10 Common Causes of a Slow Shopify Store

Why You Need to Fix Your Slow Shopify Store

Every second a shopper waits for your site to load can mean lost engagement, higher bounce rates, and missed conversions.

Among the primary reasons for a slow Shopify store are issues that impact everything from user experience to search engine rankings—and, ultimately, your sales. A slow-loading site can cost you both customer trust and revenue.

Fortunately, many common speed issues can be avoided or minimised with proactive optimization.

From compressing images to managing third-party scripts, understanding what affects your site’s speed gives you the power to create a fast, smooth shopping experience.

This guide highlights the most frequent causes of slow site speed and offers practical solutions to keep your store performing at its best.

Top 10 Reasons for a Slow Shopify Store

Large, Unoptimized Images

Oversized or uncompressed images are one of the most common causes of slow page load times on Shopify stores.

High-resolution images may look great, but they require more bandwidth and time to load. When images aren’t optimized, each one adds to the overall weight of the page, causing visitors to wait longer, especially on mobile devices with slower connections.

This delay can increase bounce rates and discourage potential customers from exploring your store further, ultimately impacting your sales and customer experience.

Large, unoptimized images can lead to a slow Shopify store

Best Practices for Image Optimization

• Use image compression tools: Tools like TinyPNG can reduce file size without losing quality.Shopify also offers built-in image compression to help minimise load time, but you can pre-optimize images before uploading for even better results.
• Set ideal dimensions: Resize images to match the display size on your store.Uploading images larger than necessary wastes bandwidth and increases load time.Themes will often scale them down automatically, but some themes won’t do it for all images.
• Consider alternative formats: Modern image formats like WebP offer superior compression, resulting in smaller file sizes without sacrificing quality.Shopify supports WebP, which can speed up your site while preserving high visual quality.Shopify will also convert your images to WebP automatically, but they don’t always get served in the correct format. Converting them yourself will ensure the images always get served in the best format.

Too Many Shopify Apps Installed

The Cost of App Bloat

Every app you install on your Shopify store typically adds its own JavaScript and CSS files, which are loaded each time a visitor lands on your site.

These files contribute to app bloat, where too many resources cause slow page load times on Shopify stores. Even if an app isn’t actively used, its scripts may still load in the background, adding extra weight to your site and delaying the overall experience for customers.

This can lead to higher bounce rates, as visitors expect faster load times, especially on mobile.

Too many installed apps can lead to a slow Shopify store

Identify and Uninstall Unnecessary Apps

• Assess app usage: Begin by listing all installed apps and evaluating each one’s contribution to your store.Consider whether each app is essential for user experience, conversions, or backend operations. Apps with overlapping features or limited usage may be prime candidates for removal.
• Consider third-party tools: Tools like PageSpeed Insights and GTmetrix can help identify which external scripts are affecting load times.These insights, combined with Shopify’s performance tools, offer a comprehensive view of which apps to keep and which to uninstall.

Unoptimized JavaScript and CSS

JavaScript and CSS are essential for adding functionality and styling to your Shopify store, but they also contribute significantly to page load times.

When JavaScript and CSS files aren’t optimized, they can slow down the initial rendering of your site, making visitors wait longer for content to become visible or interactive.

Excessive JavaScript, in particular, can block other parts of your page from loading efficiently, while unoptimized CSS files add unnecessary bulk, impacting load speeds across devices.

Efficient JavaScript and CSS Loading

• Use async and defer attributes: Adding async and defer attributes to JavaScript files allows the browser to load these scripts in the background or only when needed, preventing them from blocking other page elements.Use async for scripts that don’t depend on other scripts, and defer for those that need to run after the HTML has loaded.
• Minify files: Minifying JavaScript removes unnecessary characters, such as spaces and comments, to reduce file size without affecting functionality.Smaller files load faster, so using tools like UglifyJS for JavaScript can significantly improve load times.While Shopify supports JavaScript minification, it currently only applies to ES5 code.For ES6 code, you can use a tool like Babel to convert it to ES5, ensuring compatibility with Shopify’s minification process.
• Remove unused code: Over time, extra JavaScript and CSS can accumulate, especially if you’ve made design or functionality changes.Regularly audit your code to remove any unused styles or scripts that may still be loading in the background.

Heavy Use of Sliders and Carousels

Sliders and carousels can add visual appeal to your Shopify store, but they often come at a high performance cost, especially for Largest Contentful Paint (LCP).

Each slider typically loads multiple high-quality images, JavaScript for interactivity, and CSS for styling—significantly increasing the resource load.

As the browser processes these elements, page load times increase, particularly on mobile devices with limited bandwidth, which can heavily impact LCP scores.

When LCP is delayed, it not only risks failing Core Web Vitals but also creates a frustrating experience for visitors, leading to higher bounce rates and potential lost sales.

