How to Detect Which Shopify Theme a Store is Using

Method 1: Use an Online Shopify Theme Detector

Online Shopify theme detectors quickly identify a store's theme. These web-based tools require no technical expertise and provide instant results. They are ideal for initial competitor research or design inspiration. For a detailed comparison, check out our roundup of the top 5 Shopify theme detectors for 2026.

Simply paste the store's URL. The detector analyzes its codebase, revealing the theme's identity and often additional details.

Top Online Detection Tools for Quick Results

• ShopifyThemeDetector.tools: Our specialized tool uses advanced algorithms to identify any Shopify theme instantly. It provides the exact theme name, theme store ID, and checks for customizations, offering the most detailed insights available for free.
• Meetanshi Shopify Theme Detector: Meetanshi offers a fast and reliable detector that quickly identifies the theme name and provides a direct link to the Shopify Theme Store. It's a great option for quick checks.
• PageFly Shopify Theme Detector: This popular tool cross-references themes against a large database. It's useful for distinguishing between official and third-party themes.

How to Interpret Theme Detection Results

After processing a store's URL, results fall into three categories, each requiring a different approach.

An Official Shopify Theme means the store uses an unmodified design from the Shopify Theme Store. You'll see the exact name (e.g., "Dawn," "Impulse") and usually a direct purchase link.

A Customized Official Theme uses an official theme as a foundation, but developers have significantly modified its code. The tool identifies the base theme. Recreating the exact look may require a Shopify expert or a page builder like PageFly for similar customizations.

A Fully Custom-Built Theme is a bespoke design, developed from scratch for the merchant. These themes are not available for purchase and typically involve a substantial development budget. Replication requires a similar custom build.

Method 2: Inspect Source Code for Theme Details

Directly inspecting a Shopify store's source code reveals definitive theme information, especially when online detectors are inconclusive. This method, while requiring basic web development tool knowledge, provides straightforward access to theme clues within the code.

Locating the Shopify.theme JavaScript object is a reliable way to find theme details in the source code. This object, typically embedded in the page's HTML, contains crucial active theme information.

Navigate to the Shopify store. Right-click the page (avoiding images or links) and select "View Page Source" (Ctrl+U on Windows/Linux or Command+Option+U on Mac). A new tab will display the raw HTML.

Use your browser's search function (Ctrl+F or Command+F) and type Shopify.theme. Look for a line like: Shopify.theme = {"name":"Theme Name","id":123456789,"theme_store_id":123,"role":"main"};. The "name" key's value directly reveals the theme.

CSS files can also provide valuable clues about a Shopify theme, especially through their naming conventions and file paths. While less direct than the Shopify.theme object, examining stylesheets offers confirmation or secondary identifiers. Follow these steps to inspect CSS files:

Step	Action	Expected Clue
1. Open Dev Tools	Right-click on the page and select "Inspect" (or press F12). Navigate to the "Sources" or "Network" tab.	Access to all loaded resources, including stylesheets.
2. Locate CSS	In the "Sources" tab, expand the "assets" folder. Look for files named theme.css or style.css.	These are the primary stylesheet files for most Shopify themes.
3. Inspect URLs	Examine the full URL of the CSS files.	The URL path might contain unique identifiers or even the theme's internal name, e.g., /assets/my-custom-theme-name.css.
4. Check Content	Click on a CSS file to view its content. Look for comments at the top of the file.	Developers sometimes include theme names, versions, or author information in CSS comments.

The theme_store_id is a crucial numerical identifier for official Shopify themes. This ID is unique to themes in the Shopify Theme Store and often appears alongside the theme name.

• Access Source Code: Open the desired Shopify store and view its page source (Ctrl+U or Command+Option+U).
• Search for ID: Use the search function (Ctrl+F or Command+F) and type theme_store_id.
• Extract Value: You will typically find it within the same Shopify.theme JavaScript object, as "theme_store_id":12345. Note down the numerical value.
• Verify Theme: Take this ID and append it to the Shopify Theme Store URL: themes.shopify.com/themes/ followed by the ID. For example, themes.shopify.com/themes/12345. This will often lead you directly to the theme's official page, confirming its identity and allowing you to explore its features and pricing.

Method 3: Use Browser Extensions for Instant Detection

Browser extensions identify a Shopify store's theme instantly. They integrate into your browser, automating detection and providing immediate results without manual code inspection. These tools are ideal for quick research or frequent store analysis.

Koala Inspector and Wappalyzer are popular choices. After installation, navigate to a Shopify store and click the extension icon. It typically displays the theme's name, type (official or custom), and often a link to the Shopify Theme Store or its approximate price. Many tools also provide additional insights, such as other technologies or apps used by the store, offering a comprehensive overview of its tech stack. Results are generally accurate, but may be less precise for highly customized or new themes. Use them as a quick, initial detection method.

Why Identify a Competitor's Shopify Theme?

Identifying a competitor's Shopify theme offers strategic advantages. It provides valuable market research and design inspiration. Use this insight to pinpoint design trends, analyze user experiences (UX), and observe features that resonate with your target audience, refining your store's aesthetic and functionality.

Detecting a competitor's theme also informs your development decisions. Assess if a compelling design is off-the-shelf, customized, or bespoke to guide your budget and resource allocation. This competitive intelligence streamlines theme selection, improves developer communication, and helps adapt winning strategies for your e-commerce presence.

How to Handle Custom or Obfuscated Themes

When standard detection methods (e.g., online tools or inspecting the Shopify.theme object) fail to reveal a theme name or theme_store_id, the store likely uses a custom-built or heavily obfuscated Shopify theme. These themes are bespoke developments or have intentionally hidden or altered identities.

Direct theme identification is impractical in such cases. Instead, focus on the store's design elements and core functionalities. Analyze the layout, unique sections, and custom features for inspiration. While you cannot replicate the exact theme, you can emulate successful UX patterns and visual aesthetics. Use a page builder or commission a developer to build similar custom sections on an existing theme.

FAQ: Common Questions About Shopify Theme Detection

Can you hide a Shopify theme name?

Merchants can rename or customize their Shopify theme. However, the underlying code often reveals its original type (e.g., official or custom). Complete obfuscation is challenging, as the core framework usually remains detectable.

Is the Shopify theme detector free?

Yes, most popular online Shopify theme detection tools (e.g., Moast, PageFly) are free. You can analyze any Shopify store URL without cost or sign-up for instant theme identification.

Does detection work on headless Shopify?

No, traditional Shopify theme detectors do not work on headless Shopify stores. Headless commerce separates the frontend from the Shopify backend. Since the frontend is custom-built (e.g., with React or Vue) and not a standard Shopify theme, detectors cannot identify a conventional theme.