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Build a page on a theme that isn't live

Pick an unpublished theme under Advanced settings. Customers see the page only once you publish that theme.

Updated November 4, 2026

Open Advanced settings and pick your theme under Theme. Your live theme is the default. A page built on a draft or unpublished theme stays hidden. Customers see it once you publish that theme. Product and home pages still need Assign to or Use as home page.

Pick a theme

  1. Start any build.
  2. Open Advanced settings.
  3. Under Theme, pick your theme. The live one is marked Live.
  4. Click the Generate button.

Development themes and Shopify demo themes aren't listed.

What happens next

The ready window says "Built in" your theme, then "which isn't live. Customers see it once you publish that theme."

  • Product page: you can assign it now. Your live theme doesn't have the template, so customers keep seeing the default page until you publish the theme.
  • Home page: you can click Use as home page. Customers see it once you publish the theme.
  • Any page: you can't publish it yet. You see "Publish" and your theme's name, then "first. The page goes live with that theme."
  • Imported product: the same. Publish the theme first, then click Publish product.

You can review the page at any time with Open theme editor or Preview page. Only you see the preview.

Theme Migrator can't copy into your live theme. Copy into an unpublished theme, then publish it.

Colors on an unpublished theme

Brand guidelines are saved per theme. If the theme still has its default colors, we may use the colors of your live store. You then see "Using brand colors from your published store."

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