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How To Backup A Shopify Store
Last modified: October 28, 2023
Backups are vital for the success of your store because they protect you from mistakes and malicious activity on your site. When you perform updates or there is a breach on your website, your entire site can be corrupted. This can cause a lot of pain.
Backups should be done regularly, at least once a month for low-volume retail stores or once a day for those with high-traffic volumes.
There are lots of ways that you can back up your store. The best way to backup your store is to use a backup app.
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Rewind Backups
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Backup
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ExIm ‑ Export / Import data
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Excelify
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Xporter Data Export Tool
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EZ Exporter ‑ Data Exports
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Automatic Backups
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ThemeWatch ‑ theme backup tool
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Theme Backup
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Plug in Backup
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Export Import Data
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Theme Save
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Data Backups & Recovery
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What You Should Know Before You Backup Your Store
Before you backup your store, you need to know what certain aspects are. Backups are completed in CSV. These are files that allow data to be stored in a table structure using commas to separate values.
CSV files are used when doing bulk editing as well as completing a backup.
If you make any changes to a backup, you should ensure that you’re saving the document with UTF-8 encoding. Otherwise, it will not work when you import that back into your shop.
What You Need To Backup Your Store
To complete a backup of your Shopify store, you need to ensure that you have a subscription plan with Shopify. If you want to transfer the backup to another store, you need to ensure that both new and original stores have the same subscription plan.
How To Backup Products
Step 1: Log Into Your Shopify Dashboard
Go to your Shopify login page and sign in with your user credentials.
Step 2: Find An App
Choose one of the backup apps that have been mentioned here.
Step 3: Install App
On the App page, choose to ‘Add App’ to your store and then follow the instructions.
Step 4: Complete A Backup
Then you should choose to complete a backup of your website. Some apps will do this for you automatically. Others will need to be manually done. Refer to the user documentation of the app to find out.
Creating A Backup For Just Products, Collections, etc.
If you just want to create a backup of products or collections, you can do this by exporting your products/collections.
Step 1: Log Into Your Shopify Store
Go to your Shopify store log in page and login.
Step 2: Go To Your Products Page
Through your Shopify admin page, click on the ‘Products’ tab.
Step 3: Export
On the Products page, click on the ‘Export’ option.
Step 4: Choose Products To Export
Then you will be presented with a dialog box. Choose the products you’re hoping to export. There are several options that will be presented. These include:
- All products in your store.
- All the products on your current page.
- Products that you’ve selected manually.
- Products that match a ‘Search and Filters’ criteria you’ve entered (or going to enter).
Step 5: Choose The Type Of CSV
Next you’ll need to select the type of CSV file that you want to export. If you’re looking to bulk edit your products, be sure to save the file in the file format that is applicable to your spreadsheet application (i.e. Excel, Numbers, etc.).
If you want to edit the content of the CSV after download with a plain-text editor, you will want to download a plain CSV file.
Step 6: Export
Click on the ‘Export products’ option.
Step 7: Go To Your Emails
Once requested the process is done in the background. When complete, an email is sent that contains a secure download link. You can click on the link to retrieve the product CSV file.
Understanding the Importance of Backups
Why Backing Up is Crucial
We often underestimate the risks associated with online stores. From phishing attacks by hackers to accidental deletions, many things can go wrong. A solid backup strategy ensures that you’re prepared for any mishap.
Shopify’s Stance on Backups
Contrary to popular belief, Shopify doesn’t automatically backup stores. It’s the merchant’s responsibility. While Shopify provides tools for manual backups, relying solely on them might not be the best strategy for larger stores.
Manual vs. Automated Backups
For new stores or those on a tight budget, manual backups might suffice. However, as your store grows, automating the backup process becomes more appealing. Apps can put this process on auto-pilot, ensuring regular backups without constant oversight.
Manually Backup Your Store
Exporting Store Data
Shopify allows merchants to export specific data as CSV files. This includes customer info, product details, financial data, and more. However, some elements, like product images, need to be downloaded separately.
Storing Your Backup Safely
Once you’ve exported your data, it’s vital to store it securely. Consider password-protecting your backup folders. Regular backups, especially after significant changes, ensure you always have the latest data saved.
Restoring from a Backup
If disaster strikes, having a backup is only half the battle. You need to know how to restore it. Shopify’s interface allows for easy importing of CSV files, helping you get your store back up and running quickly.
Backing up a Shopify Store: Things to Consider
Frequency of Backups
The frequency of backups largely depends on the activity level of the store. For stores that see regular updates, daily backups might be essential. In contrast, stores with less frequent changes might opt for weekly or bi-weekly backups.
Data Integrity
Ensuring the integrity of the data being backed up is crucial. It’s not just about having a backup but having a backup that can be restored without issues. Always verify backups to ensure they’re complete and free from corruption.
Storage Location
Where the backup data is stored plays a significant role in its safety. It’s advisable to have multiple backup locations, both on-site (like on a local hard drive) and off-site (like cloud storage). This diversification ensures that if one backup fails or gets corrupted, there’s another one to fall back on.
Backup Costs
While backing up is essential, it’s also vital to consider the costs associated. Manual backups might be free but can be time-consuming. Automated solutions, though efficient, come with subscription fees. Balancing the need for backups with the associated costs is essential for sustainable store management.
Restoration Process
Having a backup is only half the battle; knowing how to restore it effectively is equally important. Regularly test the restoration process to ensure that, in the event of a disaster, the store can be up and running in the shortest time possible.
Conclusion: How To Backup A Shopify Store
Mistakes can happen. Be sure that you aren’t going to lose a lot of work because you don’t have a backup.
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Are there any data limitations when backing up my store manually?
Manual store backups have limitations; you can save important data like customer info and financial records but need to download elements like product images separately to ensure comprehensive backups.
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Can I backup my Shopify store manually?
Yes, you can manually export product, customer, and order data from Shopify. However, this method might not capture all store details, so using a dedicated backup solution is advised.
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How often should I backup my Shopify store?
It’s recommended to backup your store whenever significant changes are made. However, for added security, consider setting up daily or weekly automated backups.
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