Can I publish a developed theme without transferring ownership?

Topic summary

Main issue: A developer built a theme in a Shopify development store and wants to make the shop live while keeping it under their Shopify Partner email.

Key questions:

  • Is it necessary to transfer store ownership to themselves to publish the theme?
  • Is there a way to publish the online shop without transferring ownership at all?

Context: The poster knows how to transfer ownership to another owner but prefers to avoid transfer, aiming to operate the live shop from their Partner account.

Status: No answers or resolutions provided. The request is for guidance on publishing and ownership requirements; the discussion remains open with unanswered questions.

Summarized with AI on January 4. AI used: gpt-5.

Hello!

I created a development store and developed a theme, I want to make it go live. I know, how to transfer it to another owner, but I am wondering, if I need to transfer it as well to myself? I want the shop to run on my Shopify Partner eMail.

Is there a way to publish the online shop, without transfering the ownership?

Thanks in Advance!