Preview Mode

You can preview any test directly in your browser with Shoplift's Preview Mode. Preview Mode can be used on draft, active, and ended tests, so long as the tested template, theme, or page are still available.

Understanding preview mode

Preview mode creates a temporary session that mimics the real test experience without affecting your live store data. This allows you to thoroughly validate your test configuration before any real customers see it.

With preview mode, you can:

  • See exactly how variants will appear for test visitors

  • Verify both Control (A) and Variant (B) experiences

  • Test the complete purchase flow without affecting live data

  • Check all areas of your site before launching

Using Preview Mode

On a given test draft or report, hover over your variant preview and select Preview in Browser. This opens Preview Mode in a new tab.

When using preview mode, you can experience your test as a website visitor would.

Switching Between Variants

At the bottom of the preview window, you’ll see a toolbar that lets you switch between:

  • Original (A) – your current experience

  • Variant (B) – your test experience

You can navigate across your site while the preview is active to see how each page looks when assigned to the A or B variant.

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FAQ: Why do my edits show up on my original and variant previews?

If making edits to a template test in Shopify affected your original template, you likely made theme-level edits to your variant template. You should revert these edits and set up a new test by clicking "Test a theme or global element."

Exiting Preview Mode

To return to your live site, simply select Exit in the toolbar.

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