How to Remove Pages from Shopify URL: A Comprehensive Guide

Table of Contents

1. Introduction

Shopify is one of the most user-friendly eCommerce platforms, but many merchants eventually face frustration with its fixed URL structure. If you’ve ever tried creating custom pages like “About Us” or “Shipping Policy,” you’ll notice that Shopify automatically inserts /pages/ in the URL.

For example:

  • Default Shopify URL → www.yourstore.com/pages/about-us
  • What many merchants want → www.yourstore.com/about-us

This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about how to remove “/pages/” from Shopify URLs, what’s possible, what isn’t, SEO considerations, and the best workarounds available.

2. Why Shopify Adds “/pages/” in URLs

Shopify uses a content type–based URL structure:

  • Products → /products/
  • Collections → /collections/
  • Blogs → /blogs/
  • Pages → /pages/

The reason Shopify enforces this is for content organization and template rendering. Each type of content (product, collection, blog, page) is assigned a namespace, which ensures Shopify knows how to fetch and display the data.

Unfortunately, this rigid structure means you can’t simply delete “/pages/” the way you might with WordPress or custom-coded sites.

3. Can You Remove “/pages/” from Shopify URLs?

The short answer: Not directly.

Shopify does not allow merchants to fully customize URLs at the root level. Pages will always include /pages/ as part of the URL structure.

However, there are workarounds you can use, depending on your goals:

  • If you care about SEO and branding, you can use redirects.
  • If you are on Shopify Plus, you can explore custom routing.
  • If you’re willing to use apps or custom Liquid workarounds, you may be able to achieve a cleaner user experience.

4. SEO Implications of Modifying Shopify URLs

Before you dive into removing /pages/, it’s important to understand SEO consequences:

  • Google is fine with Shopify URLs: Having /pages/ is not inherently harmful to SEO. Google crawlers treat it like any other directory.
  • 301 redirects are crucial: If you do remove or change a URL, always implement a 301 redirect so you don’t lose traffic or rankings.
  • Shorter URLs may improve CTR: Cleaner, shorter URLs (like /about-us) may increase click-through rates because they look more professional.

Pro Tip: If your store already has backlinks pointing to /pages/..., never delete or change them without a redirect.

5. Workarounds to Remove “/pages/” from Shopify URLs

Let’s go through the most effective methods:

5.1 Using Shopify Native Options

Unfortunately, Shopify does not natively allow removing /pages/. The closest you can get is customizing the handle (the last part of the URL).

Example:

  • Shopify default: www.store.com/pages/about
  • Custom handle: www.store.com/pages/our-story

This still leaves /pages/ in the URL, but gives you more control over branding.

5.2 Shopify Plus and Custom Routing

If you’re on Shopify Plus, you get access to Shopify’s reverse proxy setup.

With a reverse proxy, you can:

  • Map /about → /pages/about
  • Map /contact → /pages/contact

This effectively removes /pages/ for visitors, while Shopify still serves the content internally.

Note: This requires developer support and sometimes working with Shopify’s Launch Engineers. It’s not a plug-and-play option.

5.3 Using URL Redirects

The most common workaround for non-Plus stores is to use Shopify’s built-in redirect system:

  1. Go to Online Store > Navigation > View URL Redirects.
  2. Create a new redirect:
    • Redirect from: /about
    • Redirect to: /pages/about
  3. Save.

Now, visitors who type www.store.com/about will be redirected to the actual /pages/about.

This doesn’t technically remove /pages/, but it gives your audience a clean, shareable URL.

5.4 Custom Development (Liquid & Proxy Workarounds)

For advanced users, developers can:

  • Use Liquid templates to rewrite navigation links so customers only see /about.
  • Use server-side proxies (if hosting externally with a headless Shopify setup) to map cleaner URLs to Shopify’s structured URLs.

This approach is more technical and best for larger stores that want full control over their content.

6. When You Should (and Shouldn’t) Remove “/pages/” from URLs

You should remove/clean URLs if:

  • You care about branding (cleaner URLs look more professional).
  • You’re optimizing for user experience and higher CTRs.
  • You’re migrating from another platform (WordPress, WooCommerce) and want consistent URLs.

You should not bother removing them if:

  • You’re on a small store with limited traffic.
  • Your main goal is SEO (Google does not penalize Shopify URLs).
  • You don’t have Shopify Plus or developer support.

7. Best Practices for Clean URLs in Shopify

  • Always use short, descriptive handles (e.g., /about-us instead of /about-our-company-story).
  • Use 301 redirects if you’re changing existing URLs.
  • Avoid keyword stuffing in URLs — keep them simple.
  • Make sure all your navigation links point to the clean version if you’re using redirects.
  • If possible, use Shopify Plus reverse proxy for the cleanest solution.

8. Tools and Apps That Can Help

  • SM Quick Redirects & 404s – Helps manage bulk redirects when cleaning URLs.
  • Rewind SEO Redirects – For automated redirect handling after migrations.
  • Custom Headless Setup – If you’re using Next.js, Gatsby, or Hydrogen, you can fully control URLs and bypass /pages/.

9. Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Don’t delete existing pages without redirects.
  • Don’t use JavaScript-based redirects — always use 301 server-side redirects.
  • Don’t overcomplicate your URL structure — shorter is better.
  • Don’t ignore broken links — always monitor for 404 errors after URL changes.

10. FAQs

Q1. Can I remove “/pages/” from my Shopify store without Shopify Plus?
No, you can’t completely remove it, but you can use redirects (/about → /pages/about).

Q2. Does having “/pages/” in my URL hurt SEO?
Not at all. Google doesn’t penalize Shopify’s URL structure. The impact is more on user experience.

Q3. Can apps help me remove “/pages/”?
No app can override Shopify’s URL schema directly, but redirect apps can give visitors cleaner links.

Q4. Is it worth switching to Shopify Plus just for clean URLs?
Probably not. Shopify Plus is expensive, so unless you need other features (automation, checkout customization), stick with redirects.

Q5. What’s the best solution for small businesses?
Use Shopify redirects. They’re free, easy, and SEO-safe.

11. Final Thoughts

While Shopify’s rigid URL structure can be frustrating, it’s not a dealbreaker. You may not be able to remove “/pages/” entirely unless you’re on Shopify Plus or using a headless setup, but with smart redirects and best practices, you can still achieve clean, SEO-friendly, and user-friendly URLs.

The key takeaway:

  • Don’t stress too much about Shopify’s /pages/ structure.
  • Focus on clear handles, proper redirects, and SEO-friendly practices.
  • Use apps or Shopify Plus if you want full control.

With these methods, you’ll be able to present your customers with professional-looking URLs while keeping your SEO intact.

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