Every major eCommerce platform has built-in tools for the import and export of data. Import-export is a common requirement for many eCommerce stores. It helps store owners easily, add, update, migrate, or transfer different data from one store to another. Store owners also use import-export tools to manage and keep a backup of data on their store site.

This detailed guide on Shopify import export covers everything you need to know about the import and export process on your Shopify store. 

So buckle up and let’s get started.

Import and export in Shopify

Shopify import/export is a process of transferring bulk data from or within Shopify stores using a well-organized CSV file. In simple words, the import and export functions facilitate the uploading or extraction of data within Shopify stores. 

The import or export actions in Shopify can benefit you in many ways. It can help you migrate products from one store to another. You can export data from your store site and keep it as a backup. If you are migrating from a different eCommerce platform, the import-export can abate your efforts.

Store owners commonly use the import/export functionality to bulk import or update product data. Importing products one by one manually is no doubt a hectic task. This is the case for any other data including orders, inventory, customers, etc. And that’s the reason why Shopify by default has tools for importing and exporting different types of data. 

There are even hundreds of apps in the Shopify app store for additional import export functions. You can use these apps to extend the import-export functionality on your store site. 

Different types of data import export in Shopify

There are different types of data being imported or exported in Shopify stores. Depending on the store owner’s requirements different data will be imported or exported in Shopify. When migrating from one store to another, data is exported from the old store and then imported to the new store.

Following are the different types of data imported or exported in Shopify:

  1. Product data – Information about the products in the store. Price, product images, descriptions, etc.
  2. Inventory data – Information about the stock, its availability, etc. 
  3. Customer/user data – Information about the customers who purchased from the store. Customer name, email, phone number, shipping address, etc. 
  4. Discount data – Information about the coupon discounts in the store. Coupon code, discount percentage, etc.
  5. Order data – Information about the orders in the store. Order number, customer name, order date, etc. 

Now let’s see how these data can be imported and exported from Shopify using the default tools. 

Product import export in shopify

As said earlier, the import-export of products is a common requirement for Shopify store owners. Product import-export involves the import or export of products and associated data from your store site. 

Use cases for import export of products in Shopify

  • Bulk update of product data
  • Share product data with the warehouse
  • Create a product catalog for a marketplace
  • Migrate from another store/platform

How to import and export products in Shopify? (Using the default tool)

Let’s see how we can import and export products in Shopify using the default tool.

To import products:

From the Shopify admin panel, select Products.

Select products from Shopify admin panel

Then select the Import option from the top menu.

Import button in Products page

Upload a well-formatted CSV file with the product data. 

Import products by CSV

Click on the Upload and continue button.

Click Upload and continue to import products

Then, you will be asked to preview the first product. This helps in avoiding any errors while importing new products to your store. 

Preview first product before importing

If you find the preview to be good enough, click on the Import products button. Depending on the number of products on the CSV file, the import process will take some time. Once the import process is finished, the products on the CSV file will be successfully added to your store site. 

To export products:

Select Export from the Shopify products page.

Export button from Shopify products page

Here, you have some options to export products from your store. Choose the products you want to export. Then choose an export file format.

Export Products options

After choosing the export options, click on the Export products button to export the products from your store. The export file will be sent to your registered email.

That’s how we import and export products in Shopify using the default tool. Now let’s see how to import and export products in Shopify using an app.

How to import and export Shopify products using an app?

There are numerous import export apps available in the Shopify marketplace, but we found StoreRobo Product Import Export app to be easy and efficient. 

The app is available to download for free from the Shopify marketplace.

To import products:

1. After installing the app, go to Apps and select StoreRobo.

2. Choose a template to import products to Shopify. You can choose ‘Shopify Default CSV’ or ‘WooCommerce Default CSV’. Then upload the CSV file with the products. 

