Before raising an alarm when Shopify is down, it’s advisable to follow a few steps to ensure you understand what has happened and what the next steps should be.
If you’ve been facing Shopify store trouble, rest assured that the issues are known, and so are the fixes when Shopify is down.
Shopify outages can occur for various reasons and may be recurring. These issues include server errors or scheduled maintenance. During an outage, Shopify merchants may experience difficulties logging in or processing orders, which raises the question of whether Shopify is experiencing a technical issue.
Follow this guide, and note down the process to verify the Shopify down status and the next steps to take.
When Was The Last Time Shopify Was Down?
According to Shopify Support and Status reports, Shopify was down for me on March 13th, 2025. On this day, other users were also unable to access their accounts, and the issue impacted the Shopify Partner Directory.
For almost 30 minutes, merchants experienced a Shopify outage, which was resolved immediately. Before this, Shopify had faced two previous outages: one in early March 2025 and another in late February 2024.
While resolutions were provided quickly, as a Shopify store owner, you should be prepared for Shopify downtime issues and be aware of the fixes!
How Long Does a Shopify Outage Typically Last?
Shopify outages typically last anywhere from a few minutes to an hour, depending on the underlying cause. While Shopify boasts a high uptime of around 99.99%, minor disruptions due to maintenance or technical glitches can occur. More extensive outages caused by server issues or cyberattacks may take longer to resolve.
However, the duration of an outage can vary depending on the specific issue and its complexity. In some cases, outages may be resolved quickly, while others might take longer to fix.
What Are Some Common Shopify Down Errors?
Apart from when Shopify is down for maintenance, any downtime affects one of the following service areas. Here are the common issues and the ease of recovery from these issues
| Shopify Down Error | Fix Level |
|---|---|
| Conflict with third-party apps and themes | Difficult |
| Domain Issues | Medium |
| ISP Restriction | Medium |
| Large CSV Uploads & Unoptimized Graphics | Medium |
| Shopify 502 Bad Gateway | Easy |
| Scheduled Maintenance | Easy |
| DNS Issue | Easy |
Find the issue you are facing and check if the source lies on your side or with Shopify.
Let’s check next how you can know if your Shopify store is actually down. Remember, Shopify powers 5.23 million websites, so the solution for such a large customer base generally comes quickly.
How Do You Know If Shopify Is Down?
When facing trouble, the best way to know if Shopify is down is to check the Shopify Status page for the most accurate information on the Shopify server status for your Shopify store(s).
You will know if Shopify is down when you see the image below upon logging in:
1. Visit Shopify Status Page
To learn more about the error in your Shopify store, visit the Shopify Status website. Here, you’ll know the root cause of the Shopify Outage.
If you click on the ongoing issue, you get an explanation of the same status, the area getting affected, and the time at which the error occurred.
This page pinpoints the issue your Shopify store is facing and also grades the criticality of the issue. You can see the status in the form below under each of the service areas related to your store.
That’s the first way for you to know if Shopify is down.
2. Check Shopify Social Media
The next best thing to ensure is that Shopify is down for everyone or that the error is specific to your store. I recommend you use “X” to know if there’s a quick outage.
You can either look for others’ posts or share your own tagging @Shopify Support on X. Here, the solution you receive is quick. Someone from the support team will contact you immediately, or at least a fellow Shopify merchant will confirm the issue.
3. Use A Downdetector
To confirm if your Shopify store is unreachable, you should use one of the popular down detectors. These tools can help you understand the impact of the current Shopify outage.
Here’s the down report on the recent outage on August 23, 2024. Here’s how Down Detector reports if your Shopify store is down.
These are some of the most popular and effective ways to confirm a Shopify outage. Let’s explore the next steps.
How To Fix The Shopify Error? – Steps To Follow
Regardless of the origin of the problems at Shopify’s end or your end, you cannot just sit and do nothing. Once you confirm that your Shopify store is unreachable, follow these steps.
1. Inform Your Customers
This step should ideally be the first step you take. However unpopular this may sound, you should inform your customers about your store’s unavailability.
Using this step, you can prevent panic and confusion in your customers. Failing to attend to your customers promptly may hinder your Shopify store’s sales and reputation.
Using your brand’s official channels, inform your customers about the Shopify outage and ensure a quick resolution.
