How to Install a Shopify Theme (Upload a Zip File) Step by Step

By the Shrine Theme team. Published 2026-10-08.

Installing a Shopify theme takes about ten minutes. If you bought a theme as a zip file, like Shrine, this guide walks you through every step and shows how to avoid problems on a live store.

Before you start

Duplicate your current theme so you always have a backup. In your Shopify admin go to Online Store, then Themes, open the menu on your current theme and choose Duplicate.

Keep the theme file as a .zip. Do not unzip it. If your download contains a folder with documentation, find the theme zip inside it.

Step 1: Open your theme library

From the Shopify admin, open Online Store, then Themes. Your live theme is at the top and other themes are listed below it.

Step 2: Upload the zip file

Click Add theme, choose Upload zip file, select the file from your computer and click Upload. The theme is added to your library but is not live yet.

Step 3: Preview before you publish

Open the new theme with Customize or Preview. Your visitors still see the old theme, so you can check pages, menus and product layouts safely.

Step 4: Customise the theme

Use the theme editor to add your logo, set colours and fonts, and arrange sections on the homepage and other pages. Check the preview on both desktop and mobile.

Step 5: Publish

When everything looks right, open the theme menu and click Publish. Then visit your store on your phone and test the cart and checkout.

Common problems

• The upload fails. You probably uploaded a larger package instead of the theme zip itself. Find the correct zip and try again.
• Your homepage looks empty. Theme settings are saved per theme, so sections, colours and logo need to be set up again in the new theme.
• Something looks wrong after publishing. Re-publish your duplicated backup theme while you fix the issue.