Use Shopify private mode during setup without sharing the admin password Print

Quick answer

Private mode shows a storefront landing page and lets invited reviewers enter a separate visitor password. It is different from giving someone access to the Shopify admin or hiding only an unpublished theme.

Applies to

For the owner or authorized staff of the selected Shopify store, with the permissions needed for this task. Shopify hosts the store separately from a cPanel hosting account. Features and workflows depend on the current Shopify plan, theme and apps.

Before you begin

Decide whether the entire public storefront should be restricted. For a theme-only review on an operating store, use a theme preview instead of taking the live storefront private.

What to do

1. Open Online Store and review its Public or Private access setting. Additional controls are available in Online Store > Preferences under Store access.
2. If restricting the whole storefront is intended, activate Private mode and set a distinct visitor password. Add an accurate message if customers need to know what is happening.
3. Share the visitor password only with intended reviewers. It must not be the owner's or a staff member's admin password.
4. When ready to launch, complete the required store setup, payment, and plan steps, then use the supported Launch store or Public control. Do not assume that saving a theme alone launches the store.

Check the result

Test the storefront while signed out of the admin, first without the visitor password and then with it. Check the public result again after launch.

If the problem continues

If launch is unavailable, review Shopify's stated prerequisites and permissions. Ask support to inspect the access state before changing DNS or creating a second store. Private mode is a storefront control, not a backup or an admin security policy.

Related help

• Review a Shopify theme change before publishing it
• Plan a Shopify checkout test without disrupting customers
• Keep credentials and private files out of your public website
• Review a Shopify theme change before publishing it

Official Shopify references

• Restrict access to the online store
• Preparing a store for launch

Reviewed October 31, 2026. This is an original merchant support guide based on the official references above. Shopify interfaces, rollout availability, permissions, and plan features can change.