# How to remove the password from your Shopify store

> Remove your Shopify store password in four steps: set your store from Private to Public, launch it, and fix what blocks you if the option does not work.

Published 2026-11-04, updated 2026-11-04. Source: https://forgefont.com/blog/remove-shopify-password

To remove the password from your Shopify store, go to Online Store in your admin, click the Private label, select Public, then click Update. The first time, the button reads Launch store. You need a paid Shopify plan and the required setup steps done before your store can go public.

## The four steps

Shopify calls the password *private mode*. New stores start in this mode. These are the desktop steps from [Shopify’s password page guide](https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/online-store/themes/password-page), as checked in November 2026.

1. In your Shopify admin, go to **Online Store**.
2. Click the **Private** label in the access setting menu.
3. Select **Public**.
4. Click **Update**, or **Launch store** if this is the first time.

Older tutorials mention a checkbox under Preferences or a button on the Themes page. Shopify’s current guide uses the access setting menu above, so start there.

## What happens when the password comes off?

Anyone with your address can now see your store, and it can be found by search engines. Before you click, check that:

- the theme you want shoppers to see is the published one;
- your prices, shipping and policies are final;
- your payment provider can take orders.

Our [launch checklist](https://forgefont.com/blog/shopify-store-launch-checklist) covers the full list. Going public does not put you on Google straight away: Google says [it can take a few weeks](https://developers.google.com/search/docs/fundamentals/get-on-google) to notice a new site.

## Why can’t I remove the password?

| What you see | Likely cause | What to do |
| --- | --- | --- |
| You are on a trial | No paid plan selected yet | Choose a plan in Settings > Plan |
| You are on the $0 Agentic plan | [This plan can build and preview, but not publish](https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/online-sales-channels/agentic-storefronts/agentic-plan-setup) | Move to a paid plan |
| Shopify asks you to finish something first | Required setup steps are not complete, such as a missing business address | Complete the steps Shopify lists, then try again |

Not sure which plan to pick? Our guide on [which Shopify plan to choose](https://forgefont.com/blog/which-shopify-plan) gives a simple rule.

## Keeping the password for now?

You do not need to remove the password until you are ready to sell. While it is on, visitors see a landing page instead of your store. You can still manage it in two places.

- **Change the password.** Go to Online Store > Preferences. In the Store access section, enter a new password in the Password field and click Save.
- **Edit the landing page.** On the Online Store page, the access setting menu shows a preview of the password page. Click Edit to open it in the theme editor.

## Removing the password with Forgefont

Forgefont delivers your store in an unpublished theme, and nothing is published until you decide. You still need a paid Shopify plan to sell, and we ask you to remove the password before launch so we can check the pages the way your customers will see them. Your current theme stays online until you switch. [Configure your store](https://forgefont.com/configurer) to see what is included.

## Frequently asked questions

### Why do I see Launch store instead of Update?

Shopify shows Launch store the first time you turn off private mode. Both buttons do the same job: they make your online store public.

### Can Google see my store while the password is on?

No. In private mode, Shopify hides all of your online store’s pages from visitors and search engines, so they stay out of search results.

### Can I show my store to someone before launch?

Yes. Share the store password with that person. They enter it on the password page and can then browse the store. Use a password that is different from your Shopify login.