Website Building » Shopify » Can I Install Shopify Locally?

Can I Install Shopify Locally?

Last updated on October 1, 2022 @ 10:45 pm

Shopify is a platform for businesses of all sizes to create an online store. It offers users a customizable platform, an easy-to-use checkout process, and a wide range of features.

Shopify also has a Local Development Kit (LDK) that allows developers to install Shopify locally on their computer. This can be helpful for testing new features or themes before pushing them to a live site.

Installing Shopify locally is relatively simple. First, you’ll need to download the LDK from the Shopify website.

Next, you’ll need to unzip the file and navigate to the ‘shopify-localdev’ folder. Inside this folder, you’ll find a file called ‘configure’. You’ll need to open this file in a text editor and update the ‘theme_id’ and ‘api_key’ values with your own Shopify account information.

PRO TIP: If you are considering installing Shopify locally, be aware that there are some potential risks involved. While local installation can be convenient, it can also lead to problems if not done correctly. Make sure to research the process thoroughly before attempting it, and be sure to back up your data before beginning.

Once you’ve done this, you can save the file and close it. Then, you can open a terminal window and navigate to the ‘shopify-localdev’ folder.

From here, you can run the ‘Shopify serve’ command. This will start a server on your computer that will run your local version of Shopify.

You can then access your local Shopify site by going to http://localhost:4000 in your web browser. Keep in mind that any changes you make locally will only be visible on your computer; they will not be reflected on your live Shopify site.

In conclusion, yes – you can install Shopify locally on your computer using the LDK.

Dale Leydon

Dale Leydon

Sysadmin turned Javascript developer. Owner of 20+ apps graveyard, and a couple of successful ones.