Complete Guide to How to Add Products to Shopify in 2025
If you’re building an online store with Shopify, one of the most important steps you’ll need to master is how to add products to Shopify with the best shopify apps or else you’ll miss out everything. Whether you’re planning to sell your own handmade goods, digital products, or manage a dropshipping business, the ability to add and manage your product catalog efficiently can make or break your store’s success.
In this complete guide, you’ll learn how to add products to Shopify online, including multiple methods—manual entry, importing from platforms like AliExpress and AutoDS, adding print-on-demand products via Printify, and even how to add products to Shopify from other websites.
Let’s walk through everything in detail, so you can confidently populate your Shopify store and start selling right away.
Step 1: Start With Your Shopify Login
Before you can add anything, you’ll need to access your Shopify store. Visit the Shopify login page and sign in using your admin credentials. Once you’re in the Shopify dashboard, you’re ready to begin uploading your products.
How to Add Products to Shopify Online (Manual Upload)
The most basic way to upload products to your store is by manually adding them. This works well for small stores, businesses selling original products, or anyone who wants complete control over their product listings.
Here’s how to manually add a product on Shopify from Ali-express:
1. Go to Products > Add Product
From the left-hand sidebar of your Shopify admin dashboard, click on “Products,” then click the “Add product” button.
This opens a blank product template where you’ll enter all the details about your item.
2. Enter Product Title and Description
- The product title should clearly and briefly state what you’re selling.
- The description should explain what the product is, who it’s for, its benefits, and why someone should buy it.
You can include bullet points, headings, and rich text to format your description and make it easier to read.
Pro Tip: Use relevant keywords here to help with SEO. If you’re selling a water bottle, for example, a phrase like “durable leak-proof water bottle” helps your product rank in search.
3. Upload High-Quality Images and Media
Add multiple high-resolution images of your product from different angles. You can also upload videos or GIFs if it helps showcase the product’s features.
- Shopify allows drag-and-drop for easy uploading.
- Add alt-text for each image for accessibility and SEO purposes.
4. Set Pricing, Inventory, and SKU
- Enter your retail price and optionally a “Compare at price” if you’re running a sale.
- You can also input your cost per item to track profit margins.
- Add a unique SKU (Stock Keeping Unit) and select “Track quantity” if you want Shopify to manage your inventory levels.
5. Configure Shipping Settings
If your product is physical, make sure you:
- Check the “This is a physical product” box.
- Add the product’s weight for shipping calculations.
- Set up your shipping zones in Shopif
6. Organ
- Choose the vendor (brand name or manufacturer).
- Assign a product type and tags to help with filtering and collection grouping.
- Add the product to one or more collections, like “New Arrivals” or “Best Sellers.”
7. Optimize for Search Engines
Scroll down to the “Search Engine Listing Preview” and click “Edit website SEO.” Here you can:
- Customize the page title (keep it under 60 characters).
- Write a compelling meta description (under 160 characters).
- Adjust the URL handle for clarity and keyword relevance.
This helps your product pages show up on Google when customers search for them.
8. Save and Publish
Once everything looks good, hit Save. If you’re ready to make it live, ensure product availability is set to your Online Store sales channel.
Congratulations! You’ve just added a product manually to Shopify.
How to Add Products to Shopify from AliExpress
AliExpress is one of the most popular platforms for dropshipping. You don’t hold inventory—you simply list the product in your store and the supplier fulfills it when someone buys.
Option 1: Use AutoDS
AutoDS is one of the best automation tools for dropshipping. It integrates with Shopify and supports AliExpress, Amazon, Walmart, and more.
Steps to Add Products from AliExpress to Shopiy via AutoDS:
- Sign up at AutoDS and connect your Shopify store.
- Install the AutoDS Chrome Extension.
- Visit AliExpress and click “Import” on any product you like.
- Edit the title, images, and description inside the AutoDS dashboard.
- Publish the product to your Shopify store.
