How do I create a sandbox environment in Shopify?

To create a sandbox environment in Shopify, you'll establish what Shopify calls a "development store" through your Shopify Partner Dashboard. This type of store functions as a free, full-featured Shopify environment where you can build, test, and develop themes, apps, and new features without affecting a live store or incurring subscription fees.

Steps to Create a Shopify Development Store (Sandbox)

Follow these straightforward steps to set up your dedicated Shopify sandbox environment:

Access Your Partner Dashboard: Log in to your Shopify Partner Dashboard. If you don't have a partner account, you'll need to create one first.
Navigate to Stores: In your Partner Dashboard, locate and click on the "Stores" section in the left-hand navigation menu.
Add a New Store: Click the "Add store" button, and then select the "Create development store" option.

Define Store Purpose: In the "Development store use" section, you'll choose the primary purpose for your new sandbox. For general testing and development, select "Create a store to test and build".

This option is perfect for:
- Developing new themes or customizing existing ones.
- Building and testing Shopify apps.
- Experimenting with new features or store configurations.
- Learning the Shopify platform.

Here's a quick overview of the main choices:

Development Store Use Case	Description
Create a store to test and build	Ideal for internal development, learning, theme customization, and app testing.
Create a store for a client	For partners building a store for a specific merchant, which can eventually be transferred to the client.

Enter Store Details:
- Store Name: Provide a unique and descriptive name for your development store. This name will also form part of its .myshopify.com URL (e.g., your-store-name.myshopify.com).
- Development store preview: If you wish to test upcoming Shopify features, select the specific "Which build do you want to test?" option. This allows you to experience and build against new functionalities before their public release. If not, you can leave it as the default.
Create Store: Finally, click the "Create development store" button.

Shopify will then provision your new development store. Once created, you can access it directly from your Partner Dashboard under the "Stores" section, ready for you to begin building and testing.

Why Use a Shopify Sandbox Environment?

A development store offers a powerful, isolated space for various crucial tasks:

Risk-Free Testing: Experiment with new apps, themes, settings, or integrations without affecting your live store's performance or customer experience.
Theme Development: Build and customize themes from scratch, test responsiveness, and ensure all design elements function correctly before deploying to a client or live store.
App Development: Integrate and test Shopify apps, whether you're building your own or evaluating third-party solutions.
Learning and Training: Familiarize yourself with Shopify's administrative interface, features, and workflows in a safe environment.
Feature Prototyping: Develop and showcase new functionalities or store setups for clients without impacting their existing operations.
No Time Limit or Costs: Unlike trial stores, development stores have no expiration date and are completely free to use, allowing for extensive development cycles.

Key Features and Practical Insights

Unlimited Duration: Development stores remain active indefinitely, provided they are not transferred to a merchant.
No Subscription Fees: You won't incur any monthly Shopify subscription costs for a development store.
Limited Sales: While you can process a small number of test orders to check your checkout flow, development stores cannot be used for actual business transactions. They have a limit of 50 fulfilled orders.
Populating with Test Data: To thoroughly test your store, you can use apps like Shopify's "Storefront Test Data" or manually add products, customers, and orders. This ensures your theme and apps display data correctly.
Transfer Ownership: Once development is complete (especially if building for a client), you can easily transfer the development store's ownership to a merchant, converting it into a live, paid Shopify store.

By utilizing a development store, you ensure a robust and stable environment for all your Shopify development and testing needs, leading to higher quality and more reliable outcomes.