Why won't my website open in certain countries?

Technical Q&A

Topic summary

Multiple Shopify store owners are experiencing geo-blocking issues where their websites won’t load in certain countries without VPN access.

Initial Problem:

  • A Canadian store owner found their site inaccessible in Mexico despite shipping worldwide
  • Troubleshooting suggestions included checking for geolocation apps and reviewing Shopify admin settings under “Markets” or “Sales Channels”

Partial Resolution:

  • The issue was traced to incomplete country selection in Shopify’s “international” market settings
  • After adding Mexico to the market, the site became accessible there
  • However, a new problem emerged: friends in Canada (the primary market) still cannot access the site

Similar Case:

  • Another store owner reports their site (eaglesluxury.com) is inaccessible in Nigeria despite activating international markets and installing Shipbob as instructed by Shopify support
  • Screenshots were provided showing the access issue

Current Status:
Both cases remain unresolved. Shopify support has requested more details about error messages and offered real-time assistance through their Authenticated Support Team. The root cause appears related to Shopify’s market/geolocation configuration, but the exact solution is still being investigated.

Summarized with AI on November 5. AI used: claude-sonnet-4-5-20250929.
2

Hi @ErinHanifen ,
This is Theodore from PageFly - Shopify Page Builder App.

The issue with your Shopify store (SpiritCasa.com) being inaccessible in Mexico (except through a VPN) could be due to several factors. Here’s how to troubleshoot and potentially resolve it:

  • Shopify Geolocation Apps: Check if you have any Shopify apps installed that restrict access based on geographical location. These might be apps related to shipping, currency, or compliance. Disable any such apps temporarily to see if they’re causing the issue.

  • Shopify Admin Settings: Review your Shopify admin settings to see if there are any accidental geo-restrictions enabled. Look for options related to “Markets” or “Sales Channels.”

Best regards,
Theodore | PageFly