Remove /Pages from URL my store

[grayer]

Hi, 

Is there any way to remove /Pages from URL.Currently, my page URL is ".com/pages/about-us" i want to change to ".com/about-us".I tried URL redirect method Navigation settings and edit the code from theme.liquid to like this,

{% if template contains 'collection' and current_tags %}
<meta name="robots" content="noindex" />
<link rel="canonical" href="{{ shop.url }}{{ collection.url }}" />
{% else %}
<link rel="canonical" href="{{ canonical_url }}" />
{% endif %}

Still it did not work. Please help me.Thank you.

[b2]

You would think this issue countless merchants dislike would've been fixed by now. This issue was brought to attention way before this post. It's crazy that this was even implemented at all... Whoever had that idea must have some control issues? IDK... I just think there should atleast be SOME sort of option to change it. Give us a option! IDC if it gives me a headache but give me a way! Lol

[manurajpatel]

I have this issue from way Long and none of the so-called "Shopify Guru's" able to help... 1st of all, please stop calling Guru when you clearly not able to help MANY with just 1 URL related issue.

I have been frustrated so much that I have redirected about 50+ customers to wordpress.

Though I love Shopify, however this issue making MANY of us going nuts.

[NotAGuru]

can't agree more.... get us this feature!

Is there a solution in Shopify +? (Yes, we would pay for it...)

or we go to Magento 2 Cloud 🙂 => i know irony does not work in the great www... hence allow me to explicitly call out IRONY!

[b2]

Still no solution... SAD

[Faz2019]

Still no response from Shopify? Looks like they've abandoned us LOL!

On a serious not we all need this fixed cos the URL looks rubbish at this point in time. Looks fake.

Shopify!!!!! Please, please, pretty please ... SORT IT OUT!

[lisasocal]

This is ridiculous that there isn't a solution yet! I've been asking about it for years with client websites and I almost went to Big Commerce because of it. In fact, Shopify take notice >> Big Commerce is using this issue as a selling point for their platform. 

[davidp12]

It is absolutely crazy that Shopify still doesn't have that feature. It really cheapens the look of any website that has those breadcrumbs on the URL

David

[b2]

I see Shopify has updated store search results. Why can't we get the main URL structure fixed? I think every store owner / developer would like this feature and it shouldn't take this long to get it done...

[BYGONE]

im pretty sure they're just ignoring this thread now lol

[RuthH]

Lizzy....are you or anyone else going to reply to the huge amount of people want to know WTF is going on here and if any changes are likely to happen with this set up effecting people SEO hugely.

Don't keep ignoring us. It's just **bleep**ed up, to put it politely!

Please speak to us, or get someone else to give us an update.

[Nick]

Hi everyone, 

Nick here from Shopify. I wanted to provide an update on this for you all to follow up on what Lizzy said a while back. 

This is a feature request which has been put forward, and we are unable to provide a timeline. It would be great if people could reply in this thread with feedback, but in doing so, explain how exactly this will help your store and business so I can add it to the existing feature request. This gives the development team some more context on why this is important for store owners and could help make it a reality. 

[ChristianM]

hello @Nick 

i am not sure if this is an attempt to be sarcastic, but every SEO person on this planet, anyone who has worked with google and the likes before would never doubt nor second this request.

it is a sad-joke that Shopify does not take this serious! And the worst: they don't use the logic and structure themselves... i guess they have at least 1 capable seo person inhouse... 

Bottom line: just give us the freedom and flexibility over our URL structure, and we are all friends again.

THanks.

[gregj]

Hi @Nick First of all thanks for the response. At the same time, it is completely unfair to come now and say for what reason you want? and can't tell the timeline when this will be done? i.e it's been a Year, So do you think it is fair response from you saying that being from Shopify Team.

