How to Permanently Deactivate Your Shopify Store in 5 Simple Steps
Updated July 4, 2024
Whether your online sales numbers are dropping or you can't keep up with managing multiple Shopify stores, you may be considering canceling or deactivating your Shopify store.
Unless you're working on a development store, you can quickly deactivate your Shopify account in a few easy steps.
Pro tip:
Before you proceed, you should manually cancel all third-party app subscriptions (Shopify doesn't cancel these automatically), transfer your custom domain (if applicable), and back up your database by exporting it as a CSV file.
How to Permanently Deactivate Your Shopify Store
On Shopify, canceling your plan equals deactivating your store. If you're looking for a "delete" button, it doesn't exist. Shopify makes this option somewhat hidden in the settings.
On Shopify, Canceling the Plan = Deactivating the Store
If you are trying to find a "delete" button, stop looking. It doesn't exist. They kind of bury the option in the settings to make it harder to leave.
To get it done, just go to Settings in the admin (bottom left) and click on the Plan tab.
You might have to scroll down a bit. You’ll see a button that says Cancel plan.
You’d then get a cancel plan pop-up:
This pop-up is actually important. You have to check the box saying you understand, but pay attention to the part about apps. Shopify will stop charging you, but they do not automatically cancel your third-party apps.
If you have a page builder or email tool installed, those companies will keep billing your card even if the store is gone. You should go in and manually cancel those subscriptions before you click Continue.
They won't let you leave without picking a reason. It doesn't really matter what you choose from the list, just pick one so the button lights up.
Next just enter your password and click Cancel plan to lock it in. That's it. You're out.
If you change your mind: You can log back in anytime within those 2 years, pay for a new plan, and your store will be exactly how you left it.
After 2 years: The data is permanently wiped and cannot be recovered.
That's it—your store is now deactivated.
What Happens After Deactivation?
- Data retention: Shopify keeps your data (products, orders, customer lists, theme customizations) on their servers for 2 years.
- If you change your mind: You can log back in anytime within those 2 years, pay for a new plan, and your store will be exactly how you left it.
- After 2 years: Your data is permanently wiped and cannot be recovered.
» Consider pausing your Shopify store first to assess your situation
Closing Up Shop
Inventory management issues across multiple stores, slacking sales, or domain migration are a few reasons you may want to close your Shopify store. Providing you cancel all your prescriptions and are up to date with payments, this can be done in minutes and reversed if needed.
