If you already have or are planning to launch your own Shopify store, the chances are that you’d like to upgrade or simply modify the looks of your store every once in a while. Now, it is known to us that Shopify operates via themes, and you might find yourself in a situation where you either want to update or adjust one of your existing theme designs.
Yes, such situations can be unwelcoming and are bound to leave you confused in the process. But you can reduce the chances of losing your hard work if you have backed up your Shopify themes before you begin experimenting with a new one.
What if we told you that backing up your Shopify theme is as important as maintaining the CSV format for your store’s data? Yes, the themes play a more crucial role than one might have thought!
After all, it’s always better to have a second choice if things dont go as you plan them to. Therefore, to save you from such last-moment struggles and save your time and anxiety, we have dedicated this post to help you clear the mess.
This article presents ways in which you can easily back up your Shopify themes. Continue reading to save those precious hours.
Table of Contents
What are Shopify Themes?
In technical terms, a theme is a pre-designed template that helps determine your website’s look and feel. These designs give you a first-hand of what or how your website will look like upon completion. Developed in various layouts and styles, every theme is unique as it offers a unique experience to your visitors.
Sounds a bit too technical? Relax; there’s another way around it!
Let’s understand it in simpler words and with an example:
In simpler terms, a theme in Shopify is a form of a ready design, which describes how your website will look and feel when it’s up and ready. Every theme is uniquely designed across different styles and designs, providing individual users with a unique experience.
These themes allow you to set the tone of your store. For one such instance, if you’d want your online store to look ravishing and relaxing, you’d choose a calm theme. On the other hand, if youre the owner of an electronic store, you might opt for a more vibrant theme option.
Themes are highly customizable, allowing users to easily change their settings from the Shopify admin panel. Moreover, if you’re unsatisfied with the final output, you can update the theme code to suit your style.
Why do Shopify Themes, Matter?
1. It helps protect your store’s look and personality
Your brand is easily the most notable and important asset; you can’t just simply apply any of the themes available on Shopify. Brand personality serves as an essential aspect when it comes to your brand personality. The way your shop looks has a lot to do with its characteristics which help users draw a reference to a brand.
Here are a few pointers that help brands highlight their personality:
- Fun-loving
- Sophistication
- Sincerity
- Excitement
- Ruggedness
Your theme plays a crucial role in allowing you to highlight the characteristics of your store.
2. Determines Your Website UX
Your theme plays a significant role in improving your store’s design, as it determines the overall UX of your website. Why? Because your theme helps determine crucial factors like the final layout, navigation, aesthetics, color schemes, and more.
Why should you back up your Shopify themes?
Backing up your Shopify store theme is crucial; why you ask? Well, understand it this way you’ve recently come around to a new theme and want to incorporate it into your store. But applying a theme is a long process, and you need to keep a check on all the latest customizations and adjustments before you finalize and publish the unfinished version for the customers.
However, given that the process is long, there are chances to make mistakes in the theme. Your theme could likely be interrupted or broken in such a situation, and in such a case, wouldn’t it help if you had a backup copy in place?
Further, it isn’t only about keeping a backup in case things go wrong. Backing up your themes allows you to create specific styles and designs or incorporate custom concepts and colors into your store on special occasions. You might want your store to look slightly different in styling and colors for seasonal sales such as Cyber Monday, Black Friday, and Christmas.
In such instances, having a backup will allow you to revert to the original theme version at the end of such sales or events.
How to Backup Shopify Theme?
Now that we understand the significance of having a backup of the Shopify store, let’s jump to the creation process.
To begin your Shopify theme backup, you need to navigate your store’s menu item, present in the Shopify admin at the left toolbar. Once you click on the admin panel, it takes you to the default theme page. If you missed it, you could also access the option from the tab present at the bottom of the sub-menu of your theme.
Your primary themes page includes a thumbnail, giving you access to a variety of free and premium themes, depending on your needs.
