How to Change Shopify Theme without Losing Content?

If you’re looking to refresh your storefront or improve the overall user experience, knowing how to change Shopify theme will increase user-friendliness, performance, and mobile responsiveness. In this article, eComStart will walk you through the smooth and effective steps of changing your Shopify theme and the best practices.

But before diving into how to change Shopify theme, let’s take a moment to see when it actually makes sense to do so.

1. When should we consider changing the theme?

With business expansion, customers’ expectations change, and the outdated theme may not meet their current needs. Look out for any of the following issues as signs that it may be time to change your theme:

• Outdated design: If your store looks old-fashioned, it may not play with modern online shopping trends. Additionally, an outdated theme may lack advanced functionalities, while a modern theme provides better functionality to enhance user experience.
• Poor mobile experience: Mobile phones are becoming the new way more than 50% of shoppers shop. Therefore, a site that uses a less mobile web-friendly theme will become more difficult for customers to access, and they may have to leave.

• Slow page speed: When a website is slow, it frustrates visitors and drops conversion rates. In fact, studies suggest that even a one-second delay drops sales significantly. Since themes coded heavily bring slow loading times, an easy fix is to turn to lightweight themes, which will boost performance. 
• Limited customization options: You might struggle to create a unique store if your theme restricts layout changes or branding adjustments. On the other hand, a flexible theme offers more control over design, with built-in customization features allowing for easier modifications.
• Low conversion rates: If your store has some traffic but not very much conversion, unclear CTAs and cluttered product pages might be part of your problem. That’s why a good theme optimized for sales takes the user through the buying process harmoniously.
• New business direction: Rebranding or expanding your product line? In that case, a new theme can help you present your eCommerce brand in a way that actually fits your growth.

💡If you’re launching your Shopify store for the first time, check out this Shopify 3 months for $1 promotion to start affordably.

2. What happens when you change the Shopify theme?

Switching themes can no doubt change the face of a store, but the store owner should know what remains the same and what has to be adjusted.

2.1. Things won’t be affected when changing themes

While a new theme can change the look and feel of your store, some core elements will remain untouched:

1. Products & collections

Shopify stores product data separately from the theme, so your products and collections remain intact even after switching. All product images, descriptions, prices, and SKUs stay the same without reconfiguring, ensuring that your inventory remains consistent.

2. Orders & customer data

The store order history and customer profiles are not tied to the theme; hence, they will not be affected. So, a customer will still be able to access their account, including previous purchases and other details saved, keeping, in fact, the seamless experience.

3. Domain & store settings

Domain settings and store-wide configurations, such as payment options, tax configuration, and shipping rates, are managed in a different context than the theme. This means you will not need to set these settings again after you switch themes, and your checkout will work as usual.

4. Apps & integrations

Apps installed on your Shopify store will still function after changing a theme, but some bookstore apps, like review widgets or pop-ups, might need to be configured again. You would have to manage the apps’ placements so that they display correctly with the new theme design.

5. Posts and pages

All your existing pages and blog content remain intact. Because Shopify stores content independently from the theme itself, your About page, Contact page, or blog articles are completely unaffected and will remain published unless you decide to restyle them with the new theme.

6. SEO & URLs

SEO settings for your Shopify store, such as meta titles, descriptions, or structured data, are unaffected. Store URLs will not change unless you manually change them; therefore, theme switching will not affect your search rankings and indexed pages.

2.2. Things may be affected when changing themes

While some elements remain unchanged, certain aspects of your store might require adjustments after switching themes:

1. Custom code & theme-specific features

The custom HTML, CSS, or Liquid code that you may have applied to your previous theme will not be carried over automatically to a new theme; you will have to reapply them manually to keep any customizations regarding design or functionality that were previously made.

2. App embeds & widgets

For example, apps integrated with the theme, such as embedded forms, pop-ups, or chat widgets, may not work from that point onward when the switch is made. Some may need reactivation, or at the very least, they might need to be set up again to appear correctly in this new theme’s structure.

3. Navigation & menus

Shopify does keep the structure of your navigation menus, though how they are displayed may change depending on the new theme’s looks. For example, dropdowns, sidebars, and footer links may all need to be moved around and restructured so that navigation runs smoothly.

4. Homepage layout & sections

The items on the homepage, such as the banners, features such as those in collections, and even segments promoting different items, may not transfer from old to new as expected. Each theme has its own section-based layout, so you may have to rebuild your homepage to look like what you formerly had.

5. Font & color settings

The custom fonts, button styles, and color settings that were used in your old theme will reset to the new theme’s default settings. You will have to adjust these yourself to build a continuous brand identity.

💡If you are thinking of starting afresh, refer to this guide on how to launch a Shopify store for a hassle-free setup.

If you’re starting from an angle other than a blank page and changing themes, there are still a few things to consider first!

2.3. Things to consider before changing theme

1. Backup your current theme

You will always want to download and save your current theme before switching to avoid losing anything from your customizations. If anything goes wrong, you can easily revert to your previous setup.

2. Test the new theme in preview mode

Shopify offers theme previews that should really be taken advantage of by checking out how the new design looks and operates. Doing all this beforehand identifies potential layout issues.

3. Review app compatibility

Some apps may have their quirks with theme operation, so check that every app performs fine. If an app requires specific placement within your store, you may have to configure it according to the new theme.

