For a Shopify Partner to manage a client's store, they need collaborator access to that store. This article explains everything from an overview of collaborator requests, to how to apply, to the steps to take after approval.
What Is a Collaborator?
A collaborator refers to a Shopify Partner who has access to a specific Shopify store. Since this is different from staff, collaborators are not counted toward the staff headcount.
To become a collaborator, the Shopify Partner must send a collaborator request to the Shopify store they want to access, and the store that receives the request must approve it.
For more on Shopify Partners, please also refer to the blog article below.
What Is a Collaborator Request?
A collaborator request refers to the application a Shopify Partner submits in order to become a collaborator on (i.e., gain access to) a specific Shopify store.
What Is a Collaborator Request Code?
The collaborator request code is a feature used to control who can submit a collaborator request to a store — it lets you restrict things so that only people who know the collaborator request code can submit a collaborator request.
If a store has set a collaborator request code, the store needs to share the collaborator request code with the Shopify Partner in order for that Partner to submit a collaborator request to the store.
(How to obtain a collaborator request code)
As mentioned above, the store side needs to obtain the collaborator request code and share it with the Shopify Partner. This section introduces how to obtain the collaborator request code.
(1) Click "Settings" at the bottom left of the Shopify admin
(2) Click "Users and permissions"
(3) Scroll down to the Collaborators section
(4) Copy the 4-digit code listed as the collaborator request code
How to Send a Collaborator Request
There are two ways to send a collaborator request:
- Sending it from the Partner Dashboard
- Sending it using a Shopify app
Let's look at each in detail.
Sending It from the Partner Dashboard
(1) Click "Stores" in the left-hand menu
(2) Click "Add store"
(3) Select "Request access to store"
(4) Enter the following information
- The store's URL (xxxxx.myshopify.com) * Already filled in if applying via an app
- The collaborator request code * introduced above in "How to obtain a collaborator request code"
- Permissions
- Message
(5) Click "Request access to store" at the bottom right of the screen
* After clicking "Request access to store," an access-request email is automatically sent to the store owner.
Sending It Using a Shopify App
(1) Click "Apps" in the left-hand menu
(2) Click a specific app from the app list
(3) From the stores using that app, click the store you want to request access to
(4) Click "Get started" at the top right of the screen
(5) Enter the following information
- The store's URL (xxxxx.myshopify.com) * Already filled in if applying via an app
- The collaborator request code * introduced above in "How to obtain a collaborator request code"
- Permissions
- Message
(6) Click "Request access to store" at the bottom right of the screen
* After clicking "Request access to store," an access-request email is automatically sent to the store owner.
Steps to Take After a Collaborator Request Is Approved
After submitting your access request as described above in "How to Send a Collaborator Request," approval from the store owner is required. Only once the store owner approves it can you actually access the store. This section introduces the access steps to take after the store owner approves your request.
How to Access a Store as a Collaborator
(1) Click "Stores" in the left-hand menu
(2) Click the "Manage" tab on the stores screen
(3) Click "Log in" for the store you want to access
In Closing
This article explained how a Shopify Partner can apply to access a client's store as a collaborator. By sending a collaborator request and obtaining approval from the store owner, you gain access to the store's admin. You can submit the request either from the Partner Dashboard or from a Shopify app, and once approved, you can access it from the store admin. By managing a store as a collaborator, you can support your client's business.
