control a collaborator's access to specific apps and channels?
Yes. When you approve access, you can set your apps and channels permissions to give a collaborator access to only certain apps and channels.
Can a freelancer use a collaborator account to log in to the Shopify app?
Yes. However, collaborators must log in to your store at least one time through the Stores page in their Partner Dashboard before they can log in using the Shopify app.
I accidentally rejected a request from a freelancer or agency, how can I get it back?
Ask the freelancer or agency to contact Partner Support. Partner Support will adjust the Partner's account so the Partner can send you another request.
What should I do when I'm finished working with a collaborator?
If you no longer need help from the collaborator, then remove their account. Otherwise, if a collaborator user hasn't logged into your store within 90 days, then their access will automatically expire.
How do I report an issue with a freelancer or agency?
First, make sure that the problem isn't because of a communication issue or mismatched expectations. Shopify isn't directly responsible for issues with freelancers or agencies. However, if you believe that a Shopify Partner isn't following the Partner Program Agreement, then fill out the Report a Partner violation form.
I got an email from a freelancer or agency that I don’t know or don’t want to work with, what should I do?
Review the request and confirm that you don’t want to work with them. If you aren't expecting a request, or if you don't recognize the sender, then you shouldn't accept their request.
To more effectively control the requests that you receive, ensure that the option to require a collaborator request code is selected. When you require a collaborator request code, only partners with the code can request access to your store, and you won't receive requests from freelancers and agencies who don't provide the correct code.