Sliders often cause a slow Shopify store

Alternatives to Sliders for a Faster Site

• Use hero images or static banners: Replacing sliders with a single, high-quality hero image or a static banner can simplify your page and reduce load time.Hero images are visually striking and allow you to focus on a single message without requiring multiple resources.
• Disable animations and autoplay: If you decide to keep sliders, keep the moving elements to a minimum to help with load times.Most sliders have the option to choose how the slider acts, so it should be easy to implement for most themes.

Excessive Redirects

Redirects are sometimes necessary for SEO or rebranding purposes, but excessive redirects can quickly become a problem for site speed.

Each redirect generates an additional HTTP request, meaning the browser has to request a new page, wait for the server to respond, and then load the correct content.

This process causes slow page load times on Shopify stores, especially if multiple redirects are chained together (e.g., from one URL to another, then to a third).

Too much redirect can slow down your Shopify store

Reduce or Avoid Redirects

• Audit your redirects: Start by auditing your existing redirects to identify and remove any unnecessary or redundant ones.Tools like Google Search Console and Screaming Frog can help you identify redirect chains that slow down your site.
• Plan for SEO changes carefully: If you need to change URLs for SEO or branding purposes, carefully map out your redirects to avoid excessive redirects.For Shopify stores, use the built-in URL redirect tool to manage your redirects efficiently.

Uncompressed and Uncached Files

Uncompressed and uncached files can severely cause slow page load times on Shopify stores.

Compression reduces the size of files (like images, CSS, and JavaScript), enabling faster load times.

Shopify includes built-in caching features that automatically cache certain static assets, like images, JavaScript, and CSS files.

This means returning visitors experience faster load times as their browsers retrieve these cached files rather than downloading them again.

Inefficient Liquid Code

Liquid code is the templating language used to customise Shopify themes, but inefficient Liquid code can contribute to slow page load times on Shopify stores.

When Liquid templates contain complex logic, multiple nested loops, or unnecessary conditionals, the code requires more time to process before the page is rendered.

Each additional operation adds to the load time, making the site feel sluggish.

This issue is especially relevant in Shopify themes with extensive customization, as even minor inefficiencies can cumulatively slow down your entire store.

Liquid code sample

We tested various Shopify themes to discover which one is the fastest. Check out our ranking in Which Shopify Theme is the Fastest?

Simplify Liquid Code for Better Performance

• Minimise loops and conditional statements: Avoid excessive loops and complex conditional statements whenever possible.For example, instead of looping over collections multiple times, consolidate data in a single loop. Similarly, try to simplify or remove any nested conditions that add complexity.
• Use cached snippets: Shopify offers caching for Liquid snippets, which speeds up loading by storing frequently used code segments in memory.Use snippets strategically to store reusable code, such as headers or footers, rather than recalculating them for each page load.
• Limit filters and external calls: Filters in Liquid are powerful but can slow down pages if overused.
  Avoid unnecessary filters and, when possible, limit calls to external data sources that increase processing time.

Non-Optimized Fonts and Icons

Using multiple font families and large icon packs can cause slow page load times on Shopify stores.

Each custom font file or icon set requires additional requests to load, enabling faster load times.

Fonts, especially from third-party sources like Google Fonts, may need different file formats (e.g., WOFF, TTF) for compatibility across devices.

Similarly, large icon packs often load dozens of icons, even if only a few are actually used on the site.

Optimize Fonts and Icons for Speed

• Use system fonts: System fonts, like Arial, Helvetica, or Times New Roman, are pre-installed on most devices, so they don’t require extra loading time.Switching to system fonts can provide a significant boost to your site’s speed without compromising readability.
• Limit font weights and styles: If you’re using custom fonts, avoid loading unnecessary weights (e.g., thin, light, bold) or styles (e.g., italics) that aren’t used frequently on the site.For example, if you only use bold and regular weights, loading just these can reduce the load time considerably.
• Opt for SVG icons: Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) icons are lightweight and fully scalable, making them faster and more versatile than image-based icons or icon fonts.Unlike large icon packs, SVGs can be loaded individually or included directly in your HTML, reducing requests and improving performance.

Slow Server Response Time

Server response time is a critical factor in how quickly your Shopify site loads.

When a visitor accesses your site, their browser requests information from the server. If the server takes too long to respond, it delays the entire loading process, leading to longer initial load times, and ultimately, a slow Shopify store.

Slow server response times can stem from factors such as high traffic, inefficient server resources, or reliance on external servers for content.

Improve Server Response

• Reduce content on each page: Limit the amount of content on each page, especially large images, videos, and other resource-heavy elements, to decrease loading times and enhance performance.
• Avoid large mega menus: Large mega menus can increase load times, as they often require additional CSS and JavaScript.Consider smaller menus or simpler navigation to minimise resource load.
• Limit product listings per page: Loading many products on a single page can slow down load times.Try reducing the number of products displayed per page to improve performance, especially on mobile devices.
• Leverage Shopify’s Content Delivery Network (CDN): Shopify uses a global CDN to store copies of your site’s content on servers around the world.This ensures that when visitors access your store, they receive content from the server closest to them, reducing load time.
• Optimize high-traffic pages: Pages that receive a lot of traffic, like the homepage or product pages, benefit most from improved server response.Focus on these key pages to ensure fast response times for the majority of your visitors.