Yes, As the People who don't want to see /collections /products , Like told by @ChristianM , it helps in terms of Organic Search when we have a very well-structured website where these /collections and /products are unnecessary things which damage and impact the store or else business in Organic Traffic. Wordpress has several options to remove any such type of things with custom coding or else with Plugins. Like that, In Shopify, For the users who want to remove those /collections and /products from url, provide them an option where they can edit the code or other which is going to remove them completely.  

It will be really bad if you can't say timeline as it is very simple thing and don't prolong, As the feedback was given Respond within 1 day by sending the same to Technical team and ask on how much time it take (like already told, Your Team needs to give ability to remove /collections and /products customly by editing coding or some other thing which don't take more than a day or two to do that). I hope you @Nick ask the Team and respond back with teamline as it's already an year and no longer Good to delay.

To say you further @Nick , Defaultly for Shopify Sites if users visited from collections pages and then to specific product, the url looks like Sitename.com/collections/collection-name/products/product-name . Inorder to avoid this from collections to look like sitename.com/products/product-name even if gone from Collections page, it can be edited like told here https://paulnrogers.com/how-to-change-the-product-url-structure-in-shopify/

So in sameway, Provide opportunity to remove completely /collections and /products like having ability to look like sitename.com/product-name and sitename.com/collection-name either if users go to Products directly or else gone via collections. The option is clear just by providing the removal option or else hiding option with a coding (like told it was happening with above case). 

Really I was about to start with Shopify, This issue is preventing to go with you, Hence kindly request you to interact with Technical team and come back in a day as this is not some Heavy task work (when already above case was solved)

[ChrisBeattie]

Wow, this is a feature request and we can't give timelines.

Even though it's been a year with nothing.

I don't see the big deal is in letting us use our own URL structures.

This is a basic feature, that should have been implemented a long time ago.

Stop dragging your feet and give the people who pay your wages the basic features they've requested.

Im sure a lot of people have either left this platform, or are thinking or leaving just on this alone.

[Click]

@Nick The answers to your context request "explain how exactly this will help your store and business " are already in this thread.  Really, thanks for the reply but just read the thread for answers and perhaps people wouldn't react poorly to the response.

Simply, we want control over the URL structure.  We want to create our own taxonomy.  We want to not be buried in sub pages we have no control of, like /pages or /products simply does not work for everyone.  When advertising the preference is always to link to yoursite.com/maypromo rather than yoursite.com/pages/maypromo.  Would you ever want to verbally give somebody that path and expect them to go to it?  We are forced to use redirects for attempting to accomplish this but redirects are NOT GOOD FOR SEO.  

All of those reasons have already been mentioned in this thread so it's a bit of a concern that there's a request for more info here on context.  The context is 6 pages deep. (edit: 7 pages now)

[NovaPharma]

Hi @Nick , here's Michael

For a hundred times we are mentioning that it's a SEO concern, it's sad to say that we all would like to move to another platform because we can't get the traffic we want with our website due to bad URL structure. Why is that important to us? Because Google is reading our Sitemap or (Breadcrumb of a current location of a user's query) and what's written onto. This is defining more information for google to grab relevant content for a user's query. A bad URL structured including /page or /collections is just a rookie implementation. It looks like we're building a website on VTech Kid's PC , user friendly platform for "beginners".

Stop throwing us some basic information about "how to optimize SEO on shopify" like we are newbies. If we're here, it's to convince you to re-write your URL structure as we all demand it to optimize something we all care about. So how you Shopify Gurus cannot get it? We need real professional support and our request is one of the most important right now! 

Sad to say, some people are on their start-up or heading to step up their game with this ecommerce platform but hit a plateau because of this issue so we can't develop a real long-term profitable ecommerce.

Thank you for your time. I know there is a bunch of other requests and questions from other members but as an SEO Expert, i took time to reply because i can see the potential of a huge upgrade for your platform vs. your competitors.

Regards.

[ChrisBeattie]

I originally started my business using Wix, but that got dumped because of the complete lack of everything.

