15 Common Shopify Problems and How to Fix Them (Beginner Guide)
Originally published on CodingCush . Almost every new Shopify store hits the same handful of problems: products that refuse to appear, a checkout that sulks, a domain stuck on "pending", a password page that will not retire. The good news is that most of these are not disasters — they are small settings in the wrong position, each with a known fix that takes minutes. This guide covers the 15…
1. Store Missing from Google
New Shopify stores often fail to appear in search results. Check if Google has indexed the store or if a password page is blocking crawlers. If not, submit the sitemap and request indexing in Google Search Console. Indexing may take a few days to weeks.
2. Products Not Displaying
Ensure products are active, added to the Online Store sales channel, and belong to the correct collection. This usually resolves the "but I added it!" problem.
3. Store Unavailable
Billing issues, such as failed payments or expired cards, cause the "This store is currently unavailable" message. Review Settings → Billing for warnings, update payment methods, and contact Shopify Support if needed.
4. SSL Pending
DNS records may be incorrect or still propagating. Verify the A record points to Shopify and the CNAME to shops.myshopify.com in Settings → Domains. Activation can take up to 48 hours.
5. Payments Not Working or Test Mode On
Shopify Payments may not be fully activated, or test mode could be enabled. Complete setup in Settings → Payments and disable test mode. Test the payment with a small real order.
6. Checkout Issues
Missing shipping rates for the customer's country, products with shipping disabled, or required checkout fields causing issues. Test the checkout yourself and address the specific error.
7. Theme Changes Not Saving
Ensure you are editing the published theme, not a draft one. Clear browser cache or switch to an incognito window to see changes. Editing a draft theme often leads to the "but I added it!" issue.
8. Blurry Product Images
Upload images with at least 2048 pixels on the longest side. Larger, clean images ensure sharp results. Shopify compresses uploads slightly, so a high-quality original is essential.
9. Discount Codes Not Applying
Confirm discount conditions match the cart, such as minimum spend, specific products, expiry dates, or exclusions. Read discount settings carefully to avoid issues.
10. No Shipping Options at Checkout
International buyers may encounter this issue if their country is not in a shipping zone or if the zone lacks a rate covering the product's weight or price. Add the country to a zone and create shipping rates accordingly.
11. Items Showing as Sold Out
Check inventory at the correct location and ensure product quantities are updated. Pay special attention to imported products, which may zero stock more often than expected.
12. Order Emails Missing or Duplicative
Verify emails are not landing in spam, check recipient lists in Settings → Notifications, and review duplicate email flows in email apps. Test with an order sent to yourself for confirmation.
13. Password Page Still Active
New stores in pre-launch mode may have the password page active. Remove the password in Online Store → Preferences to allow visitors to view the store.
14. Slow Performance or App Conflicts
Too many apps or extensive theme customizations can slow the store. Review installed apps and theme customizations, and consider simplifying the setup for improved performance.
Written by urgent.news from Dev.to's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
