Shopify Automated Store Policies: Back Up Text Before Switching

Shopify automated store policies can update supported policy content as store settings change. Activating automation on an existing policy is a content replacement, not a harmless preview switch. Save the current wording and translations, review the generated policy and get appropriate legal review before publishing changes.

Know what the switch changes

Shopify's store policies guide says enabling an automated policy on an existing store replaces that policy's current content with Shopify's automated template. It also replaces custom translations in languages that have an automated template. Turning automation off retains the current content but stops automatic updates. Re-enabling automation replaces custom text again.

Automation is set per supported policy; enabling one does not automatically enable every policy. An automated template is not legal advice and does not prove compliance with the laws or commercial promises that apply to the business.

Preserve the current version

Before changing a live policy, copy the existing default-language text and each published translation to a restricted, versioned document. Record the policy name, date, language, reviewer and where it appears in the customer journey. Include the actual fulfillment and return practices that the policy describes, not just a screenshot of the admin toggle.

Restrict access to policy backups and exclude unnecessary customer data. Ask the policy owner and legal adviser whether the proposed switch is appropriate. A copied policy might contain obligations that the automated text does not reproduce, and a translation may have been reviewed for a particular market.

Review the generated policy

In Settings > Policies, open the supported written policy, turn on Use automated policy, review the generated content and save only after approval. The precise interface and supported policies can change. Shopify also documents privacy settings separately, so review the relevant customer privacy settings when the change affects privacy disclosures.

Compare the resulting wording against actual delivery, return, subscription and contact practices as relevant. Check placeholders, geography, languages and links. A policy that is accurate in one market might not describe another market's consumer rights correctly. Ask qualified counsel to review applicable obligations rather than relying on a generic template.

Plan maintenance and rollback

If automation is turned off, assign someone to maintain the retained text as store operations change. If re-enabling it, take another backup first because the custom version will be replaced. Restoring a prior document can require manual edits and translation review; do not promise an automatic undo.

Use a change window and review the customer-facing policy page and checkout link after saving. If the wrong content appears, pause the change and follow the approved restoration process. Keep a record of when the revised policy went live, especially if customer-service teams need to understand which terms applied to an earlier order.

Related guides: store policy checks and translation QA.

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