But saying that, even Wix let you use your own URL structure. I still think Shopify is a great platform for where I'm at right now, but without this feature, and others like being able to access and edit your .htaccess file, I can't see me staying here when my profits start rising more. Which by how many sales I'm getting week on week won't be long.

Im starting to think about WordPress, where I know I can get these features. So unless Shopify get their act together and start listening to their community they'll start losing profits.

[BYGONE]

@Nick the most obvious case would be for people switching to Shopify from another platform...don't you want to make it as easy as possible?

I'm switching from wordpress to shopify and i have tons of links all across the web that I have already shared and blogged ect...

now all of the links are broken because I can't change the URL structure. 

the only way with shopify would be to create a redirect for each url (pain in the ass) -- then you still don't know if you missed a link due to human error and the fact that i have a lot of pages and products.

besides wanting to make the transfer easy for new customers - isn't it pretty obvious for SEO purposes and also just having a shorter cleaner link 🤷‍♂️  shopify seems to be the only platform that doesn't allow you control over the structure - yet it's one of the most expensive.

Did you respond just to make us think you guys were working on it?? I'm starting to see why Shopify stock is falling.

[RuthH]

Hi Nick

Are you actually joking???

Can you not see from the 7 pages of messages within this community chat,
why this feature is needed!!??

You are asking people for more information - WTF!!!!!

[FelixLux]

@Nick Thank you for the reply.

Excuse the tone please.

I guess it won't help to get this feature done soon, simply by reacting aggressively. Honestly, reasons for this request have been stated several times in this thread. Most likely in every basic on-page SEO guide as well. @Lizzy has claimed she put the request forward twice over the space of several months. But with zero updates or replies, it just sounds like an excuse to calm us down. That's why people are getting upset.

Now why do we and YOU need this feature:

1. It helps SEO, basically every other good shop system offers this feature. Details in this thread.
2. Makes migrating from another platform much easier. Details in this thread.

So not only does it help your customers, it also makes it easier to acquire new ones.
Is that reason enough to make this feature request a fast lane ticket and get it done ASAP?

Thank you for your understanding and please, please keep us updated.

Have a nice day,
Felix

[Nick]

I appreciate everyone's desire for the feature however please avoid speculation and personal attacks. Per our updates, in this thread, we have been capturing your feedback and adding it to our feature request system. 

My last reply was enforcing that we cannot provide a timeline, and at this time the only thing we can do is collect your feedback since everyone was looking for an update in this topic. 

I understand this thread has lots of feedback and that has been captured already but since this feature has not come to fruition yet the more context we can provide to our development helps them understand every aspect of this request. Again we cannot provide any sort of timeline and in the event, we do have more information we will update. 

To those that have been why this is important, we appreciate your feedback. 

Thanks, Nick

[gregj]

I don't encourage any type of abuses but the way you behaving seems like it is not wrong from them.

Do you care or not? I want to start my site immediately, do I have to wait here until you solve these? If no timeline means, do I need to wait 3 days? 1 week? 1 month? Or else 1 year?

Don't give irresponsible reply, can't your team say the timeline for this? I want to start my site? Now you tell me what I need to do i.e do I need to waste mytime looking for the update? Or else leave away from this Shopify?

[fusiondesigner]

Yeah we need a timeline as this doesn’t offer anything of value. Shopify have a lot of platform ‘engineers’ you also have an SEO team, you’d think they’d be advocating for this basic ability to craft URL’s. Have you created the JIRA ticket yet for this feature enhancement?

Really sloppy.

[Click]

@Nick 
If you want a compelling business case use Site Migrations.  New sites aren't as bad although migrations are extremely painful without control over the taxonomy.  Yeah, ok some of the taxonomy can be reserved, like for Shopify's core being /cart /checkout etc.  But open the rest up and those who are on other platforms can now retain their url structure when migrating.  Now a bunch of new customers wouldn't have that gating factor.

