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How to Find My Shopify URL? Your Complete Guide

So, you’re diving into the dynamic world of e-commerce with Shopify? Excellent choice! But, before you start raking in those sales, you need to know the basics, starting with your Shopify URL. It’s essentially the address of your online store. Let’s cut to the chase: finding your Shopify URL is simpler than you might think.

The quickest way to find your Shopify URL is to check your browser’s address bar when you are logged into your Shopify admin panel. It will usually follow the format your-store-name.myshopify.com. This is your default Shopify URL and the one you’ll use for most administrative tasks. However, most store owners will ultimately want a custom domain. Let’s delve deeper into all the nuances.

Understanding Your Shopify URLs

Before we dive into the ‘how,’ let’s understand the ‘why.’ You’ll encounter different types of Shopify URLs, each serving a distinct purpose. Recognizing these differences is crucial for effective store management.

The Primary `myshopify.com` URL

This is your original, default URL created automatically when you sign up with Shopify. It’s your foundational address. Use this URL for:

Logging into your Shopify admin panel.
Connecting third-party apps and services.
Initial store setup and testing.

Custom Domains: Your Brand’s Address

This is the URL you’ll purchase and connect to your Shopify store to reflect your brand. Examples include yourstore.com, yourstore.net, or yourstore.online. Use this URL for:

Marketing and promotion.
Customer-facing website address.
Building brand recognition and trust.

Specific Page URLs

Every page on your Shopify store, from product pages to blog posts, has a unique URL. You’ll need these for:

Directly linking to specific content.
Tracking page performance with analytics.
Social media sharing and advertising.

Detailed Steps to Find Your Shopify URLs

Alright, let’s pinpoint those URLs. Here’s a breakdown of the methods, each tailored to a specific need:

Finding Your `myshopify.com` URL

Log in to your Shopify admin panel. Go to shopify.com and log in using your credentials.
Check your browser’s address bar. Once logged in, the URL displayed in your browser’s address bar is your myshopify.com URL. It should look something like your-store-name.myshopify.com/admin. Remove the /admin part to get the root URL.
Navigate to Settings > Domains. Within your Shopify admin, go to Settings (usually at the bottom left) and then click on Domains. Here, you’ll see both your primary domain (if you’ve connected one) and your myshopify.com URL.

Finding Your Custom Domain URL

Navigate to Settings > Domains. As mentioned above, go to Settings and then Domains.
Identify your primary domain. Your primary domain will be listed at the top of the Domains page and will be clearly marked as the primary domain. This is the URL your customers will use to access your store.

Finding Specific Page URLs

Navigate to the page in your Shopify admin. For example, if you want the URL for a specific product, go to Products and select the product. If it’s a blog post, go to Online Store > Blog Posts and select the post.
Click “View on your website”. In the top right corner of the page editor, you’ll often find a button labeled “View on your website” (or similar). Click this button.
Check your browser’s address bar. The URL displayed in your browser’s address bar is the URL for that specific page. This will include your custom domain (if you have one) or your myshopify.com URL.

Advanced Tips and Tricks

Domain Propagation: When you connect a new custom domain to your Shopify store, it takes time for the domain to propagate across the internet. This means it might take a few hours (sometimes up to 48 hours) for your website to be accessible at your new domain. Don’t panic if it’s not working immediately!
SSL Certificates: Shopify automatically provides an SSL certificate for your store, ensuring a secure connection (HTTPS). Make sure your custom domain is properly connected and SSL is enabled. You can check this in the Domains settings.
URL Redirects: If you change your product URLs or migrate from another platform, use URL redirects to prevent broken links and maintain your SEO ranking. Shopify allows you to create redirects in the Navigation settings under Online Store.
Vanity URLs: Consider creating vanity URLs for marketing campaigns. These are short, memorable URLs that redirect to specific pages on your store. You can use a URL shortening service like Bitly or Rebrandly for this.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are 12 frequently asked questions to further solidify your understanding of Shopify URLs:

1. What’s the difference between my `myshopify.com` URL and my custom domain?

Your myshopify.com URL is the temporary address assigned by Shopify when you create your store. Your custom domain is the professional, branded address you purchase and connect to your store. The myshopify.com URL is primarily for administrative purposes, while your custom domain is for your customers.

2. Can I change my `myshopify.com` URL?

Unfortunately, no, you cannot directly change your myshopify.com URL after you’ve created your store. This URL is tied to your initial store setup. However, you can choose a completely new store name if you’re just getting started, so pick wisely!

3. How do I connect a custom domain to my Shopify store?

Go to Settings > Domains in your Shopify admin. Click “Connect existing domain” if you already own a domain, or “Buy new domain” to purchase a domain through Shopify. Follow the prompts to update your DNS settings and connect the domain.

4. How long does it take for a custom domain to connect to Shopify?

Domain propagation can take anywhere from a few hours to 48 hours. This is the time it takes for the DNS changes to propagate across the internet.

5. What is a subdomain, and how does it relate to my Shopify store?

A subdomain is a part of your main domain, such as shop.yourstore.com or blog.yourstore.com. You can use subdomains for different sections of your online presence. Shopify does not inherently support subdomains to host your main store; it’s best to stick with the root domain.

6. How do I find the URL of a specific product page?

Navigate to the product in your Shopify admin (Products > [Product Name]). Click “View on your website” in the top right corner. The URL in your browser’s address bar is the product page URL.

7. Why is my website showing my `myshopify.com` URL instead of my custom domain?

Ensure your custom domain is set as the primary domain in your Shopify admin (Settings > Domains). Also, make sure your domain’s DNS settings are correctly configured to point to Shopify’s servers.

8. How do I create a URL redirect in Shopify?

Go to Online Store > Navigation. Click “URL Redirects” in the top right corner. Click “Create URL redirect” and enter the old URL and the new URL.

9. What if I accidentally delete my Shopify store’s URL?

You can’t delete your primary myshopify.com URL. However, if you delete a custom domain, you’ll need to reconnect it. If you’ve deleted a page or product, you’ll need to recreate it.

10. Can I have multiple custom domains pointing to the same Shopify store?

Yes, you can have multiple custom domains pointing to the same Shopify store. However, you’ll need to choose one as the primary domain, which will be the one displayed in the browser’s address bar. The other domains will redirect to the primary domain.

11. How does HTTPS affect my Shopify URL?

HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) ensures a secure connection between your store and your customers. Shopify automatically provides an SSL certificate, so your URLs should be HTTPS by default. This is vital for security and SEO.

12. What are URL slugs, and how do they impact my Shopify store?

URL slugs are the part of the URL that identifies a specific page, like /products/awesome-widget. Optimizing your URL slugs with relevant keywords can improve your store’s SEO. You can edit URL slugs when creating or editing products, pages, and blog posts in your Shopify admin.

Knowing how to find and manage your Shopify URLs is fundamental to running a successful online store. Whether you’re checking your admin access, connecting third-party apps, or optimizing your store for search engines, these URLs are your digital store’s foundation. Implement the strategies outlined above, and you’ll be well on your way to mastering the nuances of your Shopify store.