This process is fast and efficient, and AutoDS also syncs price and stock changes automatically.
How to Add Products to Shopify from AutoDS (For Multiple Suppliers)
AutoDS doesn’t just work with AliExpress—it lets you import products from over 25 suppliers, including:
- Amazon
- Walmart
- Banggood
- CJdropshipping
To use AutoDS for non-AliExpress suppliers:
- Inside AutoDS, choose your desired supplier.
- Paste the product URL or browse their marketplace.
- Import and edit product data.
- Publish to your Shopify store.
This is an excellent method if you want to diversify your product offerings and scale your store.
How to Add Products to Shopify from Printify
If you’re starting a print-on-demand store, Printify is one of the top Shopify apps for that purpose.
Printify lets you create custom designs and automatically fulfill orders.
To add Printify products to your Shopify store:
- Create a Printify account at printify.com.
- Connect your Shopify store.
- Select a product type (e.g., t-shirts, mugs).
- Upload your design using their editor.
- Click “Add product to store.”
Printify will create the product, upload all media and information, and sync it with your Shopify store. You just sit back and promote your store.
How to Add Products to Shopify from Other Websites
Sometimes you may want to import products from another ecommerce platform—like WooCommerce, BigCommerce, or Etsy.
Option 1: Use LitExtension
LitExtension is a migration tool that helps move all your product data, customers, and order history from one platform to Shopify.
Here’s how:
- Install LitExtension from the Shopify App Store.
- Choose your source platform.
- Authorize access and select what data to migrate (products, customers, orders).
- Start the migration.
It’s a powerful tool when transitioning to Shopify from another ecommerce platform.
Option 2: Use CSV File Uploads
For bulk uploads, Shopify allows product imports via CSV files.
- Go to Products > Import.
- Download Shopify’s sample CSV template.
- Fill in your product information using Excel or Google Sheets.
- Upload and import.
Be sure to follow the exact format, or Shopify may reject the file.
Shopify Product Add-ons Without App: Is It Possible?
Yes, it is possible to create Shopify product add-ons without using an app—especially useful if you want to reduce monthly app fees.
Here’s how:
- Use product variants to add choices like color, size, or gift wrap.
- Add custom line item properties using Liquid code (great for engraving text, custom messages, etc.).
- For Shopify Plus users, Shopify Scripts can create advanced upsell options during checkout.
While some technical skill is required, this approach gives you full control without relying on third-party tools.
More Ways to Add Products on Shopify
1. Duplicate Existing Products
If you’re selling similar items, you can speed things up by duplicating an existing product:
- Go to Products > Select a product > Click More Actions > Duplicate.
- Modify the necessary fields.
- Save as a new product.
2. Add Products with Shopify POS App
If you’re running a physical store or a pop-up shop, the Shopify POS app lets you add products on the go.
- Open the POS app.
- Tap on Products > Add Product.
- Input details and availability.
Perfect for in-person retail sellers.
3. Connect to Sales Channels
Boost your reach by publishing products to:
- Facebook
- Instagram
- Google Shopping
- Amazon
- TikTok Shop
You can manage these from the Sales Channels section in your admin panel.
Managing Products After Upload
Archive Unused Products
If you’re not ready to delete a product but want to hide it:
- Go to Products > Select the item > Archive.
Archived products are hidden but retrievable anytime.
Delete Products Carefully
Deleting removes the product permanently. Use only when you’re sure it won’t return to your catalog.
Final Thoughts
Learning how to add products to Shopify is a fundamental step in building your ecommerce brand. Whether you’re uploading items manually, figuring out how to add product on Shopify for dropshipping, or integrating with suppliers like AliExpress, and Printify, Shopify makes the process flexible and user-friendly.
By understanding the different import methods and optimizing your listings for SEO, you’ll set your store up for higher visibility, more traffic, and ultimately—more sales.
If you’re ready, log in to your Shopify dashboard, choose your preferred method, and start building the store of your dreams today.
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