Somebody mentioned .htaccess, they don't use Apache, it's NGINX so it would be an NGINX directive file if they went that far as to provide this feature via direct file edits.  Honestly, I don't care if it's direct access to the NGINX directives or a UI that takes care of all of it.  

If an app based install for pro users (like Shopify Scripts and Shopify Flow) to modify NGINX directives is the quickest path to resolution, that would be satisfactory as a stop gap.  Overall, the update should be integrated into the UI so it's not just limited to more technical users.

[Nick]

Thanks for your feedback @Click ! 

@gregj  & @fusiondesigner , per my previous note we cannot provide a timeline. 

This request has been logged, and feedback has been continuously added. 

Per our community guidelines please avoid personal attacks. 

[gregj]

kindly understand and you don't want to give any timeline for it. But I am in very confusion state and can't keep on waiting for months or years ? As I need to start doing the things and work on the site. If you don't provide timeline means suppose if I wait for another 15 days or 1 month thinking you fix this and until have to stop my work and you then also claims that we don't have any timeline means then imagine how frustating it will be? I am not asking you to fix this in a day or two, but maintain a clarity in a month ? Or like that so that there won't be frustation in the case I told. Kindly think from an User side who is asking a genuine query who is yet to start his site.

[FelixLux]

@gregj I am almost 99% certain, that the feature will not be done in a month, having worked in the digital industry a bit. I'd assume 3 months at the earliest. Their devs team surely have a full schedule. Unless this feature would be made a top priority, fast-lane, emergency ticket (if a ticket actually exists), it will not even be started by the end of the month.

I'm not a developer, but assume that it won't be very easy to implement from a technical point of view, as a few other things will have to be changed as well.
That said IMO it's one of the few major flaws of shopify, so IMO it should receive a top priority.

Maybe we can find the head of product on Linkedin and send him a few messages there? With a bit of luck this might get us more attention.

[gregj]

Hello @Nick can you respond? I.e even if suppose started site and later want to use this feature then will there be redirect option provided? Or not? Let me know now immediately

[Nick]

Per our previous notes, we have captured this request and feedback has been added continuously.

While I understand everyone's desire to have this feature reaching out to staff members will not help in changing priority; in fact, this could be seen by some as spam, or harassment if multiple messages are sent. 

Posts requesting a timeline or sharing speculations will be removed since they prevent others from seeing the current situation which is we have captured this request, it has been logged correctly, and when we have more detail to share we will follow-up in this topic.

[Anna_Rauch1]

So to sum up, there are no workarounds on this and no timeline on a solution? What is the bottleneck or limitation here? 

[FelixLux]

@Anna_Rauch1  This is just a guess:
Scarcity of developer resources + big feature, which isn't easy to integrate from a technical perspective.

[pilot]

Hi @Nick 

Just to echo what some people are saying, we are trying to do the same with our Shopify sites in terms of removing pages.  Our SEO folks are saying it's crazy that  /pages, /blog, /collections, /products etc has to be within the URL. Simply put, from a google search perspective it's putting our client's products in a subcategory that it does not need to be in. Competitors without this url 'folder' are ranking higher.  It's put us in a spot of bother with a recent client who's rankings are set to fall. Wished we'd picked up on this issue earlier in the project. Hopefully this will be implemented. 

Thanks

[gregj]

Hi @Nick

It's been 10 days and so do you have any update? I.e as we are setting up our site, I am asking now i.e if there is anything means can wait else will move forward

[oberlohunter]

I would also like to know when there is update on this thread. To mention I would love to get this feature ready as soon possinble! Since it would help a ton with improving SEO overall.

Thanks. Nikola

[Nick]

It's been 10 days and so do you have any update? I.e as we are setting up our site, I am asking now i.e if there is anything means can wait else will move forward

---

Posts requesting a timeline or sharing speculations will be removed since they prevent others from seeing the current situation which is we have captured this request, it has been logged correctly, and when we have more detail to share we will follow-up in this topic.