Previewing a Store Before Launch
All BigCommerce stores are set to private when first created. This keeps search engines from finding and listing your store in search results while it is still in development, and it prevents the public from browsing your store before it is ready to launch. However, you can still preview your store and allow others to do so as well.
If you're interested in previewing a theme with your store, see our article on The BigCommerce Theme Marketplace.
What if I've launched my store already? Stores that have already launched can be placed in maintenance mode, allowing you to make updates and preview your changes before making them public.
Previewing for Store Owners and Admins
After logging in to your store, you can click View Store in the upper left corner of the control panel.
If you've connected your store to multiple channels like WordPress, click View Storefronts to select which storefront to view.
Your storefront will load with a preview banner that displays along the top of the page. If you are logged in as the Store Owner, the banner shows the preview code you can share with others.
Other users will see a notice that the store is down for maintenance and a link to preview the “coming soon” page.
The banner also contains a link to Page Builder for quick edits to your storefront.
Don't see a banner or it looks different? The banner location and look will vary depending on your theme. If you do not see it when previewing your storefront, check in the Page Builder.
Allowing Visitors to Preview Your Store
You can provide visitors access to preview your pre-launched store by providing them with a preview code. You must be logged in as the Store Owner in order to view the preview code.
To locate your preview code, go to the Dashboard and scroll to the Review & test your store section. It is also located on the preview banner that displays on the top of the page when you click View Store or View Storefronts. The preview code will be a string of alphanumeric characters.
When a visitor goes to your homepage, they will see a "coming soon" page with a field to enter your store's preview code. Submitting the store's preview code will give them access to view the store.
FAQ
Can I move my store back to prelaunch status?
If you need to return your store to a prelaunch status, reach out to our 24/7 Support team for assistance.
Are there any restrictions when using the API on a prelaunch store?
Stores in pre-launch or maintenance mode may reject storefront API queries. This may appear as an error message or return as a 503 status code.
How do I remove the preview code and make my store live?
When you’re ready, you can launch your store from the dashboard Pre-launch checklist by clicking the Launch my store button.
You can also make a storefront active from the Channel Manager. Go to Channel Manager and under Storefronts, click the Action menu (⋯) next to your storefront and select Make active.