4. Plan for homepage & layout adjustments

If you’re going for a theme switch, you might have to rebuild some homepage layout for yourself – like the banners, featured products, and testimonial sections. Keep a screenshot of what you currently have so that you can replicate it with ease.

5. Optimize for mobile & performance

New themes may affect mobile responsiveness and page speed, so it is wise to test your store on different devices. Optimize images and ensure the layouts are free from inconsistencies to provide a good level of user experience.

6. Notify customers if needed

If the theme change greatly alters the shopping experience, consider letting customers know through an announcement or sending an email. This may help avoid confusion and grease the wheels for a smoother transition for returning customers.

3. How to change shopify theme?

So, how to change store theme on Shopify? It is an easy task to make a switch in your theme, but knowing how to do it well is what makes a successful transition for your store:

3.1. Step 1: Access the theme settings

Go to Shopify admin > Click “Online Store” from the left-hand menu > Find the “Theme” section.

Your current theme is displayed at the top > Scroll down to see your “Theme library”, where unpublished themes are stored.

3.2. Step 2: Find a new theme

You can use a new theme in two ways: Uploading a ZIP file or selecting one directly from the Shopify Theme store.

✅Option 1: Upload a theme zip file

If you bought or downloaded the theme from an external source, here’s how to upload a theme to Shopify:

In the “Theme library”, click on “Add theme” > Select “Upload zip file” > Locate the theme file on your computer > Click “Upload”.

✅Option 2: Choose a free or paid theme from Shopify

Scroll down to the “Popular free themes” section > Browse the free themes that are available.

Want more options? Click “Visit Theme Store” > Browse free and paid themes > Pick the best for your store.

💡For recommendations, browse through our list of best Shopify themes to find a perfect fit for your store.

3.3. Step 3: Add or try the new theme

From the “Theme library” > Click “Add” to apply the theme to your store.

Moreover, if you choose themes in the Shopify theme store > Click “View demo store” for a preview before buying or publishing > then click “Try theme” to add into your theme library.

3.4. Step 4: Customize the new theme

Go to “Theme library” > Find the newly added theme > Click “Customize.” > Adjust design, layout, and branding elements to match your store’s style.

3.5. Step 5: Preview before publishing

If you are wondering how to update the Shopify theme without affecting your live store, use preview mode to check everything first.

Click “Save” to apply changes > Return to “Theme library” > Click (…) next to the new theme > Click “Preview”.

3.6. Step 6: Publish the new theme

Exit preview mode > Click “Publish” to make the new theme live.

Now, you’ve successfully learned how to switch themes on Shopify! Your new theme will move to the top of the Theme library, officially becoming your active store theme.

4. Best practice: Checklists after changing your Shopify theme

After switching to a new Shopify theme, a checklist is essential to verify if your store is looking good and functioning properly. Here are key areas to review:

4.1. Design & layout

Your store’s layout might look different after changing themes. Check that everything displays correctly and maintains a professional look:

• Visit the homepage and check for overall structure templates that should serve as a guide for the alignment of your banners, calls to action, and featured product sections.
• Check that the buy button is shown and working on all the devices.
• Check that the logo position and size must be correct and consistent between desktop and mobile.
• Examine color palettes and fonts that will correspond with the brand identity.
• Check the structure of the navigation menu, making sure categories, links, and dropdowns are all working as they should.
• Check the header and footer arrangements to ensure they have links for contact pages, social media, and policies.

4.2. Content & pages

Text and images may shift when changing themes. Examine the primary pages, which include the homepage, product pages, and the blog, for proper organization and reading. 

• Examine the homepage content with text, pictures, and call-to-action buttons on formatting.
• Check the layout of the product page, ensuring images, descriptions, and customer reviews are displayed correctly.
• Verify the appearance of the collection page and make sure filters and sorting options load properly in conjunction with the thumbnails of products.
• Make sure pages like About Us, Contact, and Policy are not formatted properly but accessible.
• Review the blog area with the same aspect in formatting consistency, sidebar elements, and text alignment.

4.3. Apps & integrations

Some apps might work differently with the new theme. So, check whether all pop-ups, review widgets, and others work according to your wishes.

• Reinstall or reconfigure apps that are embedded within the theme, such as review apps, trust badges, currency converters, etc.
• Ensure pop-ups, upsell widgets, and custom product options function correctly within the new theme.
• Test any third-party apps that interact with product pages, such as size guides or countdown timers.

4.4. SEO & performance

Your SEO settings should stay the same, but a new theme can affect how fast your store loads. Double-check the page speed, the headings, and the links to ensure they are safe.

• Check that the meta description and all H1, H2, and H3 titles are correctly displayed and structured to SEO specifications.
• Ensure URL structures have not changed; leave them the same to prevent broken links or 404 errors.
• Test the page load speed, optimizing images and scripts if necessary to maintain fast performance.
• Ensure alt texts for images and structured product page data remain intact.

5. Conclusion

One strategy for how to change the Shopify theme is meant to improve store design, customer experience, and conversion rates. It involves choosing the most appropriate theme, customizing layouts, checking for SEO impact, and reconfiguring integrations so everything seems to go smoothly with minimal interruption.

If you need professional advice when it involves setup and optimization for a Shopify store, eComStart has your back. Set your store up to the next level today!

6. FAQs