In short. Shopify imports redirect CSV files through Content > Menus > URL redirects, with a review before confirmation and redirects working only from broken URLs.
Definition: A URL redirect sends visitors from an old address to a destination address. As of 17 October 2026, Shopify documents importing redirects through a CSV (comma-separated values) file, followed by review and confirmation.
Key facts
- Shopify's redirect instructions include a review before the final import.
- Shopify's sample redirect CSV contains the headers
Redirect fromandRedirect to. - Shopify's CSV guidance requires UTF-8 text encoding.
- Shopify's Square migration guide recommends browser checks of original URLs after launch.
What does the CSV contain?
Shopify's sample template contains this complete example:
Redirect from,Redirect to
/example_product.php,/products/example-product
The header identifies the source and destination columns. In the sample row, /example_product.php is the old path, and /products/example-product is its replacement. Both values are paths beginning with a slash. Store-specific mappings replace the sample row while retaining the header.
How is the file prepared?
Shopify's CSV documentation describes commas as field separators and line breaks as record separators. It recommends Google Sheets for editing these files. After editing, File > Download > Comma-separated values (.csv, current sheet) exports the current sheet to the computer.
The same documentation requires UTF-8, the text encoding used to represent the file's characters. It warns that saving an export with incorrect encoding can corrupt data when the file is uploaded again.
Where does the import happen?
Shopify's import procedure starts at Content > Menus > URL redirects in the admin. The administrator clicks Import, selects the CSV through Add File, and clicks Upload file. After reviewing the import, the administrator clicks Import redirects, then Close.
How are imported redirects checked?
Shopify's Square migration guide explains that redirects can be prepared before a domain transfer for bookmarked addresses and links from other sites. Its example changes a shipping-policy address from example.com/policies/shipping-policy to example.com/pages/shipping-policy.
For verification after launch, the guide recommends opening an original URL in a browser and confirming that the destination loads. It also calls for checking pages that received the most visits in the previous store.
Related terms
- How do I create a URL redirect in Shopify?
- Can a Shopify redirect replace a URL that still serves content?
FAQ
Can an imported redirect replace an active page?
Shopify's redirect documentation requires broken source URLs; an active page prevents the redirect from working.
Does import overwrite existing redirects?
The same documentation does not specify duplicate-source or overwrite behavior.
Sources
- Shopify Help Center, "Creating and managing URL redirects", undated
- Shopify, "Sample URL redirect CSV file", undated
- Shopify Help Center, "Open or edit a CSV file", undated
- Shopify Help Center, "Migrate from Square", undated
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