Questions Related to Deactivating and Archiving Store

[RealCoolVibe]

I have a store that I want to deactivate and archive. I want to archive so I can revisit and perhaps relaunch the store at a later date. I have a few questions about this process.

1) Archive or Deactivate Store - I presume that when I archive the store the theme and custom coding will remain intact. Is this correct? For example, If I archive the store today and then decide I want to reactivate the same store at a later date is that possible? If so, how would I accomplish this?

2) Visibility - If I archive my store does this mean that it is no longer visible to users who visit my domain in their browser? If the store is no longer visible, what would users see if they visited the domain for my archived store?

3) Expenses - If I archive my store do I still have to pay my monthly hosting fee to Spotify or would the fee be waived until I reactivate/relaunch the store so it is visible online?

4) Access to Archived Store - If I archive my store can I still login to my Spotify admin account to make edits and updates to my archived site?

5) Domain - What if anything do I need to do with my domain when my store is archived? I would not be using the domain for another site and I have already paid for the domain for the next few years.

6) Additional Information - Is there any other information you feel is important to note regarding the deactivation and archive process?

Thanks for your assistance.

[AdVision_eComm]

Hi  RealCoolVibe,

I understand that you want to archive your Shopify store while ensuring you can reactivate it in the future. Below are answers to your questions to help clarify the process:

1) Archive or Deactivate Store

Shopify does not have a built-in "Archive" feature for stores, but you can pause or deactivate your store. If you choose to pause and build, your store remains accessible in the backend, but checkout is disabled. If you fully deactivate your store, you will need to resubscribe to a plan to regain access.

When you deactivate your store, your theme, custom coding, and data (including products, settings, and customizations) should remain intact for a limited time. However, Shopify does not guarantee indefinite storage, so it's best to back up your theme and any important data before deactivation.

To reactivate your store, you will need to log in and choose a new subscription plan.

2) Visibility

If your store is paused or deactivated, it will no longer be publicly accessible. Visitors to your domain will either see a "Store Unavailable" message or a blank page, depending on how your domain is set up.

3) Expenses

• If you pause and build, Shopify reduces your monthly fee to a lower maintenance cost.
• If you fully deactivate the store, you will not be charged a monthly subscription fee. However, third-party services (such as domain hosting, apps, and email services) may continue to bill you separately.

4) Access to Archived Store

• If you pause and build, you can still log in, access admin settings, and make edits, but customers cannot complete purchases.
• If you fully deactivate your store, you will lose access to your Shopify admin until you reactivate it by resubscribing.

5) Domain Management

If you purchased your domain through Shopify, it will remain associated with your store. However, if you deactivate your store, you may need to transfer your domain elsewhere to ensure continued ownership.

If your domain was purchased externally (GoDaddy, Namecheap, etc.), you will continue to own it, but you should adjust DNS settings if needed. If you plan to relaunch your store in the future, keeping the domain as-is may be the best approach.

6) Additional Considerations

• Before deactivating, export product and customer data as a backup.
• Uninstall any third-party apps to avoid unexpected charges.
• If you plan to relaunch later, ensure your domain registration remains active.
• If using Shopify Payments, ensure there are no outstanding balances before closing.

I hope this helps!

Best,
Alvina | AdVision