“Opening soon. Enter using password”
The store's password protection is on. Shopify turns it on for every new store and keeps it until you pick a plan and switch it off, so visitors, including Google, see the "Opening soon" page and nobody can browse or buy. Stores that re-enable it for maintenance sometimes forget to turn it back off.
Is your site showing it right now?
The free scan loads your page like a visitor and checks for this message, plus broken links, script errors and phone layout. It also walks your signup, booking or contact form, without sending anything.
Free, no signup. Usually done in about a minute.Why it happens
- The store was never opened: password protection stays on until it's switched off
- The trial ended or no plan was chosen, so Shopify won't let the password come off yet
- Someone turned the password on for a redesign or stock-take and didn't turn it off
- The theme's "password" template was customised and still shows after the password is off (rare)
How to fix it
Turn off the password
In Shopify admin, go to Online Store, Preferences, Password protection, untick "Restrict access to visitors with the password" and save.
Pick a plan first if the option is greyed out
On a trial the box can't be unticked. Choose a plan under Settings, Plan; then the password option becomes available.
Check the store isn't paused
Under Settings, Plan, a paused store shows a different notice. Resume it, then turn off the password.
Check in a private window
Your own browser remembers the password, so the store looks open to you. Open it in a private window, or ask someone else, to see what visitors see.
Questions
Can customers use the password?
Only people you give it to, which is fine for a preview but not for a live store. Search engines can't see past it either, so the store doesn't show in results while it's on.
I want a coming-soon page while I set up
That's what the password page is for. Edit its text and image under Online Store, Themes, Customize, Password page, and turn the password off on launch day.
Can Page Canary tell me if this comes back?
Yes. Page Canary checks your key pages every day for this message and others like it, confirms it on a second check, and emails you with the fix. One site is free.