To cancel Shopify, go to Settings, then Plan in your Shopify admin, click Cancel plan, and choose to deactivate the store, which closes it at the end of your current billing cycle. If you only want a break from selling, pick the Pause and Build plan on the same screen instead, because it keeps your store and admin open at a reduced fee.
Here's what most people miss. Cancelling doesn't stop everything the moment you click. Your domain renewals aren't cancelled with the store, chargebacks can still be filed against old orders, and pending Shopify Payments payouts keep processing after you've lost access to the admin you'd need to fix them. Shopify also has a strict no-refund policy on subscription plans, so there's no partial refund for the days left in your cycle.
Pause, deactivate or reactivate: the three options
| Option | What happens, as of October 2026 |
|---|---|
| Pause and Build plan | Checkout is switched off on every sales channel, but you keep the admin, basic reports and your storefront, at a reduced monthly fee |
| Deactivate (cancel plan) | Your subscription ends at the end of the current billing cycle, all apps are uninstalled and pending charges are billed |
| Reactivate plan | Undo a cancellation before the billing cycle ends, from Settings, then Plan |
| Reopen a closed store | Possible for up to 2 years after deactivating, as long as your data hasn't been deleted |
The timing catches people out. If you cancel today and your billing cycle ends on November 25, Shopify's own example says your store is deactivated on November 25. Until then it keeps running normally, and that includes taking orders. The same is true of a switch to Pause and Build, which is also scheduled for the end of the cycle. If you don't want orders coming in during that gap, Shopify suggests turning on private mode for your online store.
Who can pause a store, and who can't
Pause and Build has rules. You must be the store owner, the free trial has to be over, and the store needs to be on a paid plan. It isn't available on Shopify Plus at all, and Plus stores can't deactivate from the admin either: they contact Shopify Plus Support or a Merchant Success Specialist. If the Pause and Build option doesn't show when you click Cancel plan, one of those three checks is usually the reason.
While you're paused, customers can still see your products but can't buy them. You can send draft order invoices, but those orders can't be completed. Discounts, gift cards, abandoned checkout recovery, POS and publishing to channels such as Facebook and Google all stop. If you'd rather hide the products completely, switch on private mode and write a message on your password page.
One more thing about pausing: your apps stay active. If an app bills you on its own cycle, it can keep charging while you're paused, so uninstall the ones you won't need before or right after you switch. When you come back, you'll pick a new plan, because your old plan is no longer valid.
What to save before you deactivate
- Export CSV files of your store data, and your billing history, from the admin.
- If you use Shopify Payments, export your payout history and transaction details too.
- Export the gift card CSV if you've sold gift cards, so you can settle outstanding balances.
- Download a backup of any theme you bought. Themes are licensed only to the store you bought them for.
- Deal with open subscription or preorder orders and issue any refunds before you go.
Your myshopify.com address is unique to that store. You can open a new store with the same name later, but you can't reuse the old myshopify.com URL. If you're only unhappy with the name, it's quicker to change your store name than to start again.
How to deactivate your Shopify store
- Log in as the store owner. Shopify Support can't deactivate a store for you.
- From your Shopify admin, go to Settings, then Plan.
- Click Cancel plan, or Cancel trial if you're still on the free trial.
- Review the offers to downgrade, pause or start a new store, then check your Shopify domains and pending charges.
- Select Cancel my plan and uninstall all apps, then click Continue.
- Pick a reason, add a comment if you like, and click Continue.
- Optionally tick Save payment details to reopen your store faster, enter your password and confirm.
You'll get an email confirming the store is deactivated. You can still log in to view past bills. If your two-step authentication device is lost, use a backup method or a saved recovery code first, because deactivation needs you to pass that check.
Your domain after the store closes
This is where the surprise charges come from. Domain renewals aren't cancelled when you cancel the store, so a domain that renews before your close date can still be billed. If you bought the domain through Shopify and want to keep it, transfer it to another domain provider. If it came from a third party, turn off auto-renew at your registrar.
When the store is deactivated, custom domains disconnect from it. There's also a security setting to know about: Shopify's HSTS policy stays on your domain for 90 days after you deactivate. Move the domain to a platform that uses HTTPS and you won't notice. Move it to one that doesn't, and visitors see a browser error saying the site isn't trusted until the 90 days are up.
Billing, credits and data after you close
| What's left | What Shopify says |
|---|---|
| Pending charges | App usage, transaction fees and shipping label charges are billed when you cancel |
| Account credits | Stay available for 60 days, then expire |
| Invoices after closing | Still possible for third-party charges, chargebacks or another store you own |
| Shopify Payments payouts | Keep going to your bank on your payout schedule; fixing a failed one means reactivating |
| Chargebacks | Can still be filed; you'd need to reactivate to submit evidence |
| Shopify Credit cards | Locked while the store is paused or deactivated |
| Store data | Kept for 2 years; customer personal data can be deleted sooner on request |
Deleting data is final. Only the store owner can ask Shopify Support for it, it applies only to that one store, and data is deleted within 14 days of the request being completed. Change your mind inside those 14 days and you can stop it by contacting Support again. After that, the store can't be reopened.
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If you reactivate in the middle of a billing cycle you've already paid for, you aren't charged again until your next normal billing date, on both monthly and annual plans.
My verdict: pause or close?
I'd pause if your store is seasonal or you'll be back within months, because you keep the admin, the reports and your setup, and you can reopen by picking a plan. I'd deactivate only once you've exported your data, sorted the domain and settled open orders, since the admin goes at the end of the cycle and that's what you'd need for a chargeback. If you're leaving because of cost, check Shopify fees against the plan you're on first, and if you're switching platforms, here are the Shopify alternatives I'd look at.
Closing a store is a good moment to look at which admin chores could run themselves next time. I run AI training and workshops for teams, and help businesses with AI enablement and workflow automation, so the busywork runs itself and people get time back. Most of that work is with SaaS marketing teams and small businesses. Here's how we can work together.
Frequently asked questions
Does Shopify refund you when you cancel?
No. Shopify has a strict no-refund policy for subscription plans, and that applies to cancellations and deactivations.
When does my Shopify store close after I cancel?
At the end of your current billing cycle. Until then it keeps running and can take orders, so turn on private mode if you want to stop sales sooner.
Can I pause my Shopify store on Shopify Plus?
No. The Pause and Build plan isn't available on Shopify Plus, and Plus stores contact Shopify Plus Support to deactivate.
How long does Shopify keep my store after I cancel?
Your store's information is kept for 2 years, so you can reopen it without rebuilding, unless you ask for the data to be deleted.
Will my domain still renew after I cancel Shopify?
It can. Domain renewals aren't cancelled with the store, so manage the renewal settings or transfer the domain before you go.