Choose a template for importing products

3. Click on Upload to upload the CSV file.

4. Then you have some options to import products. 

  • Choose an action to skip or update existing products. 
  • Select whether to skip the import of new products.
  • Choose whether you want to publish new products from the import file.
Select the import options

5. After choosing the necessary options, click on Import to import products from the CSV file.

6. Your products will be imported within a few minutes.

Import completed

To export products:

1. From the StoreRobo Home page, go to Export Products.

2. Choose a template to export products. Then click on Proceed.

Choose a template for export products

3. Now choose different filters like Product Status, Product Stock Status, and Product Type.

Choose filters for export products

4. Then click on Export

Export Completed

5. Your product data will be successfully exported to a CSV file. You can download the CSV file by clicking on the Download File button.

6. You can view the detailed log history of the import-export actions on your store from the Log History page.

Import and Export history

Inventory import export in Shopify

Inventory data are used to track the product quantities on your store site. This can help you avoid getting orders for out-of-stock products. 

Use cases for import export of inventory in Shopify

  • Migrate product inventory
  • Keep a backup log of your inventory data
  • Bulk update product inventory
  • Share inventory data with the warehouse

How to import and export inventory in Shopify?

The below guide will explain how to import and export inventory in Shopify.

To import inventory:

Under the Products menu, select Inventory.

Select Inventory under Products menu

Then from the top menu, select Import.

Import button from Shopify inventory page

Upload the inventory CSV file and then click on the Upload file button.

Import inventory by CSV

The product inventories will be imported to your store. You can use the import method to update the inventory data.

To export inventory:

From the Inventory page, select the Export option.

Export button from Shopify inventory page

Here you have some options to export the inventory data from your store.

Choose whether to export inventories on the current page or all variants. Then choose a file format for the inventory.

Export inventory

After choosing the necessary options, click on the Export variants button to export the inventory data from your store site. 

The inventory CSV file will be sent to your registered email address.

Customer import export in Shopify

Customer data is very important in eCommerce businesses. You can use customer data for marketing purposes, personalization, and creating roadmaps for finding similar customers in the future. Whether you are migrating to a new store or updating existing customer data, import export can come in handy.

Use cases for import export of customers in Shopify

  • Bulk update existing users
  • Export a specific field (example: email address, contact number)
  • Add customers from other stores/platforms

How to import and export customers in Shopify?

Follow the below steps to import/export customers in Shopify:

To import customers:

From the Shopify admin panel, select Customers.

Select Customers from Shopify admin panel

Click on the Import button from the top menu.

Import button from Shopify Customers page

Upload the CSV file containing the customer data. Then click on the Import customers button.

Import customers by CSV

Customers will be imported to your store site from the CSV file. 

To export customers:

Click on the Export button from the top menu.

Now choose the export range and file format for the export file. Then click on the Export customers button to export the customer data from your store site.

Export Customers

You will receive the exported CSV file to your email address. 

Discount import export in Shopify

Shopify by default lets you only export discounts from your store.

To export discounts:

Select Discounts from the Shopify admin panel.

Select discounts from Shopify admin panel

Now, click on the Export button from the top menu.

Export button from Shopify Discounts page

From the Export Discounts option, choose an export range to export the discounts. 

Then choose a file format for the export file.

Export discounts

After selecting the necessary options, click on the Export discounts button.

You will receive the exported file in your registered email.

Order import export in Shopify

By default, orders cannot be imported into Shopify. You can use any third-party order import-export app to import orders. 

However, you can export orders from your Shopify store, using the default options. The steps will be similar to the export of products, discounts, or customers.

To export orders: 

  • Click on the Export button from the Orders page.
  • Select the option for the orders you wish to export in the Export Orders window.
  • Choose a file format under the Export as option.
  • Click on the Export orders button to download all of the information related to your orders.

Conclusion

That was all about the import-export in Shopify. Now you know the different types of import-export actions in the Shopify store and how to perform import and export actions with the default tools available in Shopify. 

However, the default import export tools have some limitations, so you may need to consider a third-party import export app for your requirements. 

If you are new to Shopify or planning to build a Shopify store, check out our detailed guide on Shopify.

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