How to back up / migrate your homepage template in Shopify

Backing up your homepage template is something that should be standard practice, especially when you’re about to make major modifications or preparing for timed releases. In this guide, I’ll walk you through the exact steps to safely backup and migrate your Shopify homepage template.

Why Backup Your Homepage Template?

Before diving into the how-to, let’s understand why this is crucial:

Safety net: Easily revert changes if something goes wrong
Version control: Keep track of different design iterations
Timed releases: Prepare seasonal or promotional homepages in advance
Testing: Experiment without affecting your live store

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Access Your Theme Editor

Navigate to your Shopify admin panel and go to the themes area:

From your Shopify admin, go to Online Store > Themes
Find the theme you want to work with
Click the three dots (⋯) next to the “Customize” button
Select Edit code

Step 2: Create a New Template

Once you’re in the code editor:

Look for the “Add a new template” option in the left sidebar
Click on it to create a new template
Choose the template type (product, page, collection, etc.)
Give it a descriptive name like homepage-backup-2024-05-04

Step 3: Locate Your Homepage File

Your homepage content is stored in a specific file:

Use the search bar in the top left corner of the code editor
Search for index
You’ll find a file named index.json in the templates folder
This file contains all your homepage section configurations

Step 4: Copy the Homepage Code

Now for the actual backup:

Click on index.json to open it
Select all the code (Ctrl+A or Cmd+A)
Copy it to your clipboard (Ctrl+C or Cmd+C)

Step 5: Save Your Backup

Paste the code into your new template:

Open the template file you created in Step 2
Paste all the code from index.json
Click Save to store your backup

Step 6: Assign the Template (Optional)

If you want to test your backup or use it for a specific page:

Go to Online Store > Pages
Select or create a page
In the page settings, look for “Theme template”
Select your newly created backup template from the dropdown

Pro Tips

Naming Conventions

Use descriptive names that include:

Purpose (backup, seasonal, test)
Date (YYYY-MM-DD format)
Version number if applicable

Example: homepage-backup-2024-05-04-v2

Regular Backups

Make it a habit to backup before:

Major design changes
Installing new apps that might affect the homepage
Seasonal updates
A/B testing experiments

External Backups

For extra security, also save your template code externally:

// Save this in a file like homepage-backup-2024-05-04.json
{
  "sections": {
    // Your homepage sections configuration
  },
  "order": [
    // Section order array
  ]
}

Version Control

Consider using Git to track changes:

# Initialize git in your theme directory
git init

# Add your template files
git add templates/index.json

# Commit with a descriptive message
git commit -m "Backup homepage template before summer sale redesign"

Common Use Cases

Seasonal Campaigns

Create different homepage versions for:

Black Friday/Cyber Monday
Holiday seasons
Summer/Winter sales
Product launches

A/B Testing

Maintain multiple versions to test:

Different hero sections
Varied product showcases
Alternative call-to-action placements

Development Workflow

Create a backup of the current live version
Make your changes on a duplicate theme
Test thoroughly
Deploy when ready

Troubleshooting

Template Not Showing Up

If your template doesn’t appear in the dropdown:

Ensure it’s saved properly
Check that it’s in the correct format
Refresh your browser
Clear your cache

Code Formatting Issues

If the JSON is malformed:

Use a JSON validator
Check for missing commas or brackets
Ensure proper quote usage

Conclusion

Backing up your Shopify homepage template is a simple yet crucial practice that can save you hours of work and prevent costly mistakes. By following these steps, you’ll always have a safety net when making changes to your store.

Remember: It’s better to have a backup and not need it than to need a backup and not have it. Make template backups a regular part of your Shopify workflow, and you’ll thank yourself later.