Here’s a visual representation of the process:
Step 2: Create your Current Themes Copy
In order to access the options, click on the Actions button. Since this step wants you to create a backup of your current theme, you need to click on the duplicate option present in the drop-down menu.
Once you click on the duplicate button, Shopify starts creating a clone of the current Shopify theme that your store is using.
Remember, youre not allowed to keep beyond 20 themes on your website; therefore, you need to delete your previously unused themes.
Step 3: Rename your newly created Themes Copy.
Once you’ve successfully duplicated your theme, you’ll notice that the dashboard presents you with two links that appear next to the reproduction of your theme:
From your dropdown menu, select Action -> Customization, followed by Rename, where you can change the name from the drop-down menu.
Once you’ve renamed the downloaded theme, it’s time you use the newly created duplicate as a Copy of your initial theme. Here, we suggest you add some metrics and give a name, as it will help you navigate using such backups.
Congratulations! You’ve successfully created a backup of your Shopify theme!
Now, while we have simplified the backup process for you, there are chances that you’d still find it time-consuming. It’s normal to prefer focusing on your core operations rather than spending all your time creating and experimenting with backups.
What if we told you that there was a way? Yes, even backups can be automated. How? Via apps to help you back up your Shopify theme.
Backing up your Theme using Shopify backup apps
The other way around for you to back up your Shopify theme is by using different Shopify backup apps available in the market. With such apps installed on your website, you’ll be able to back up your theme and create automatic backups of your store’s data.
What’s more? Backup apps like the Goshu backup app simplify automation by creating backups developed specifically for Shopify and provide support to millions of themes.
Therefore, it’s always a smart move to automate your backups and focus on the core business operations.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Shopify theme.
1. How do I transfer my Shopify theme?
Well, that’s really simple! In order to initiate a transfer, you need to reach out to the Shopify help center to get it transferred. However, you need to understand that you can only transfer your theme to one of your second stores and not any other account.
2. Can you back up the Shopify store?
Yes, you can create a backup of your Shopify store. There are three methods to it:
- Create a manual backup
- Create a backup tool
- Use automated tools like the Goshu backup app
3. What Shopify theme is?
A theme in Shopify is a form of a ready design, which describes how your website will look and feel when it’s up and ready.
4. How do I get Shopify themes?
Getting Shopify themes is really easy; all you need to do is visit your store’s Themes section. Once youre there, select any of the themes you like.
Note: Shopify also offers premium themes; ensure you check them out.
5. Can you modify Shopify themes?
Yes, it’s possible to modify your Shopify theme. All you need to do is navigate to the themes section in your control panel.
Takeaway Tips for new Shopify Store Owners
- Update your product inventories weekly, if not daily: While you run your business, it is always important that you create relevant backups at regular intervals. While it can be a task to do it regularly, we suggest you update and create backups of your product inventory weekly.
- Test your store’s mobile settings: Before your store has initiated its first campaign run, it’s important that you cross-check the settings of your store. Sometimes, when youre visiting your website from a different device, you’ll notice that the site isn’t optimized to fit into a smaller screen. Therefore, it’s important that you check your store’s settings before investing in ad campaigns.
- Dont over-customize your theme store: While it’s true that Shopify allows you to customize the themes your way, you should avoid making changes to its core. Heavy modification might take away the essence of the original design. However, when it comes to modifications, ensure that you use relevant images to match your brand’s identity.
- Include your policies in the footer: One of the major mistakes by new store owners is that they forget to include the policies of their stores. Yes, it’s common, and it’s okay. In order to ensure the true success of your store and avoid mistakes in the development, make maximum use of the footer and include your website’s policies there.
Conclusion
Well, that’s a wrap to our article! Hopefully, with the completion of all the different factors, we hope you won’t be facing any struggles in creating a successful backup of your Shopify theme.
Remember, creating a backup is a straightforward process; however, you need to ensure that you make regular copies of your themes. Once you create an appropriately segregate your backups, utilizing them at the time of need will become simplified!
