Migrating from Wix to Shopify: An Expert Guide for UK eCommerce Businesses

Key UK search trends reflect this shift – phrases like “transfer from wix to shopify” and “migrate Wix to Shopify” are increasingly popular as British business owners seek better solutions for online selling. These searches hint at common pain points: limitations in Wix’s eCommerce capabilities, the need for more robust sales tools, and concerns about SEO growth.

If you’re considering this move, this expert guide will walk you through how to migrate Wix to Shopify step by step. We’ll cover everything from backing up your data and transferring your domain, to rebuilding your store on Shopify and avoiding common migration pitfalls. Let’s dive in!

Step-by-Step Migration Guide

Migrating your website can feel daunting, but breaking it into clear steps makes the process manageable. Below is a step-by-step guide to move from Wix to Shopify, covering preparation, data transfer, and launching your new Shopify store. Follow these steps to ensure a smooth transition:

Backing Up Your Wix Data:

Before you transfer from Wix to Shopify, the first non-negotiable step is creating a full backup of your Wix site. Wix has a built-in Site History feature that automatically saves different versions of your website – use this before migrating from Wix to Shopify so you have a safety net.

In your Wix Dashboard, open Site History and save/download the latest site revision as a backup. For extra protection while you switch from Wix to Shopify, you can also manually duplicate your site (go to Site Actions → Duplicate Site in your Wix account).

If anything goes wrong during the Shopify migration, you’ll still have all your content and settings stored safely in Wix. This simple step massively reduces the risk of data loss and gives you peace of mind while you experiment with your new Shopify store.

Transferring Your Domain from Wix to Shopify:

If you’re moving from Wix to Shopify and already use a custom domain (e.g. yourstore.com), you’ll want that address to follow you so customers can still find your brand easily. Whether you’re doing the move yourself or using a Shopify migration service, the domain transfer process is key.

Start on the Wix side: unlock your domain and request the authorisation (EPP) code. In your Wix Dashboard, go to My Domains, select the domain, and choose “Transfer Away from Wix” – Wix will email you the EPP code.

Next, head into your Shopify admin. Go to Settings → Domains, then click Connect existing domain. Enter your domain and follow the steps to either connect or fully transfer Wix to Shopify. You may be asked to log into your domain registrar (or Wix, if it’s the provider) to approve changes. Once confirmed, your domain will start pointing to Shopify. Keep in mind that DNS changes can take up to 48 hours to fully update.

Pro tip: many merchants migrating from Wix to Shopify choose to connect the domain first (pointing it to Shopify) instead of immediately transferring it. This helps keep existing email and DNS records intact while you stabilise the new store. By handling the domain correctly, you protect your SEO value (URLs, backlinks, branded searches) during the switch from Wix to Shopify.

Setting Up Your Shopify Store Structure:

With your backups done and domain ready, it’s time to lay the groundwork for your new Shopify store. Whether you’re doing a DIY project or working with Shopify migration specialists, this is where you build the structure that will replace your old Wix site.

Create a Shopify account (if you haven’t already) and set up a new store from your Shopify dashboard. Shopify will guide you through the basics – store name, business details, default settings. Once the blank store is created, you’ll start shaping it to reflect (and ideally improve on) your Wix setup.

Choose a Shopify theme that matches your brand and the look you want after you migrate Wix to Shopify. Shopify offers both free and paid themes that you can customise via the Theme Editor: upload your logo, set colours and typography, and build your homepage layout. You can mirror your old Wix design or use this transfer from Wix to Shopify as an opportunity to refresh your branding and UX.

Next, recreate your key pages: Home, About, Contact, key informational pages, and legal/policy pages (Privacy Policy, Terms, etc.). In Shopify admin, go to Online Store → Pages to add them. Then set up Collections under Products → Collections to group products into logical categories, similar to how you organised them on Wix.

Finally, build your navigation under Online Store → Navigation, connecting menus to pages and collections so customers can easily browse. While you’re here, review your store settings (Store details, taxes, languages, etc.) and configure payment gateways and shipping. Shopify supports a wide range of payment options (cards, PayPal, Apple Pay, etc.), so enable everything your customers expect. Set up shipping zones and rates or integrate shipping apps to match your existing setup. By the end of this step, the “skeleton” of your new Shopify store is ready to receive the data you’ll transfer when moving from Wix to Shopify.

Migrating Your Content (Products, Customers, Orders, and SEO settings):

Now comes the core of migrating from Wix to Shopify – actually moving your products, customers, and key content. This is where a Shopify migration company or Shopify migration service can save you a lot of time, but you can also handle it yourself with some careful prep.

Start with products. Export your product catalogue from Wix as a CSV file (including titles, descriptions, prices, variants, and image links). In Shopify admin, go to Products → Import and upload the CSV. Shopify requires specific column headers (for SKU, price, inventory, etc.), so you may need to tweak your Wix CSV to match Shopify’s format before you transfer Wix to Shopify. Once aligned, Shopify will automatically create your products in the new store.

Repeat a similar process for customers. Export your customer list from Wix (names, emails, addresses) and import it into Shopify via Customers → Import. For security reasons, customer passwords cannot be migrated when you switch from Wix to Shopify, so customers will later need to set new passwords in Shopify.

Order history is more complex: many merchants simply keep Wix as an archive for old orders, or use specialist apps / APIs as part of a professional Shopify migration service if they really need that data inside Shopify.

