Migrating from an online store to another platform can feel tedious, especially when you want every detail to carry over without problems. Data, design, and customer information all need careful handling during the switch.
For business owners choosing Shopify, a clear plan is the difference between a hassle-filled transition and a smooth one.
This Shopify migration checklist brings together the key steps you should follow before, during, and after the migration. From preparing backups to setting up redirects, it covers the essentials so your store can keep running without major interruptions.
Whether you’re moving from WooCommerce, Magento, or another platform, these steps will help you build a steady path to Shopify.
What Should You Do Before Migrating to Shopify?
Before moving your store, preparation is key. A few hours spent in planning can save weeks of trouble later.
Think of this stage as creating a snapshot of your current store and laying the foundation for the new one.
Here are the main steps to cover before migration:
Take a full backup – Export product data, customer details, order history, and reviews. This prevents any loss during the switch.
List all current URLs – Use a site crawler or export your sitemap to capture every page link. You’ll need this for redirect mapping later.
Record SEO details – Save meta titles, descriptions, and image alt text. These small details play a big role in maintaining rankings.
Check site performance – Identify your best-performing pages through analytics. Mark them as a priority during migration.
Review store design and features – Note which parts of your current store are worth keeping and which need improvements.
With this groundwork in place, you’ll have a clear reference point when setting up your Shopify store. It helps you avoid missing data, broken links, or SEO drops once the new site is live.
Shopify Migration Checklist for a Smooth Store Transfer
Migrating to Shopify is not a single step but a series of tasks that need to be completed in order.
A Shopify migration checklist helps you avoid missing details that could affect store performance, data accuracy, or search rankings.
Below is a detailed breakdown of what should be done before, during, and after the move.
1. Data Preparation
This stage ensures that every piece of important information from your current store is ready for transfer.
Export data files: Download products, categories, customer lists, order histories, and reviews from your old platform. Most platforms allow CSV exports.
Back up media: Save all product images, banners, and video files. This prevents quality loss when moving them to Shopify.
Collect SEO data: Export or record current meta titles, meta descriptions, image alt tags, and structured data. These are critical for maintaining search visibility.
Create a URL list: Use a crawler or sitemap export to record all existing URLs. This will later guide your 301 redirect setup.
Import products: Upload product CSVs through Shopify Admin. Check that descriptions, prices, images, and variants display correctly.
Add customers and orders: Import customer records and, if needed, migrate order histories using tools like Cart2Cart or LitExtension.
Select a theme: Choose a Shopify theme that suits your brand and customize it with logos, colors, menus, and banners.
Rebuild features: Replace custom features from your old platform with Shopify apps. If an equivalent app is not available, consider custom development.
3. SEO and Redirects
Preserving SEO is one of the most important parts of migration. Even a small mistake can cause ranking drops.
Map old to new URLs: Create a spreadsheet mapping each old URL to its new Shopify equivalent.
Set up 301 redirects: Add redirects in Shopify so old links automatically take visitors to the right new page.
Transfer metadata: Import saved titles, descriptions, and alt tags into Shopify product and collection pages.
Check robots.txt and sitemap: Make sure search engines can crawl important pages. Submit the new sitemap in Google Search Console.
Test redirects: Use a tool like Screaming Frog or Ahrefs to confirm there are no broken links or redirect chains.
4. Testing and Quality Checks
Before launching, test every major function of the store.
Place test orders: Check that cart, checkout, payment gateways, and shipping rules work correctly.
Check customer accounts: Confirm that customers can log in with the right details and view past orders if migrated.
Review product pages: Look for missing images, broken formatting, or incorrect prices.
Check reviews and ratings: Make sure imported reviews display correctly on product pages.
Mobile and speed testing: Test the store on both desktop and mobile, and run PageSpeed Insights to confirm fast load times.
5. Pre-Launch and Post-Launch Tasks
The final stage prepares your store to go live and monitors it afterward.
Prepare for downtime: If needed, put up a “coming soon” page to inform visitors.
Go live and monitor: Launch the store and track real-time performance in Google Analytics.
