Shopify questionAnswer4 min read
Can I Remove /collections/ and /products/ From Shopify URLs?
No, not on a standard Shopify store. The /products/ and /collections/ prefixes are fixed. Here is why it rarely matters for SEO, what you can change, and the one way around it.
Key takeaways
- You can't remove /products/, /collections/, /pages/ or /blogs/ from URLs on a standard Shopify store. The prefixes are fixed.
- Shopify also blocks redirects from the fixed paths /products, /collections and /collections/all, so redirect tricks don't get around it.
- You can change the handle, the part after the prefix, for every product, collection, page and post.
- A headless Hydrogen storefront can use its own URL structure, but it's a far bigger build than the URL problem justifies for most stores.
- Who it is for
- Store owners and SEO leads
- Time needed
- 4 minutes to read
- What you need
- Access to your products
No, you can't remove /collections/ or /products/ from Shopify URLs on a standard Online Store. Shopify fixes the URL structure, so every product lives at /products/handle and every collection at /collections/handle, and the platform won't let you redirect those fixed paths. What you control is the handle after the prefix, and that is the part that matters for shoppers and search engines.
I get asked this on almost every migration from WordPress or Magento, where merchants could set any URL they liked. The rules below come from Shopify's Help Center and developer docs, checked on 7 November 2026.
How Shopify's URL structure works
| Content type | URL pattern | Editable part |
|---|---|---|
| Product | /products/handle | Handle |
| Collection | /collections/handle | Handle |
| Page | /pages/handle | Handle |
| Blog post | /blogs/blog-name/handle | Blog and post handles |
| Market subfolder | /en-gb/products/handle | Set in Markets |
The structure is the same on every plan, including Plus. Shopify's redirect rules also state that you can't redirect the fixed paths /products, /collections or /collections/all, and you can only redirect a specific product or collection URL when it's broken.
Does the prefix hurt SEO?
Not in any way that matters. Shopify's own SEO advice is to create descriptive, hyphen-separated URLs that match the content, such as /collections/organic-skincare. Google's ecommerce guidance focuses on keeping one clear URL per piece of content and avoiding duplicate URLs, not on the folder name in front. Plenty of Shopify stores rank well with /products/ in every URL. A clear handle, a strong page and good internal links do the work.
What you can change
- Edit the handle. Open the product, collection or page, scroll to
Search engine listing, click edit and change the URL handle. Keep it short and descriptive. - Keep the redirect. When you change a collection handle, Shopify lets you create a redirect from the old URL to the new one. Leave that on, and check that old product links still resolve after any handle change.
- Add redirects for old URLs. After a migration, map old addresses to new ones under
Content > Menus > View URL redirects. Stores can hold up to 100,000 redirects, and Plus stores up to 20 million. - Don't change handles often. Shopify warns that frequent changes can stop a page from showing in search results.
The headless route
Hydrogen, Shopify's framework for custom storefronts, is built on React Router and its routes can be configured as you like. Shopify's docs give /products/:handle as the standard format and recommend server-side redirects if you use a different structure. Going headless means building and hosting a separate front end, losing the theme editor for day-to-day changes, and paying a developer for every new feature. I'd only consider it for reasons far bigger than URL prefixes.
Country subfolders add a prefix too
If you sell abroad with Shopify Markets and subfolders, each market gets its own prefix in front of the fixed path, such as /en-gb/products/handle for the UK or /nl/collections/handle for the Netherlands. That's expected and good for international SEO: Shopify generates hreflang tags automatically so Google shows each country the right version. Keep handles the same across markets where you can, so your redirect map and reporting stay simple.
If you're migrating to Shopify
Your old URLs will change, because no other platform uses exactly Shopify's structure. Shopify's own example is a page at /policies/shipping-policy becoming /pages/shipping-policy. Export a full list of old URLs, map each to its new Shopify address, and import the redirects before you switch the domain.
What to do next
- Tidy your handles. My guide to optimizing Shopify product pages for SEO covers handles, titles and descriptions.
- Check for duplicates. See how to fix duplicate content on Shopify.
- Planning a move? The Shopify migration service includes a full redirect map, and the technical SEO checklist covers the rest.
Free tools
Check your own store
Free, no sign-up. Each one runs a part of this guide for you.
Frequently asked questions
Can I change the Shopify URL structure?
Not on a standard Shopify store. The /products/, /collections/, /pages/ and /blogs/ prefixes are fixed on every plan. You can change the handle, the part of the URL after the prefix.
Does /products/ in the URL hurt Shopify SEO?
No meaningful harm. Shopify recommends descriptive, hyphen-separated URLs, and Google cares most about clear, unique URLs for each page. Many Shopify stores rank well with the standard prefixes.
Can I redirect /products/ to another path?
No. Shopify doesn't allow redirects from the fixed paths /products, /collections or /collections/all, and you can only redirect a specific product or collection URL when it's broken.
Can Shopify Plus remove /collections/ from URLs?
No. Plus has the same URL structure as other plans. Only a headless storefront, such as one built with Hydrogen, can use a different structure.
How do I change a product URL on Shopify?
Open the product, go to the Search engine listing section, click edit and change the URL handle. Make sure a redirect from the old URL is in place so existing links don't break.
Will my URLs change if I migrate to Shopify?
Almost certainly. Shopify's structure differs from other platforms, so map every old URL to its new address and add 301 redirects under Content > Menus > View URL redirects.
Sources
- URL redirects, Shopify Help Center
- SEO overview, Shopify Help Center
- Collection settings, Shopify Help Center
- Hydrogen fundamentals, Shopify.dev
- Ecommerce URL structure best practices, Google Search Central
- SEO for markets, Shopify Help Center
Related services and work
I'm a Shopify developer and CRO specialist. I have built and improved Shopify stores since 2018, completed more than 1,000 projects, and hold a 4.96 average rating across 719 client reviews.
More guides
-
Why Shopify Stores Lose Sales on Mobile: A Practical CRO Checklist
Mobile visitors decide fast, with one thumb and plenty of distractions. Here is how to find the leaks on a Shopify store and fix them in the right order.
-
Shopify CRO Audit Checklist for DTC Brands
The checklist I use to audit DTC Shopify stores, from checking that the data can be trusted to deciding which fixes to ship first.
-
When to Build a Custom Shopify App Instead of Adding Another Subscription
Another subscription is the quickest fix, until you are paying for five apps that still don't match how your business works. Here is how to decide.
-
How to Find Out What Theme a Shopify Store Uses
Every Shopify store names its theme in the page code. Here is where to look, how to read what you find, and what it means for your own theme choice.
-
How to See What Apps a Shopify Store Uses
Apps leave traces in a store's page code: scripts from their own servers, app embed folders and pixel settings. Here is how to read them, and what to do with the list.
-
How to Name a Shopify Store (and Check the Name Is Free)
A store name has to be easy to say, free as a domain and a handle, and clear of other brands. Here is the process I use with clients, and what Shopify lets you change later.
