How to Back Up Shopify Theme Safely Before Any Update

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Tony Pham Jan 16 2026

The theme is the face of your Shopify store and directly impacts your brand image, shopping experience, and conversion rates. However, even small changes, such as adding code, updating the theme, or installing an app, can cause interface errors. Unfortunately, Shopify does not automatically back up themes for easy restoration. In this article, NextSky will guide you on how to back up Shopify theme safely and confidently make edits without worrying about accidentally damaging your store.

Why backing up your Shopify theme really matters

Backing up your Shopify theme is an essential step to protect your store’s entire design, customizations, and functionality from unexpected issues. It allows you to restore quickly when problems occur, without disrupting your business operations.

Key reasons why backups are vital:

Handling update issues: Quickly roll back to a stable version if a Shopify update or technical error occurs.
Resolving app conflicts: Clean up leftover or conflicting code when installing or removing apps.
Enhancing security: Restore your store to a safe state after security incidents or malware attacks.
Safe experimentation: Test new features or design changes without affecting the live store.
Maintaining brand identity: Ensure a consistent interface and a seamless shopping experience.
Reducing downtime: Recover faster, minimize revenue loss, and retain customers.

How to back up Shopify theme with 6 methods

Method 1: Manual Backup via Download

This is the go-to method for quick, one-off backups—ideal if you're about to make changes or don’t want to install apps.

Step 1: Log in to Shopify Admin → Online Store → Themes.
Step 2: Identify your current theme, then click the three dots (…) next to the theme name.
Step 3: Select Download theme file. Shopify will email you a link to download the .zip file within a few minutes (check your spam folder too).

Step 4: Download the file and name it clearly, e.g., YourShop-Theme-Backup-2026-01-16.zip.
Step 5: Store the file securely, use cloud storage like Google Drive or an external drive for added redundancy.

Method 2: Duplicating your theme in Shopify

Perfect for ongoing experimentation. Duplicating creates an instant copy without downloading files, allowing you to test changes without risking your live store.

Step 1: Go to Shopify Admin > Online Store > Themes.
Step 2: On your live theme, click Actions > Duplicate.

Step 3: Shopify automatically creates an identical copy and saves it in your Theme Library.

Step 3: Duplicating your theme in Shopify

Step 4: Rename the duplicate for easy identification, e.g., Backup_Version_2.

Step 4: Duplicating your theme in Shopify

Step 5: Make edits and test on the duplicate without affecting your live store.
Step 6: Preview changes carefully, then click Publish to replace the live theme when ready.

Method 3: Automated backups with Shopify apps

For hands-off protection, apps handle scheduling and provide more comprehensive coverage, especially useful for stores with frequent updates.

Popular options include:

Rewind Backups: Daily full-store and theme backups with granular restore options.
ThemeWatch: Theme-specific backups, change tracking, and version comparison.
BackupMaster: Affordable with flexible backup scheduling.

To set one up (example with ThemeWatch):

Step 1: Go to the Shopify App Store, install ThemeWatch, then log in and open the app from your Apps section.
Step 2: In the ThemeWatch dashboard, click Backup and select the theme you want to back up.
Step 3: The app automatically creates and stores a copy of your theme in your account.
Step 4: When you need to restore, go to the ThemeWatch overview page and choose the desired backup.
Step 5: Select the appropriate backup version—the system will automatically apply it to your theme.

Method 4: Create a duplicate store

This method provides a complete isolated environment for testing or disaster recovery.

Step 1: Log in to Shopify Admin and create a new store using the same plan as your current store.
Step 2: Install the exact same theme from the Theme Store or upload your backup file.
Step 3: Export key data (products, customers, images, media) from your original store as CSV files.

Step 4: Import the data into the new store and reinstall necessary apps.

Step 5: Fine-tune settings so the duplicate store mirrors your original store exactly.

Method 5: Export Shopify data files (Manual)

Shopify doesn’t offer one-click full backups, but you can manually export critical data as CSV files to protect your store. This ensures quick recovery if something goes wrong.

The following section will provide detailed instructions on how to create product catalogs, customer orders, gift cards, and discount codes.

Step 1: Go to Shopify Admin → Customer → Export to export all products or only specific data.

Step 2: Choose the data scope and format (CSV compatible with Google Sheets, Numbers, or Excel).

Step 2: Export Shopify data files

Step 3: Click Export to download the file. Repeat the process for other important data such as collections, inventory, orders, transfers, and gift cards.

Method 6: Manually back up additional data

Shopify only allows CSV export for customers, products/orders, and financial data. Other content isn’t automatically backed up and must be saved manually to prevent data loss:

Product images: Go to Products → select a product → click an image → Download.
Product descriptions: Go to Products → open a product → copy the content from the Description field and save it.
Blog posts: Go to Online Store → Blog posts → copy post content and save it in a document or spreadsheet.

How to restore your theme when something goes wrong

Restore from a duplicated backup (internal backup):
- Go to Online Store → Themes.
- Find the duplicated backup theme.
- Click Actions → Publish to quickly bring the stable version live.
Restore from a saved .zip file:
- Go to Online Store → Themes.
- Click Add theme (top-right corner) → Upload theme.
- Upload your saved .zip file.
- Once uploaded, Preview the theme, then Publish when ready.

What data should you back up in Shopify?

To protect your store comprehensively, back up these 6 key categories:

Theme & functionality data: HTML, CSS, Liquid code that controls layout, design, and store behaviour, essential for fast interface and feature recovery.
Product data: Names, descriptions, images, variants (colours, sizes), prices, inventory, categories, and SKUs—to restore your entire product catalogue.
Customer data: Names, emails, shipping/billing info, order history, and notes to protect customer relationships even after data loss.
Order data: Order details (customer info, products, quantities, prices, discounts, shipping, status) to track and support customers if the original data is lost.
Promotional data: Discount codes and gift cards to quickly restore promotions and avoid campaign interruptions.
Financial reports: While raw transaction data can’t be backed up, saving financial reports helps you maintain an overview of business performance and finances.

Effective Shopify theme backup tips

Set a fixed backup schedule: Back up at least once a week, or right before major edits. Use automation apps to avoid forgetting.
Follow the 3-2-1 rule: Keep 3 copies of your backups on 2 different types of media, with at least 1 copy offsite (in the cloud or offline).
Test restores periodically: Every 3 months, upload and restore a backup theme to a test store to ensure the files work correctly.
Document changes clearly: Maintain a change log (date, what was changed) to make troubleshooting and verification easier later.
Secure your backups: Encrypt backup files and use strong passwords. For themes with API keys or sensitive info, remove them before storage.
Pay special attention to custom themes: Custom themes often contain unique files (custom fonts, scripts, snippets). Carefully check the /assets folder to avoid missing important data.

By following these methods and tips, you can protect your Shopify theme and store data effectively. Whether you choose simple manual backups or automated app solutions, you’ll have peace of mind to experiment, update, and grow your business confidently. If you need further assistance, NextSky is always ready to support you!

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Tony Pham

Hello! I'm Tony Pham, a full-stack Shopify, Magento, and WordPress developer with over 12 years of experience in both front-end and back-end development.

Since 2016, I have been proudly working at Nextsky as the Tech Lead, where I continue to enhance my skills and contribute to exciting projects. One of my proudest works is the Agile theme, which passed Shopify's high standard and is currently available on Shopify Theme Store.

I am passionate about researching new technologies and staying updated with the latest trends in the industry. It not only makes my life more fulfilling and exciting but also allows me to bring better service to clients.