Update external links: Refresh backlinks, business listings, email signatures, and social bios with your new store link.
Monitor Search Console: Watch for crawl errors, 404s, or ranking drops, and fix them quickly with redirects or corrections.
Check ads and campaigns: Update any paid ads or email campaigns that link to old URLs.
✅ With this checklist, the migration process becomes structured and less risky.
Following these steps ensures that data is accurate, the design is consistent, and SEO strength is carried over into the new Shopify store.
How to Protect SEO During Shopify Migration?
SEO is one of the most sensitive parts of migration. If handled poorly, you risk broken links, traffic loss, and a drop in search rankings. A clear approach will help you maintain visibility while moving to Shopify.
1. Map and Redirect Old URLs
Start by creating a spreadsheet of your current URLs. Match each one with its new Shopify equivalent. Add 301 redirects in Shopify so visitors and search engines land on the right pages instead of 404 errors.
2. Preserve Metadata and Tags
Carry over your existing meta titles, descriptions, and image alt tags. These details influence click-through rates and search relevance. Also, make sure your Shopify theme keeps canonical tags and structured data in place.
3. Submit a New Sitemap
Once your store setup is ready, generate an XML sitemap from Shopify. Submit it in Google Search Console so search engines can index the new structure faster.
4. Review Robots.txt
Check your robots.txt file. Important product and collection pages should be crawlable, while admin or checkout pages should remain blocked.
5. Test Redirects and Monitor
Before launch, run a crawl with a tool like Screaming Frog or Ahrefs. Confirm that all redirects work properly and there are no redirect loops. After launch, keep an eye on Google Search Console to quickly fix any errors or drops.
Once the data is migrated and SEO is set up, the next step is testing. This stage is about making sure your Shopify store functions the way customers expect. Every feature should be reviewed carefully before launch to avoid errors after going live.
1. Test Orders and Checkout
Place a few test orders to check if the cart, checkout process, payment gateways, and shipping rules work correctly. Try different payment methods and shipping options to confirm they calculate properly.
2. Review Customer Accounts
Log in as a customer and confirm that accounts display the right information. If order histories were migrated, make sure they show up under each customer’s profile.
3. Check Product Pages
Browse through product and collection pages to look for missing images, broken descriptions, or incorrect prices. Pay close attention to product variants like size and color.
4. Verify Reviews and Ratings
Imported reviews should display correctly on product pages. This is important for building trust with shoppers.
5. Test Mobile and Speed Performance
Most customers shop on mobile, so open your store on different devices to test responsiveness. Run a speed test using Google PageSpeed Insights to confirm your store loads quickly.
Why Partner with CartCoders for Your Shopify Migration?
Migrating to Shopify involves much more than copying data. It’s about keeping your store’s performance, SEO value, and customer experience intact during the move.
At CartCoders, our Shopify experts handle the entire process, from data transfer and theme setup to SEO preservation and post-launch monitoring.
Whether you’re moving from WooCommerce, Magento, or any other platform, we build a migration plan that reduces downtime and ensures your store is ready to sell from day one.
With our support, you can focus on running your business while we take care of the technical details that make a smooth transition possible.
Conclusion
A Shopify migration may seem challenging, but with the right checklist and careful planning, it becomes far easier to manage.
Backing up your data, setting up redirects, preserving SEO, and running quality checks all help you avoid problems after launch.
The goal is not just to move your store but to make sure it continues performing without interruptions. By following these steps, you can confidently shift to Shopify and create a stronger base for growth.
And if you want a hassle-free migration handled by professionals, partnering with a trusted Shopify development company like CartCoders is the best way forward.
As the CTO at Shiv Technolabs & CartCoders, I am liable for instigating, planning, integrating, and implementing the organization's strategic orientation.
I gather the most significant tech news in addition to sharing the information I gained while serving as the CTO of Shiv Technolabs, a renowned web and mobile app development company. I am pleased to answer questions as a most valuable expert for Shiv Technolabs Private Limited and to share my experience. I offer a keen insider's perspective on technical advancements.
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