How can I create profiles for old subscribers on a new website?

Shopify Discussion

Topic summary

Main issue: Migrating existing customers from an old site to Shopify so they retain profiles and can re-download previously purchased digital curriculum with lifetime updates.

  • Context: The store sold digital products with lifetime updates. On the old site, customers had profiles allowing return access to downloads. The owner can identify who bought which products and wants to recreate access on Shopify.

  • Proposed approach: Import/sync customer data into Shopify via the Admin REST API (Customer resource). A documentation link was provided.

  • Stated limitation: The reply notes that order data cannot be synced through this method; it suggests only customer information can be imported.

  • Gaps/unknowns: How to link imported customers to their past purchases or grant download permissions on Shopify is not addressed. No specifics on handling digital file delivery, product entitlements, or alternatives for migrating order history.

  • Outcome/status: No confirmed solution yet. Action item implied is to use the REST API for customer import. Key questions about associating customers with prior purchases and enabling download access remain open.

Summarized with AI on January 20. AI used: gpt-5.
1

Hello,

I have a question regarding subscribers from my old website. I develop and sell school curriculum. We offer lifetime updates on all our products (allowing customers to return at anytime and re-download the digital files). I am in the process of transferring to a newly created Shopify website, from a different host, where all my customers had access to a profile where they could always return and download the digital files/updates.

I am wondering if there is a way to create profiles for my existing customers here on Shopify, so that they can now access the digital files, similar to on the old website. I have access to the products they purchased, so I would be able to reconnect them with the product, if this is possible.

Thanks!

2

Hi @mosteele34

You can sync all your customer data into Shopify using their rest API

https://shopify.dev/docs/api/admin-rest/2023-07/resources/customer

except the order data you can sync all the information using their API.

Hope this will help…