You’ve picked your Shopify theme, uploaded your products, and you’re ready to launch. Before you take the store live, run through this checklist. These are the ten things we verify at OneOnic on every store we build — and the items that most DIY store owners miss.
The 10-Point Shopify Theme Launch Checklist
- Mobile layout is fully functional. Open your store on your actual phone (not just Chrome DevTools simulation). Tap through the navigation, product pages, add-to-cart, and the beginning of checkout. Fix anything that requires precise tapping or is difficult to read.
- Hero image looks correct on mobile. Desktop hero images often crop badly on mobile, cutting out your key visual or text. Either use Shopify’s focal point tool or create a separate mobile crop. Check in both portrait and landscape orientation.
- Fonts are loading correctly. If you’re using Google Fonts or custom fonts, verify they’re loading in all browsers. Check on Safari (iOS and Mac) — font rendering is different and some fonts don’t display as expected.
- All buttons work and link correctly. Click every CTA button, navigation item, and product link. Check your “Shop Now” hero button, “Add to Cart” on all product pages, and your footer links. Broken links on launch day are damaging to first impressions.
- PageSpeed score is above 60 on mobile. Run your live URL (not just the preview) through Google PageSpeed Insights. If you’re below 60 on mobile, identify and fix the top three speed issues before launch.
- Product images display correctly. Check that all product images are loading at the right size and aspect ratio. Look for any blurry images (uploaded at too low a resolution), missing images (product with no image showing a placeholder), or images that are displaying in the wrong aspect ratio due to a theme mismatch.
- Checkout is working end-to-end. Place a real test order using Shopify’s Bogus Gateway or a real card. Verify the cart, the payment step, the order confirmation page, and the confirmation email all work correctly.
- SEO basics are in place. Every page should have a unique meta title and description. Check your homepage, at least three product pages, and your main collection pages. Use Shopify’s search engine listing preview in each page’s edit view.
- Trust elements are visible on product pages. Before the customer hits the add-to-cart button, they should be able to see: a clear price, your return policy or a link to it, a secure payment indicator, and at least one review (or a review count with star rating). If any of these are missing, add them.
- Password page is disabled. Shopify stores launch with a password page enabled by default. Go to Online Store → Preferences and disable the password to make your store publicly accessible. This is the single most common “my store isn’t live” mistake.
Additional Checks for India-Based Stores
- Verify UPI appears as a payment option at checkout if you’re using Razorpay or PayU
- Check that your shipping rates are correctly configured for Indian pin codes
- Confirm your GST number is visible on invoices if you’re GST-registered
- Test the store on a mid-range Android device (not just a flagship phone) — this represents the majority of Indian shoppers
The Fix: Try Granivio Free on Shopify
Most items on this checklist are easier to pass when you start with a well-built theme. Granivio ships with strong mobile layout defaults, clean product page structure, and fast load performance — reducing the number of fixes you need to make before launch. If you’re building your store on Granivio and want professional pre-launch QA, OneOnic offers launch review services.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I place a test order on Shopify without being charged?
Go to Settings → Payments in your Shopify admin and enable the Bogus Gateway under “Test mode”. Then go through a real checkout using a test card number (4111 1111 1111 1111). This tests the full checkout flow without processing a real payment. Remember to switch back to your live payment gateway before publishing.
What happens if I go live with a broken element on my Shopify store?
Depending on what’s broken, the impact ranges from minor (a slightly misaligned image) to severe (broken checkout preventing all purchases). The most critical issues are payment gateway problems, broken navigation, and checkout flow errors. Minor visual issues can be fixed post-launch without significant impact. Use this checklist to catch the critical issues before they cost you sales.
Should I do a soft launch before going fully public?
Yes, if possible. Share your store URL with 5–10 people who match your target customer profile and ask them to browse and attempt a purchase. Their feedback will surface usability issues that you can’t see because you know your own store too well. A 24–48 hour soft launch window before announcing publicly is a smart approach for any new store.
Need Expert Help Building Your Shopify Store?
OneOnic has built 100+ Shopify stores across India for furniture, fashion, home decor, tiles, candles, and more. We handle design, development, SEO, and growth.
