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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, you can launch your store to change access from private to public.

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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:

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.

Mobile

  1. From the Shopify app, tap Menu, and then tap Settings 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 or ✓.

Test a transaction with other payment providers

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

Preview your store

Before you remove your password, you can preview your storefront. In the Sales channels section of your Shopify admin, click Online Store. Then, click Preview store. Learn more about navigating your theme preview.

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.

Launch your store

During your free trial, your online store is automatically in private mode. In private mode, your site's pages are inaccessible, and a customizable landing page with a password option is displayed instead. You can create a password and add a custom message for your customers when they visit your store.

Before you can launch your store, you must complete the following required steps:

  • Select a subscription plan. If you pick a plan during a free trial, then you won't be charged any subscription fees until your free trial expires.
  • Add a store address to the Business details section of the Settings > General page.
  • Set up a payment method, and make sure that test mode is deactivated.

When you're ready to launch your online store, you can launch from any of the following areas of your Shopify admin:

  • From the access setting menu on the Online Store page.
  • From the Online Store > Preferences page in the Store access section.
  • From the launch banner on your main theme's preview on the Online Store page, or in the theme editor.
  • From the launch card on the Shopify admin Home page.

Steps:

Launch your store using the launch button
  1. Access the launch button from any of the following locations: the Shopify admin Home page, Online Store page, or theme editor.
  2. Click Launch store.
Launch your store using the Online Store access menu

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

  2. Click Private icon Private.

  3. Select View icon Public.

  4. Click Launch store.

Launch your store from Online Store > Preferences

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

  2. In the Store access section, deactivate the Private mode setting.

  3. Click Save.