How do I start from scratch with a messy theme

Online Store and Theme Development
1

I’ve used Shopify for ten + years.
Tweaking and changing things (via freelancers at upwork) over the years has made it slow. Troubleshooting gets so expensive and I really like the idea of having a default Shopify theme. Especially now with the new updates 2025.

But changing to a new theme will just transport all the weird code right?
How do I start all over (without loosing my listings and customers and analytics).

Can’t find anything online telling me how to scratch all.

2

I understand your frustration… it’s common for Shopify stores to accumulate code “debt” over time, making them slow and difficult to manage. It’s great that you’re thinking about a clean start with a default theme!

I do not know the depth of changes and customizations that have gone in. However, I could think of the following step-by-step approach to “scratch all” without losing your valuable data:

  1. Backup EVERYTHING (This is crucial!):
  • Theme: In your Shopify admin, go to Online Store > Themes. Find your current theme, click the “…” button, and select “Download theme file.” This is your safety net.
  • Products: Export your product data as a CSV file (Products > All products > Export). You can choose to export all or selected products.
  • Customers: Export your customer data as a CSV file (Customers > Export).
  • Pages & Blog Posts: Unfortunately, there’s no direct export. Copy the content of important pages and blog posts to a document.
  • Settings: Manually record key settings like shipping zones, tax rates, payment gateways, and app integrations. Screenshots are your friend here!
  1. Setting up a Development Store:
  • This is where you’ll do the “scratching.” In your Shopify partner account (if you have one) or by creating a new Shopify trial, set up a development store.
  • Choose a default Shopify theme (like Dawn) for your development store. This is your clean slate.
  1. Migrating Your Data:
  • Products: Import the product CSV file you exported earlier into your development store (Products > All products > Import).
  • Customers: Import the customer CSV file (Customers > Import).
  1. Reconfiguring Settings:
  • Manually re-enter all those settings you documented (shipping, taxes, payments, etc.) in your development store.
  1. Testing and Refinement:
  • Thoroughly test EVERYTHING in your development store: product pages, cart, checkout, search, contact forms, etc.
  • Pay close attention to mobile responsiveness. Use Google PageSpeed or similar tools for measuring the page speed.
  1. Going Live:
  • Once you’re 100% happy with the development store, it’s time to switch over. There are a couple of options:
  • Theme Replacement: Download the theme from your development store and upload it to your live store, replacing your existing theme.
  • App Transfer (If Applicable): Some apps allow you to transfer their configurations between stores. Check the documentation for the apps you use.
  1. Post-Launch Monitoring:
  • Keep a close eye on your Shopify analytics and Google Analytics after the switch to ensure everything is tracking correctly.

Important Considerations:

  • Downtime: Minimize downtime by planning the switch carefully and doing it during off-peak hours. Consider using a maintenance page (Online Store > Preferences > Password protection) during the switch.
  • App Compatibility: Ensure all your essential apps are compatible with the new theme and properly reinstalled/configured.
  • Customer Communication: Let your customers know about the change in advance via email or social media.

This process might seem daunting, but breaking it down into smaller steps makes it manageable. By following these steps, you can achieve a clean Shopify theme reset without losing your critical data.

Hope this helps!

3

Thank you so much for this. I will give this some thought.

So the new theme will replace all code if I do it this way. But not if I only change theme?