If you are a Shopify developer, working directly in the Shopify admin can be slow and risky. A better way is to use local development with Shopify CLI.
With Shopify CLI, you can:
- Pull a theme from your store
- Edit the code locally
- Test changes safely
- Push the updated code back to the store
In this blog, I will explain the complete process step by step.
1) Install Shopify CLI
First, you need to install the Shopify CLI tool.
You can install it from the official Shopify website.
After installation, check the version.
After installation, check the version to ensure it is installed correctly. If you are new to Shopify development or want expert assistance, it is always a good idea to hire shopify developers who can help you set up everything properly.
2) Log in to your Shopify store
Then, connect Shopify CLI to your store.
This command will open a browser for authentication.
This command will open a browser for authentication and securely link your store with the CLI tool. Many businesses prefer working with a professional shopify development company to handle secure integrations and configurations efficiently.
3) Pull a theme from the Shopify store
To download a theme from your store to your local computer, use:
This command will download all theme files, such as Layout, Templates, Sections, Snippets, and assets. Now you can edit the theme locally in your code editor.
4) Work on the theme locally
Open the theme folder in your editor, like
- Visual Studio Code
Now you can edit: Liquid File, JSON Templates, CSS, and JavaScript
Working locally is faster and safer than editing directly in the Shopify admin.
5) Preview changes using the development server
You can preview your theme changes without pushing the theme.
Run:
This command:
- Creates a development theme
- Provides a preview link
- Automatically reload when you save files
This makes development much easier.
6) Push theme changes to Shopify
After finishing your changes, push the theme back to Shopify.
To push to a specific theme:
This uploads your updated code to the Shopify store.
7) List Available Themes
To see all themes in your store:
This command shows: Theme ID, Theme Name, Published Theme
Benefits of using Shopify CLI
Using Shopify CLI gives many advantages:
- Faster Development
- Local code editing
- Git version control support
- Safe testing environment
It is the recommended workflow for professional Shopify developers.
Conclusion
Using Shopify CLI, developers can easily pull a theme, work locally, and push updates back to the store. This workflow improves productivity and helps maintain clean and organized theme development.
If you are working with Shopify Liquid and JavaScript, learning Shopify CLI is an essential skill. Working locally is faster and safer than editing directly in the Shopify admin. If you want to streamline your workflow or scale your store faster, you can always contact us today! for expert guidance.