How to Export Shopify Theme Safely for Backup or Transfer

Exporting a Shopify theme is a simple yet essential operation for any store owner who wants to protect their design, make offline edits, or prepare for data migration. In this article, NextSky will guide you on how to export a Shopify theme, along with practical tips for a comprehensive store backup.

Why you should export your Shopify theme

Before diving into the step-by-step guide, it's essential to understand the real value of this process. Exporting a theme involves downloading a complete backup copy of your store's entire design framework and functionality as a ZIP file. Here are the main reasons why store owners commonly do this:

• Quick backup and restoration: If your theme encounters errors after an app update, accidental file deletion, or technical issues, you can restore it immediately without starting from scratch.
• Offline code customization outside Shopify: After exporting, you can unzip the file and edit it with code editors like VS Code or Sublime Text. This is ideal for adding advanced features, optimizing speed, or integrating APIs.
• Transferring the theme to another store: Want to duplicate your store or move it to a new account? The exported file preserves the main theme structure, making migration smoother (though images and other assets still need separate handling).
• Managing the 20-theme limit: Shopify allows a maximum of 20 themes per store. Exporting old themes frees up space while keeping your designs safe for future use.

Read more: What Is a Shopify Theme? Definition, Features Explained 2026

How to export a Shopify theme

• Step 1: Log in to your Shopify Admin → go to Online Store → Themes to open the list of store themes.
• Step 2: Locate the theme you want to back up (the currently published theme is usually at the top), click Actions (…) next to the theme name, and select Download theme file.

• Step 3: Confirm that you will send me the download link via email.
• Step 4: Download the ZIP file from the Shopify email and unzip it on your computer.

Pro tip: After exporting, rename the folder with the date and version (e.g., "Glozin-v2.1-2026-01-18") for easy tracking, especially if you update themes frequently. If you don't see the "Download theme file" option, double-check your account permissions or contact Shopify Support.

How to back up your entire store's data using CSV

Exporting the theme only protects the design aspect. For a complete and secure backup, you also need to export your store's core data via CSV files.

Types of data you should export periodically:

• Products
• Customers
• Orders
• Discounts
• Gift Cards

How to export data (example with Products)

• Step 1: Go to Products → All products, then click Export in the top-right corner.
• Step 2: Select the export scope: All products, Current page, Selected products, etc.
• Step 3: Choose the format CSV for Excel (recommended).
• Step 4: Click Export products.
• Step 5: Shopify will send a download link for the CSV file to your email.

Repeat the same process for Customers, Orders, Discounts, and other data types.

Tip: Create a dated backup folder (e.g., Backup_2026-01-18) and store the theme ZIP file and all CSV files in it. This makes management easier, enables quick recovery, and prevents data loss in the event of issues.

Read more: How to Back Up Shopify Theme Safely Before Any Update

How to import a previously exported theme

• Step 1: Log in to Shopify Admin → go to Online Store → Themes.
• Step 2: Click Upload theme in the top-right corner of the screen.
• Step 3: Select the ZIP file of the previously exported theme from your computer and start the upload.
• Step 4: Once the upload is complete, the theme will appear in the Unpublished Themes section.
• Step 5: Click Preview to preview the interface, then select Publish to apply this theme to your live store.

Limitations when exporting a Shopify theme

The process is straightforward but not all-inclusive. Understanding these limitations helps you avoid surprises:

• Does not include images & media: Photos, videos, banners, etc., are not included. You need to download them separately from Settings > Files.
• Theme settings: Some settings (colours, JSON-based section configurations) may not transfer completely if heavily customized. Always test after importing into a test store.
• Data & apps: Products, orders, customers, and app integrations are not included. Paid themes are usually licensed to a specific store; transferring requires Shopify's permission or repurchasing the license.
• Version conflicts: If the theme has been heavily modified after purchase, the Export may not reflect 100% accuracy — especially with code injected by apps.

To address these, we recommend combining theme exports with version control (Git) and documenting custom code snippets separately.

Advanced tips for managing themes after Export

• Local development: Use Theme Kit (or the Shopify CLI) to set up a local environment for real-time previews and testing changes without affecting your live website.
• Version control with Git: Upload the entire exported theme folder to Git to track edit history, easily roll back changes, and collaborate effectively in teams.
• Performance optimization: Use the exported version to audit speed with tools like Google PageSpeed Insights, optimize Liquid code, minify CSS/JS, and improve performance, user experience, and SEO.
• Theme migration: When importing to a new store, upload the theme first, then sync images and necessary data. Always thoroughly test on both mobile and desktop before going live.

Exporting your Shopify theme is a basic but crucial step to safeguard your design and customization efforts. When combined with regular CSV data backups, you'll have a comprehensive security strategy to minimize risks during store operations. If you're looking for beautiful, fast-loading, SEO-optimized Shopify themes with in-depth customization support, explore Nextsky's standout Shopify theme collections right away. Wishing you successful and secure store management!