Shopify bulk import and export: CSV guide, templates, fixes

1Two ways to bulk import and export Shopify data

Shopify's admin has a free CSV tool. Shopify's Help Center, read on 6 November 2026, it imports products and customers from CSV files and exports products, customers and orders. It suits small product files that you build with care.

2How to import products to Shopify with a CSV file

Shopify's own product import works like this:

1. 1Download Shopify's sample product CSV, or export a few products so you get your store's exact columns.
2. 2Fill one row per product, and one extra row per variant or extra image.
3. 3Save the file as CSV in UTF-8.
4. 4In Shopify admin, go to Products and choose Import.
5. 5Pick the file. Tick "Overwrite products with matching handles" only if you mean to replace existing values.
6. 6Upload the file and start the import.

3Shopify CSV import limits to know first

Shopify's Help Center, read on 6 November 2026, sets these rules:

4Shopify product CSV template: the columns you need

Shopify's current sample file starts with Title and URL handle. The URL handle ties each row to one product, so every row that shares a handle belongs to the same product. Headers must match Shopify's spelling exactly.

Most product imports only need these columns:

5How to import multiple images per product

Shopify's Help Center, read on 6 November 2026, a product can have up to 250 images. Each image needs its own row:

1. 1Fill the first row with the product and its first image URL.
2. 2Add a new row for each extra image. Fill only the URL handle and the Product image URL.
3. 3Set Image position to 1, 2, 3 so the images show in that order.

6How to import metafields with a CSV

Shopify's product CSV takes product metafields as extra columns. The header names the metafield, for example "Fabric (product.metafields.custom.fabric)". Shopify's Help Center, read on 6 November 2026, variant metafields aren't supported, and the customer CSV takes only a few simple metafield types.

7Shopify CSV import not working? Common errors and fixes

These errors and fixes come from Shopify's Help Center, read on 6 November 2026, plus one Excel habit that causes many problems:

8How to export Shopify products to CSV or Excel

Shopify's admin exports products as CSV only. Shopify's Help Center, read on 6 November 2026, CSV in UTF-8 is the only format it can import or export, and the Collection column isn't included in an export.

With BluePeacock you choose the format and the columns:

1. 1Open Export and choose Products, or Variants for every option, price and stock column.
2. 2Pick the columns, including image URLs and metafields.
3. 3Filter by status, vendor, product type, tags or created date.
4. 4Choose CSV or Excel.
5. 5Download the file, or on a paid plan send it to FTP, SFTP, WebDAV or Google Drive.
6. 6Run it now, later, or on a repeat schedule such as a weekly backup.

9How to export Shopify orders

In Shopify admin, open Orders and choose Export. Shopify's Help Center, read on 6 November 2026, up to 50 orders download straight away, and a bigger export is sent to you by email.

10How to import and export customers

Shopify's customer CSV takes names, email, phone, one default address, marketing consent, tags, a note and tax exemption. Shopify's Help Center, read on 6 November 2026, the file can be up to 15 MB, duplicate emails or phone numbers are skipped, and passwords can't be moved.

11Can you import orders into Shopify?

Not with Shopify's admin. Shopify's Help Center, read on 6 November 2026, describes order export but no order import.

To bring order history over, you need an app that creates orders. BluePeacock imports orders and draft orders from CSV or Excel. Matrixify's Shopify App Store page, read on 6 November 2026, also lists order import.

12How to import products from another store

From WooCommerce: on a paid plan, connect your store with its address and API keys, and BluePeacock reads its products. Or export a product CSV from WooCommerce and import that file on any plan.

From any other platform: export a product CSV, then match its columns to Shopify fields. BluePeacock suggests close matches but never guesses for you.

From another Shopify store: export products from one store and import the file into the other.

13The safe way to run any big import

Whatever you move, these six steps keep your store safe:

1. 1Export a backup of the data you are about to change. It doubles as a template whose columns match your store.
2. 2Prepare the file. Include an identity column, such as a product ID, handle or SKU, so records are updated, not duplicated. Leave a cell blank when you don't want to change it: BluePeacock leaves blank cells alone.
3. 3Match each column to a Shopify field.
4. 4Review every change. BluePeacock runs a test that changes nothing and shows each record before and after.
5. 5Run now or on a schedule. BluePeacock saves the old value of every field before it writes.
6. 6Undo if something went wrong. Open the job and the saved old values go back in one click. Images you removed can't come back, because Shopify deletes the files.

A test run catches the mistake before it reaches your store. Saved old values and one-click undo fix the ones that slip through. And if you get stuck, a person at BluePeacock answers within 24 hours.