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Improving Store Performance

Before reading this article, we strongly recommend reviewing Understanding Pagespeed Score to grasp core performance concepts. Performance optimization is an ongoing effort—not a one-time fix.

🚫 Reducing the Usage of Apps​

Potential improvement: Very High

Apps are the #1 cause of performance degradation. A single poorly coded app can reduce your Pagespeed score by 10–20 points.

  • ✅ Not all apps impact performance: Backend-only apps (e.g., inventory sync) often have no frontend effect.
  • ❌ Frontend apps (e.g., pop-ups, reviews, loyalty) inject scripts that slow down your store.
  • 🛑 Before installing: Ask: “Is this app essential to my business?” If not, skip it.
  • 💬 Contact developers to understand their performance practices.

🧹 Removing App "Dead Code"​

Potential improvement: Very High

When you uninstall an app, it revokes the developer’s access—but doesn’t automatically remove its code from your theme. This “dead code” lingers and slows your store.

  • ✅ Best practice: After uninstalling, contact the app developer to confirm if manual cleanup is needed.
  • 🔍 Note: Modern apps using App Blocks (Online Store 2.0) auto-remove their code—no cleanup required.

🖼️ Optimizing Images​

Potential improvement: Very High

Shopify optimizes images after upload, but pre-compression is critical.

  • ✅ Before uploading:
    • Use TinyPNG or Squoosh to compress JPG/PNG.
    • Convert to WEBP (smaller than JPG/PNG with same quality).
  • 🤖 Automate: Use apps like Crush.pics to auto-optimize new uploads.

📦 Using the Appropriate Image Format​

Potential improvement: High

  • ❌ Avoid GIF: Extremely heavy; use MP4 video for animations instead.
  • ⚠️ Limit PNG: Only use when transparency is required (JPG doesn’t support it). PNG files are 2–3× larger than JPG.
  • ✅ Prefer WEBP or JPG: Best balance of quality and file size.

🔄 Upgrading Your Theme​

Potential improvement: High

We regularly release performance-optimized updates with:

  • Bug fixes
  • New features
  • Faster code (e.g., lighter JavaScript, improved lazy loading)

✅ Action: Check for updates in Shopify Admin > Themes and upgrade if you’re on an older version.

🧱 Using Sections Responsibly​

Potential improvement: Medium

Each section adds HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. More sections = slower load.

🔤 Limiting the Number of Fonts​

Potential improvement: Medium

Custom fonts require extra downloads, delaying text rendering.

  • ✅ Use system fonts (e.g., System UI, San Francisco, Segoe UI)—they’re pre-installed on all devices.
  • ❌ Avoid loading multiple Google Fonts or custom web fonts.

🎥 Limiting the Number of Videos​

Potential improvement: Medium

Videos enhance UX but impact performance—even with lazy loading.

  • ✅ Max 4–6 videos per page.
  • ✅ Use MP4 (hosted on Shopify) instead of YouTube/Vimeo (third-party scripts slow load times).
  • 🎯 Place videos below the fold to avoid blocking LCP.

📊 Using Analytics Responsibly​

Potential improvement: Medium

Never add analytics code directly to your theme.

  • ✅ Use Shopify’s native integrations:
    • Google Analytics → Shopify Admin > Settings > Analytics
    • Meta Pixel → Shopify Admin > Marketing > Pixels
  • ❌ Avoid pasting tracking scripts into theme.liquid—this blocks rendering.

⚙️ Removing Costly Features​

Potential improvement: Medium

Some Shopify features add heavy JavaScript:

  • Dynamic checkout buttons (Apple Pay, PayPal, etc.)
  • Shopify Inbox
  • Wishlist apps

✅ Trade-off: Disabling these may improve performance but could reduce conversions.
🔬 Test first: Run A/B tests to measure impact on sales vs. speed.

🌫️ Turning Off Page Transitions​

Potential improvement: Small

Some themes (e.g., Impact, Prestige) offer fade-in/fade-out page transitions. While visually smooth, they add ~150ms artificial delay per navigation.

✅ To disable:

  1. Open Theme Editor
  2. Go to Theme Settings > Animation
  3. Turn off “Show page transition”

⚠️ Note: Scenario does not include page transitions by default—this setting only applies if you’ve added it via custom code.

🚀 Final Tip: Prioritize High-Impact Actions​

Focus on the top 3 fixes first:

  1. Audit and remove unused apps
  2. Compress and convert images to WEBP
  3. Limit sections to 12 per page

These alone can boost your score by 20–30 points—with minimal effort.

🔗 Next step: Hire a vetted expert from the Shopify Partner Directory for advanced optimization (e.g., custom code cleanup, LCP tuning).