Repeat this step and inform them when your store goes back live!
2. Use Shopify Resources
Since Shopify is down, you won’t be able to access customer support from the store. Instead, you can head toward the Shopify Help Center or Shopify Community Discussions and search for the error you’re facing.
These sources are rich with resources that can help you get out of the sticky situation.
3. Use Social Media
Another way to resolve your error is to post on social media, tagging the official Shopify handles. However, this might not be as effective a solution as the one mentioned above.
I used “X” when Shopify was down in March 2024, and I received a reply within 15 minutes of posting the query.
A Shopify representative will contact your post and address your query accordingly. Don’t worry, but ensure you correctly explain your solution query.
Here’s Shopify’s social media handles clubbed:
4. Write An Email To The Shopify Support Team
Send an email if you’re not finding your issue anywhere on the community platforms, help centers, or social media handles, or if it’s a concern that cannot be shared publicly and requires proper official communication.
Gather all your screenshots from the Shopify status checker, Down Detector, and your website. Explain your concern in detail and send an email to support@shopify.com
5. Connect Over The Phone (For Shopify Plus Members)
If you are a Shopify Plus user, you have the option to get phone support. Use this to your advantage. Skip the above steps and call the phone support team. Explain your issues clearly, and they shall guide you through.
6. Quick Troubleshooting Guide
You may try troubleshooting if you can’t find your query anywhere on the Shopify platforms or social media and can’t wait for a reply.
Here’s what you can try:
- Try logging in from another device. Cookies and Cache storage can affect usability at times.
- Check if your ISP is blocking Shopify.
- Get rid of untrusted third-party apps or themes.
These hacks may or may not work. To be absolutely sure of a solution, wait for the Shopify support to reach you.
Common Reasons For Shopify To Face An Outage
Every type of outage issue is a headache for an entrepreneur. Here’s a list of the reasons why Shopify must be down.
- Server Issues
If Shopify is experiencing a high traffic load and server issues, Shopify stores in a particular region can go down.
- Third-party Themes or App Usage
If you use Shopify themes or apps from a less-than-renowned source, your Shopify store will likely be bugged. Always check for reviews and ratings of any unofficial Shopify software before using it in your store.
- Scheduled Maintenance
Although Shopify has a high uptime of 99.99%, there are rare instances where the site may go offline during scheduled maintenance periods.
- Custom Domain Issues
You can also face an outage if you have not verified or optimized your domain correctly. Again, a third-party service provider can create this issue for you.
- Failed CSV Upload
Uploading CSV files in bulk, errors in files in terms of columns, or corrupt CSV files can also raise red flags for you.
Bonus Tips To Follow If Shopify Is Down
As an entrepreneur, your main focus should be on the customer’s experience, even during the period of ambiguity. Follow these steps while facing a Shopify outage and keep them handy for future instances.
- Do not run new advertisement campaigns.
Depending on the outage period, you should consider halting your advertisement plans if under discussion.
- Pause existing text or email campaigns.
When an issue this large goes public, it is not advisable to bombard a user with SMS and emails when they cannot even reach your store.
- Have more than one payment gateway.
If your customers are having trouble paying for the products, having a backup helps retain business during an outage.
- Backup your store regularly.
Have a backup of your store done frequently to reinstate any lost elements in an outage quickly.
- Stay Calm and invest time to improve your store.
Last but not least, you should remain calm throughout the process. Outages can happen, and solutions can also be found.
If you’ve identified your issues and have already notified Shopify about them while waiting for a solution, you can spend time assessing your store and performance.
DemandSage Bonus – Shopify is a reliable e-commerce platform, and an outage doesn’t define its credibility. Here’s a separate post on Shopify where I share my Shopify review.
Conclusion: Knowing Shopify Down Status and Fixing Is Easy
By being aware of the root causes of Shopify outages and knowing how to resolve them, you can avoid unnecessary panic and remain focused on resolving the issue effectively.
Next time you encounter Shopify down issues, ensure you check Shopify’s status first using the official Shopify Status Checker. Monitor their social channels to stay informed on the issue to be resolved.
At the same time, don’t sit back when this happens. Contact Shopify customer support directly or on social media to resolve the issues quickly. But most importantly, inform your customers about this issue so they don’t panic if your shop is out of their reach!
