When managing your Shopify store, you might encounter situations where hiding specific collections becomes necessary. Whether you’re preparing for a product launch, managing seasonal inventory, or creating private collections for select customers, Shopify offers several ways to hide collections effectively. These features ensure that collections remain unseen until you’re ready to make them available. Here are five simple methods to utilize Shopify's "hide collection" functionality.
1. Unlink Collections from Navigation Menus
The simplest way to hide a collection is by removing its link from the navigation menu. Shopify uses navigation menus to guide visitors, and unlinking a collection ensures it remains hidden from casual browsing.
Steps:
Log in to your Shopify admin panel.
Navigate to Online Store > Navigation.
Select the menu where the collection is linked (e.g., Main Menu or Footer Menu).
Locate the collection link and delete it.
Save the changes.
By doing this, the collection will no longer appear in your store’s navigation, making it less accessible unless a customer has the direct URL.
2. Use the “Online Store” Sales Channel Visibility Settings
Shopify hide collection feature allows you to control visibility at the sales channel level. By disabling a collection’s visibility for the “Online Store” channel, you can effectively hide it from the public.
Steps:
Go to Products > Collections in your Shopify admin.
Click on the collection you want to hide.
In the Sales Channels and Apps section, deselect “Online Store.”
Save your changes.
This method ensures the collection won’t appear in your storefront or in search engine results, maintaining privacy until you’re ready to make it live.
3. Apply a Password Protection Layer
For a more exclusive approach, Shopify lets you password-protect your store, which can be extended to hide specific collections for certain customers.
Steps:
Go to Online Store > Preferences in your Shopify admin.
Enable Password Protection under the Password Protection section.
Set a password and share it with specific customers to provide exclusive access.
Although this feature hides your entire store, apps or custom scripts can be used to apply similar protection to individual collections.
4. Use Conditional Liquid Code
Shopify's Liquid template language is a powerful tool for creating dynamic experiences. It allows you to conditionally display or hide collections based on specific criteria, such as customer tags or login status.
Example Code:
liquid
Copy code
{% if customer %}
<!-- Show hidden collection -->
<a href="/collections/hidden-collection">Hidden Collection</a>
{% endif %}
This method ensures that your hidden collections remain accessible only to authorized users. Always back up your theme before making changes to the code.
5. Install Third-Party Apps for Advanced Control
Shopify’s App Store provides specialized tools to enhance the hide collection functionality. These apps make it easy to manage hidden collections, password-protect specific pages, or restrict access to certain customer groups.
Recommended Apps:
Locksmith: Offers robust access control for collections and products.
EasyLockdown: Simplifies restricting visibility to select parts of your store.
These apps provide flexibility and additional features beyond Shopify’s default settings.
Conclusion
Shopify’s hide collection features are versatile and allow you to manage your store’s visibility with ease. Whether you’re unlinking collections from menus, adjusting sales channel visibility, password-protecting access, using Liquid code, or utilizing third-party apps, there’s a solution for every scenario.
By incorporating these strategies, you can control when and how your collections are displayed, creating a more curated and professional shopping experience for your customers. Leverage these features today to master Shopify’s potential and enhance your store management.