Excessive Third-Party Scripts

Excessive use of third-party scripts—such as those from analytics tools, social media widgets, or live chat plugins—can severely impact site speed.

Each script adds an extra request and processing time, slowing down the loading of other page elements. Additionally, third-party scripts may not be optimized for Shopify, creating potential compatibility issues that further affect performance.

Best Practices for Managing Third-Party Scripts

• Evaluate the necessity of each script: Only keep scripts that provide tangible value for your business.Regularly review your third-party integrations and remove any that are redundant or underused.
• Load scripts asynchronously or defer them: Using async or defer attributes ensures scripts load without blocking other elements.This way, essential content loads first, and non-essential scripts load in the background.
• Use Shopify’s native features where possible: Instead of relying on third-party options, see if Shopify’s native tools offer similar functionality.For example, Shopify’s analytics may meet your needs without the added weight of an external tool.

Boost Your Shopify Speed with Hyperspeed’s All-in-One Optimization Toolkit

Image Compression Optimization

Hyperspeed offers automated image compression, making it easy to optimize images for faster load times.

You can select specific images to compress and adjust the compression level—from light to aggressive—based on your needs.

Additionally, Hyperspeed provides an option to automatically optimize newly added images, ensuring that all visuals contribute to a smoother, faster site experience as your store content evolves.

Lazy Loading Options

The LazyLoad feature in Hyperspeed delays loading images and videos until just before they appear in a visitor’s view, saving bandwidth and improving initial page load times.

You can choose from Conservative, Standard, and Responsive lazy loading options.

Responsive LazyLoad goes further by loading only the appropriately sized image for each device and screen, ensuring efficient loading and optimal display quality for every visitor.

Hyperspeed’s LazyLoad feature for images and videos

JavaScript, CSS, and Third-Party Script Optimization

Hyperspeed includes powerful tools for optimizing JavaScript, CSS, and third-party scripts, allowing you to streamline code and improve load times.

With features to minify and defer JavaScript and CSS, along with support for async and defer attributes, Hyperspeed helps ensure that essential content loads first while scripts load in the background.

Hyperpseed’s CSS and JS minification feature helps improve a slow Shopify store

Additionally, Hyperspeed enables effective management of third-party scripts, allowing you to defer non-critical scripts and selectively load others.

Hyperspeed’s app optimization tools can help improve your store’s speed

Font Optimization Tools

Hyperspeed helps optimize fonts by providing preloading options for key font files and reducing unnecessary font weights.

Hyperspeed’s Font Optimization tool is a quick and easy way to improve a slow Shopify store

Get to know Hyperspeed and how it works with our Comprehensive Guide to Essential Features.

Critical CSS Extraction and Inlining

Hyperspeed also provides Critical CSS Extraction and Inlining, which ensures that only essential CSS loads initially, making your site’s first contentful paint as fast as possible.

By prioritising critical CSS, Hyperspeed defers non-essential styles until later, reducing the time it takes for visible elements to appear on screen.

Hyperspeed’s Critical CSS Extraction makes your initial load as fast as possible

This strategy keeps the initial page load quick and smooth, improving overall site speed metrics.

Predictive Preloading

Hyperspeed includes advanced preloading features like Predictive Page Preloading and LCP Image Preloading to enhance browsing speed and responsiveness.

Predictive Page Preloading begins preloading pages in the background when a user hovers over a link, anticipating their next move and making your site feel faster.

This preloading only activates when there’s a high likelihood that the user will visit the page, which helps conserve bandwidth and respect user data limits.

Predictive Page preloading makes your site feel faster, improving the user experience

Additionally, Hyperspeed offers LCP Image Preloading to optimize Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) by preloading images that are likely to appear in the viewport as the page loads.

Visual Optimization Tools

Hyperspeed offers a unique toolkit of visual optimization features that enhance the user experience by providing visual feedback and stability during page load, including a loading bar and page stabilizer.

Hyperspeed’s visual optimization tools stabilize and improve your site’s look and feel

The Loading Bar visibly signals to users that the page is loading, improving perceived speed, while the Page Stabilizer prevents layout shifts, boosting CLS scores and creating a smoother viewing experience.

End the Frustration Cause by a Slow Shopify Store

With Hyperspeed, you have access to a comprehensive toolkit that empowers you to make informed, impactful optimizations tailored to your Shopify store’s unique needs.

From compressing images and optimizing code to managing scripts and leveraging advanced preloading options, Hyperspeed equips you with the tools needed to tackle the most common performance challenges, like a slow Shopify store.

By applying Hyperspeed’s features, you can ensure that your store loads quickly, remains visually stable, and provides an engaging user experience.