Shopify migration checklist for growing stores save this before switching platforms

Switching platforms is one of the biggest risks a growing store can take — and most guides skip the parts that actually cause problems.

Here's a checklist worth saving before making the move:

Before migration

☑ Back up your entire current store (products, orders, customer data, media)

☑ Audit all existing URLs and map 301 redirects for every page

☑ Document all active plugins/apps and find Shopify equivalents

☑ Screenshot current Google Search Console rankings as a baseline

☑ List all third-party integrations (email, CRM, payments, shipping)

During migration

☑ Migrate products with full descriptions, SKUs, variants, and images

☑ Transfer customer data (name, email, order history) without breaking accounts

☑ Set up all payment gateways and run test transactions

☑ Rebuild navigation menus, filters, and collection structure

☑ Carry over all meta titles, meta descriptions, and alt text — do not skip this

After going live

☑ Test every 301 redirect — broken ones kill rankings fast

☑ Submit new sitemap to Google Search Console

☑ Check site speed on mobile before announcing the switch

☑ Monitor GSC for crawl errors daily for the first 2 weeks

☑ Verify checkout flow end-to-end with a real test order

The stores that lose traffic and sales after a migration almost always skipped 2–3 of these steps, usually under time pressure.

Happy to answer questions if anything here needs more context.