How to Import Shopify URL Redirects with CSV

Use a CSV when you have a reviewed list of old URLs and their replacements. The important work happens before the upload: choose relevant destinations, remove conflicting mappings, and decide which rules belong in Shopify’s native redirect list.

Choose the import destination first

This guide’s two-column template is for Shopify’s native URL redirect importer. TML URL Redirect also supports CSV workflows, but use Download Sample CSV in the app for an app import. Its template uses Source URL and Destination URL headings; do not assume app columns or rule options are identical to Shopify’s native CSV. You can see the app’s import screen on the TML URL Redirect page.

Before a native import, check source eligibility with the redirect troubleshooting guide. If the source needs browser handling on a supported live page, plan that rule separately rather than treating a successful native import as proof that it will fire.

Prepare the native Shopify CSV

Use these exact column headings:

Redirect from,Redirect to
/old-linen-shirt,/products/linen-shirt
/summer-collection,/collections/summer
/shipping-information,/pages/shipping

Each line contains one source path and one destination. The sample paths above are examples; replace them with pages from your store. Download the official sample from Shopify’s import documentation before preparing a larger file.

Use a path starting with / for a source on your store. For destinations within the same primary domain, a relative path such as /products/linen-shirt keeps the mapping easy to review. Use a complete URL for an intentional external destination.

Keep review notes outside the upload file

Use a working spreadsheet with extra columns for owner, reason, and test result if that helps your team. Export only the two native redirect columns for upload. Save both the reviewed spreadsheet and the exact CSV you imported.

Save as comma-separated CSV, not an Excel workbook renamed to .csv. Open the exported file in a text editor to confirm the first row and a few sample rows. If a value contains a comma, use your spreadsheet’s CSV export so the value is quoted correctly.

Review the mapping before uploading

Use this checklist on the working list:

• One source, one destination. Investigate duplicate sources instead of keeping two competing rows.
• No self-redirects. Remove a row such as /old-shirt → /old-shirt.
• No loops. Look for pairs such as /old-shirt → /new-shirt and /new-shirt → /old-shirt.
• No avoidable chains. Point the oldest URL directly to the current final page.
• Working destinations. Open each important target on the published storefront.
• Relevant replacements. Choose the closest useful product or collection instead of sending every removed page to the homepage.
• Known exceptions. Set aside platform-controlled paths and any URLs that need separate investigation.

Keep query strings and market-specific URLs in a review group until you have tested their actual behavior. Avoid removing parts of a URL merely to make a spreadsheet look consistent; that can change what the customer was trying to visit.

Back up, test a small batch, then import

In Shopify admin, go to Content → Menus → URL redirects. Export the current redirect list before making a large change. Shopify’s redirect management instructions cover export and import.

Start with a few reviewed rows representing the kinds of changes in your file. Choose Import, add the CSV, upload it, review the import, and confirm it. Read any reported errors before uploading the rest.

After the small batch works, import the remaining reviewed rows and keep a record of the file, time, and result. If an import reports an issue, fix the affected mapping or formatting and review the result before trying again. Check existing rules when retrying; do not assume the previous attempt added nothing.

Verify the result on the storefront

A completed import is a data check, not the whole customer journey. Test every business-critical URL and a representative sample from the rest of the file:

1. Enter the old URL directly in a fresh browser session.
2. Confirm that you reach the intended destination.
3. Inspect the initial document response to verify the expected native 301.
4. Check the final page, product availability, and any language or market variants you rely on.
5. Record failures against the original CSV row, correct them, and retest.

The troubleshooting guide includes a browser and command-line method for checking responses.

For a larger launch, assign someone to own the final mapping and post-launch checks. Follow the Shopify migration checklist for URL inventory, launch testing, and cleanup. If you prefer to review and manage rules inside an app, see TML URL Redirect and its setup guide.