# How to preview an unpublished Shopify theme

> Preview a draft Shopify theme from your admin, share it with a link, and know when links expire. Includes a short checklist of what to test.

Published 2026-11-04, updated 2026-11-04. Source: https://forgefont.com/blog/preview-unpublished-shopify-theme

To preview an unpublished Shopify theme, go to **Online Store** in your admin, find the theme under **Draft themes**, click the three-dot menu next to it, then click **Preview**. You see your real products in that theme, while customers keep seeing your live store. To show someone else, create a share link.

## How to open the preview

1. In your Shopify admin, click **Online Store**.
2. In the **Draft themes** section, find your theme.
3. Click the horizontal menu button (three dots) next to it.
4. Click **Preview**.

The theme opens in a new view of your store, and you can browse it like a shopper. No theme yet? Our guide to [choosing a Shopify theme](https://forgefont.com/blog/choose-a-shopify-theme) starts there.

## How to share a preview link

With the preview open, click the link button in the preview bar to create a link. Send it to your partner, your designer or a friend whose opinion you trust. As [Shopify’s help page](https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/online-store/themes/adding-themes) explains, there are two kinds of preview:

|  | Visitor preview | Merchant preview |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Who it is for | Anyone with the link | People with admin access |
| Login needed | No | Yes |
| Expires after | 2 days | 30 days |
| Can reach checkout | Not listed by Shopify | Yes |
| How you get it | The link button in the preview bar | The **Preview** button in the admin |

So the link for an outside reviewer lasts two days. Send it when they can look at it, not a week ahead.

## Why can’t I share my live theme?

Shopify does not offer preview links for the published theme, since that one is already your public store. If you want a link to review changes to your live design, duplicate the theme, make your changes in the copy, and share a preview of that draft.

## Check the phone view too

The theme editor has its own preview. Click **Edit theme** next to the draft, then use the mobile button in the menu bar to switch to the mobile layout, as covered in the [theme editor overview](https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/online-store/themes/customizing-themes/theme-editor/features-overview). Click it again to return to desktop.

It gives you a good first idea. A real phone is still better, because you feel how the menu and buttons respond under your thumb. Open a preview link on your own phone. Our guide to [mobile-first Shopify design](https://forgefont.com/blog/mobile-first-shopify-design) lists what to look at.

## What to check in a preview

A preview is only useful if you test the parts that break. Go through this list:

- **Homepage:** no leftover demo text or sample images.
- **Collection pages:** photos line up and products are in the right order.
- **Product pages:** variants work, and each one shows the right image.
- **Menus:** every link goes somewhere, in the header and the footer.
- **Cart and checkout:** use a merchant preview, which can reach checkout.
- **Apps:** reviews, forms and other widgets appear where expected.

When everything passes, follow our steps to [change your theme without breaking your store](https://forgefont.com/blog/change-shopify-theme-safely).

## Reviewing a whole store before it goes live

This is how a Forgefont delivery works too. Your store arrives in an unpublished theme, you browse it like a shopper from your account, and nothing is published until you decide. [Configure your store](https://forgefont.com/configurer) to choose a plan and see the exact price.

## Frequently asked questions

### Why has my preview link stopped working?

It has probably expired. Visitor preview links last 2 days and merchant previews last 30 days. Open the theme preview again and create a new link.

### Can customers see my draft theme?

Not during normal browsing. Your store shows only the published theme. Someone sees a draft only if they use a preview link you shared.

### Can I preview a paid theme before buying it?

Yes. Click Try theme in the Theme Store, then preview it from Draft themes. Shopify lets you preview up to 19 paid themes at the same time.