Don’t forget SEO. When you migrate Wix to Shopify, copy over your meta titles and descriptions from Wix into Shopify’s SEO fields (at the bottom of each product/page editor). Also review your old Wix URL structure – your blog posts or pages may have different slugs or folders. For any URLs that change, create 301 redirects in Shopify using the URL redirect manager. You can import a list of old URLs and their new Shopify equivalents. This step is crucial for preserving search rankings, avoiding 404 errors, and making sure your transfer from Wix to Shopify doesn’t harm your organic traffic.

Testing Your New Shopify Store Before Launch:

Before going live after your transfer from Wix to Shopify, thoroughly test everything in your new store. Navigate through every key page, collection, and product to check content, layouts, and images. Use Shopify’s test payment gateway to simulate real orders and confirm that checkout, payments, shipping, and email notifications all work correctly.

Also test your domain redirects: visit some of your old Wix URLs and make sure they correctly forward to the corresponding Shopify pages. Fix any 404s using Shopify’s URL Redirects tool. Double-check SEO basics like meta titles, descriptions, URL slugs, and image alt text to minimise any ranking fluctuations after moving from Wix to Shopify.

Test contact forms, any installed apps, and third-party integrations. Since customer passwords weren’t part of the data migrating from Wix to Shopify, use Shopify’s customer invite feature to email your users and prompt them to set new passwords. Finally, verify that analytics and tracking (Google Analytics, Meta Pixel, etc.) are firing correctly, and preview the store on mobile and tablet to ensure a smooth experience across devices.

A careful testing phase means your switch from Wix to Shopify feels seamless to customers – all they notice is a smoother, faster, more professional shopping experience.

Cautionary Tales & Common Pitfalls

Switching platforms isn’t without risks. Here are common mistakes we see when migrating from Wix to Shopify—and how to avoid them:

Broken Links & SEO Drops:

Wix and Shopify use different URL structures, so failing to redirect old Wix URLs often leads to 404 errors. Always set up 301 redirects before launch to ensure old links point to the right Shopify pages. Shopify’s bulk redirect tool makes this easy, helping preserve SEO rankings and organic traffic.

Data Loss:

CSV imports can go wrong—missing product details, customer data, or order history. Always back up your Wix data first. Before importing to Shopify, double-check CSV formats, and run a small test import to catch any issues.

Design Inconsistencies:

Wix’s drag-and-drop layouts won’t automatically match Shopify’s theme system. Don’t expect a perfect replica. Instead, plan to manually rebuild key design elements, and use this as an opportunity to refresh your store. Rushing this step often leads to a site that doesn’t reflect your brand well.

SEO & Traffic Dips:

It’s common to see short-term ranking drops post-migration, especially if meta titles, descriptions, and redirects aren’t handled properly. Generate a new sitemap, submit it to Google, and fix crawl errors quickly. Done right, Shopify’s SEO tools can help improve visibility long term.

CSV Import Issues:

CSV files can be finicky—wrong formats, large file sizes, or misinterpreted data fields are typical headaches. Shopify’s product CSV has a 15MB limit, so split large files. Always verify imported items for accuracy before going live.

UK-Specific Stats and Trends

The UK eCommerce market shows why so many brands move from Wix to Shopify. Both platforms hold around 21–22% market share, but Shopify is favoured by larger, high-growth businesses. It offers more advanced features, better checkout systems, and superior scalability—key for ambitious brands.

There are over 180,000 live Shopify stores in the UK, with merchants on Shopify reporting 25% higher sales growth compared to the overall market. Faster load times, better mobile optimisation, and powerful integrations give Shopify stores an edge in conversions and SEO.

Success stories like Planet X, who saw a 91% sales increase after migrating to Shopify Plus, show what's possible. While switching platforms won’t magically boost revenue, Shopify’s tools set you up to scale and succeed in the UK’s competitive eCommerce space.

Why Choose Expert Assistance for Your Migration

Migrating an eCommerce store is complex—technical, time-consuming, and full of potential pitfalls. While some go DIY, many business owners turn to experts to ensure a smooth, error-free transition. Here’s why working with specialists like Fourmeta UK makes a difference:

Seamless Data Transfer:

We’ve migrated countless stores. From CSV tweaks to image transfers and URL redirects, we handle it all efficiently—avoiding downtime, lost products, or customer data.

SEO Protection:

A poorly handled migration can tank your rankings. We preserve meta tags, map redirects, and fix any existing SEO issues, helping improve your search visibility long term.

Custom Integrations:

Need subscription forms, product configurators, or custom apps? We replicate (and often improve) any Wix functionality on Shopify, tailored to your business needs.

Focus on Your Business:

Let us handle the heavy lifting while you focus on growth. No late nights wrestling with CSV files or DNS settings—just regular updates and peace of mind.

At Fourmeta UK, we’ve guided many successful migrations from Wix to Shopify, helping brands unlock serious growth. We’ll protect your SEO, perfect your store design, and set you up to scale—start to finish.

Ready to make the leap from Wix to Shopify?

With the right help, it doesn’t have to be a headache or a risk. In fact, it can be an exciting upgrade for your business, setting the stage for greater online success. Check out Fourmeta’s professional Shopify migration services to see how we can help you execute a seamless move. We’ll handle the technicalities and ensure your store comes out on Shopify stronger than ever. Let us worry about the migration mechanics while you plan your next big business move – on your new and improved Shopify store!

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