- Turn on password protection
- The quick switch on the Online Store page
- What private mode does
- Customise your password page
- When to use password protection
- Launch your store: make it public
- Think about search engines
- Private mode and your theme
- A pre-launch plan that works
- Taking a break without closing
- Giving people access
- My verdict
- Frequently asked questions
To password protect your Shopify store, go to Online Store, then Preferences in your admin, switch on Private mode under Store access, enter a password and click Save. Visitors then see a password page instead of your store, and search engines can't see your pages. Give the password to anyone you want to let in.
There are good reasons to hide a Shopify store behind a password: you're still building it, you're preparing a launch, you want a private preview for VIP customers, or you need to take the store offline for a while. Shopify calls this private mode. Here's how to switch it on, set the password, customise what visitors see and open the doors when you're ready.
Turn on password protection
- In your Shopify admin, go to Online Store, then Preferences.
- In the Store access section, switch on Private mode.
- In the Password field, enter the password visitors will use.
- Optional: add a Message to your visitors.
- Click Save.
Shopify has one important warning: don't use the same password you use to log in to your Shopify admin. You'll be giving this one out to customers, so make it something separate.
The quick switch on the Online Store page
Shopify also puts an access menu on the main Online Store page that shows whether your store is Public or Private. Click it and choose the other option, then Update. When switching to private, you can update the password there too. It's the fastest way to flip between the two.
What private mode does
- Hides all your online store's pages from visitors.
- Hides your pages from search engines.
- Shows a password page where people can enter the password.
Shopify says new stores start in private mode by default, and you launch the store to make it public once setup is complete. So if your store seems to have a password you never set, that's why.
Customise your password page
The password page is the first thing people see, so make it work for you. Add a short message about what's coming and when, and include a way to sign up for launch news if your theme supports it. If the page shows Powered by Shopify, Shopify's guide to removing it covers the separate box for the Opening soon page that appears in private mode.
When to use password protection
| Situation | Why it helps |
|---|---|
| Building a new store | Keeps an unfinished store out of sight and out of search results |
| Pre-launch buzz | Lets you share the password with a waiting list first |
| VIP or wholesale preview | Gives selected customers early access |
| Temporary closure | Stops orders while you're away or restocking |
There's also an option to restrict access to B2B customers only, for stores that sell to trade buyers rather than the public.
Launch your store: make it public
- Go to Online Store.
- Click Private in the access menu.
- Select Public.
- Click Update.
Before you do, check your pages, products, delivery settings and test an order, so your first visitors get the store you intended.
Think about search engines
Because private mode hides your pages from search engines, a store that stays private for a long time won't build any search visibility. Use it while you build, then launch as soon as you're ready, so Google can start finding your pages.
Private mode and your theme
Switching on private mode doesn't change your theme or your products; it just puts a page in front of them. Behind the password, you can keep building, editing and testing as normal. Shopify notes that publishing a different theme doesn't change your store's access either, so your store stays private until you choose to make it public.
Want AI doing the heavy lifting in your marketing?
I build the systems that handle the boring 80 percent, so you get your week back. Done properly, with the human kept in.
A pre-launch plan that works
- Keep the store private while you build and test.
- Write a password page message that says what's coming and roughly when.
- Share the password with your email list or best customers a day or two early.
- Make the store public on launch day and announce it everywhere.
Taking a break without closing
Private mode is also handy if you need a short break, for example while you're on holiday or waiting for stock. Customers see your password page message instead of a store they can't buy from. Write a friendly note explaining when you'll be back, and switch back to public as soon as you're ready, so you don't lose the search visibility you've built.
Giving people access
To let someone in while private mode is on, simply share the password, by email, in a social media post for a launch event, or on a printed card at a market stall. Change the password when the preview period ends so old copies stop working and the preview stays special. If you're preparing for launch, my e-commerce website checklist helps you check you're ready, and this guide to localising an e-commerce site is useful if you're launching in more than one country.
My verdict
Online Store, Preferences, switch on Private mode, set a password that isn't your admin password, add a message and save. Use the Public and Private menu on the Online Store page to flip quickly, customise the password page for launches, and go public as soon as you're ready so search engines can find you.
Frequently asked questions
How do I put a password on my Shopify store?
Go to Online Store, Preferences, switch on Private mode, enter a password and click Save.
Why does my new Shopify store have a password?
Shopify says new stores start in private mode by default until you launch.
Can search engines see a password-protected Shopify store?
No. Shopify says private mode hides your pages from visitors and search engines.
How do I remove the password from my Shopify store?
On the Online Store page, click Private, select Public and click Update.
Should I use my admin password for the store password?
No. Shopify says don't use the same password you use to log in to your admin.
