Is Shopify Down? (Check Status)

Once, my Shopify store went down in the middle of a sales rush.

Imagine the panic!

Eventually, I managed to bring it back online, but not without diving deep into Reddit threads, YouTube tutorials, the Shopify community forum, and the Shopify help center.

Equipped with the knowledge of countless online resources, I am here to guide you about Shopify outages and their possible solutions.

From scheduled maintenance to domain issues and theme configuration gone awry, let’s tackle them together so your store is always open for your customers.

Overview Of The Most Common Outages That Shopify Merchants Face

Here, I have compiled the most common Shopify outage scenarios, alongside the underlying causes and the level of difficulty associated with resolving them.

Shopify Outage	Reason	Recovery (easy/medium/difficult)
Scheduled Maintenance	System Updates	Easy
Domain Issues	Incorrect domain configuration	Medium
Shopify 502 Bad Gateway	Improper Communication between Shopify and Server	Easy
DNS Issue	Outdated cache information in local DNS	Easy
ISP Restriction	ISP Blocking Shopify’s IP	Medium
Conflict with third-party apps and themes	Faulty Theme or App Configuration	Difficult
Large CSV Uploads & Unoptimized Graphics	Processing errors due to large files	Medium

Note: If you want to know more about Shopify and how you can use its features, then check our detailed review here.

How To Know If Your Shopify Store Is Down

The obvious sign of a Shopify outage is you can’t access your store. However, the reason might not be too apparent.

Here’s what you can do to know for sure if Shopify is down or not;

1. Check Social Media

One possible way to find out about a broader Shopify outage is through social media. When my store went down, I jumped straight to social media for a quick pulse check of Shopify.

Facebook, X, and Reddit go buzzing with posts related to Shopify outages if it happens.

Here’s what you should do;

• Visit Facebook, X, or Reddit.
• Put the query “Shopify Down” in the search bar.
• Scan recent posts.

You can immediately gauge whether Shopify is down or not.

2. Use A Down Detector

Down Detectors are like an emergency alert system. They monitor Shopify’s status in real-time and gather data from all over the world.

There are plenty of them, but I recommend the official shopifystatus.com.

Here’s the best part about this detector – Simply log in to your store, and it can reveal if there’s an issue specific to your store, like problems with admin, checkout, API & Mobile, third-party services, reports, dashboards, etc.

Why Is Your Shopify Store Down?

We are down to actual business now – let’s demystify the potential causes of why your Shopify store is down;

1. Scheduled Maintenance

Shopify has an impressive uptime of 99.99%, but it requires regular maintenance.

The Shopify Help Center states that this can lead to a brief period of downtime. Unfortunately, when a user raised a concern regarding notification of such events, Shopify answered in negative.

So, the best way to ensure that Shopify is up or not is via the shopifystatus.com.

2. Domain Issues

Improperly configured domains are a common culprit behind the Shopify outage.

In fact, the Shopify Help Center has a whole page dedicated to this issue.

It can happen if your domain has multiple A records, the CNAME record is missing, or the CNAME record isn’t pointing to Shopify.

3. Shopify 502 Bad Gateway

One user raised a Shopify outage issue on the Shopify community forum, and Shopify replied that it faced the 502 bad gateway error. It happens when the server involved can’t communicate properly. Don’t worry, though, a bad gateway resolves on its own in most cases.

4. DNS Issue

During the research, I found when Shopify is operational, DNS issues on your end can lead to an “outage,” too.

A bad DNS cache on your computer will prevent browsers from finding Shopify servers – the result is your store becomes inaccessible.

5. ISP Restriction

Although rare, ISP restrictions can also render your Shopify store inaccessible. One Reddit user pointed it out, giving the example of Verizon blocking the Shopify IP address. Therefore, if Shopify is down, your internet service provider could be blocking it.

6. Conflict With Third-Party Apps And Themes

Shopify boasts a massive array of themes and apps. The majority of these apps and themes are from third-party developers. I found a Quora thread that lists the disadvantages of third-party apps, and one is the potential conflicts between Shopify and third-party apps.

It could be;

• Code Conflicts
• Outdated Version
• App Overload

These incompatibilities could bring your Shopify store down.

7. Large Or Corrupted Files & Unoptimized Graphics

I found a Reddit thread that reported corrupt files and unoptimized graphics as a potential reason for Shopify stores being down.

First, large CSV files and unoptimized graphics require a lot of processing power, which might crash the store.

Secondly, if the file is improperly named or corrupted, then the system will perceive it as an error and make your Shopify store inaccessible.

How To Fix A Shopify Is Down Error?

If your Shopify store is down, don’t lose cool; follow these quick fixes;

1. Chat With the Shopify Support Team Or Community

Shopify chat support is available 24/7 for quick resolution of issues. Head to the Shopify Support Centre and chat with an expert for quick troubleshooting.

2. Connect On Social Media

You can also join the Shopify community on Reddit, X, and Facebook. Many expert Shopify users are active in these communities and offer helpful advice.

Additionally, official Shopify social media handles can also be good avenues to receive prompt support;

• X – @shopify
• Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/shopify
• Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/shopify/
• LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/shopify

3. Write An Email

If you need a more detailed solution, you can write an email to Shopify at support@shopify.com. You will receive a reply within an hour in most cases.

4. Connect Over The Phone

Phone support offers an opportunity to converse directly with an expert and get the issues resolved promptly. However, Shopify doesn’t offer toll-free phone support now; it is only available with a Shopify Plus subscription.

Quick Troubleshooting Guide

If your Shopify store is down, there are several troubleshooting steps you can follow to resolve the issue;

1. Check the Status – Head to shopifystatus.com or downdetector.com to ascertain if it’s a local issue or a widespread outage.
2. Wait for Some Time – If Shopify is down for everyone, the best approach is to wait. Scheduled maintenance usually disrupts Shopify service for a short time only, and your store will be back soon.
3. Log in From a Different Device – Local cookies or caches could hinder Shopify store accessibility. Using a different device could rectify the problem.
4. Contact Your ISP – Contact your ISP to know if they are blocking Shopify. Ask them for any specific reason or move to a different ISP.
5. Clear DNS – Clear the DNS to ensure your browser can find Shopify addresses. In CMD, run ipconfig /flushdns command to clear the DNS cache.
6. Uninstall Third-Party Apps & Themes – If you have recently installed any third-party apps or themes, temporarily disable them to see if the issue persists.
7. Restore From Backup – Shopify keeps a backup of your store. You can revert to a previously stored configuration to restore your store to normal functioning.
8. Ask for Support – You can reach customer support or post in the Shopify community forum to get help.

More Shopify Read:

• How To Cancel Shopify Subscription 
• How to Sell Music on Shopify

Conclusion: Be Prepared For The Future If Your Shopify Goes Down

Facing a dark storefront can be nerve-wracking, but don’t panic.

Most Shopify outages can be easily solved by the troubleshooting steps I mentioned here.

Here are some additional tips;

• Stay calm – it helps you deal with the situation efficiently.
• Check the Shopify Status page to understand the nature of the issue.
• Communicate with your customers to let them know you are working on a solution.

Act as soon as you can, and do not let these errors go unnoticed. If you are still doubtful, remember that Shopify’s prompt support and helpful community are just a few clicks away!

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