How to Get a Collaborator Code and Send It to Your Shopify Partner

Why Do I Need a Collaborator Code?

A collaborator code lets you give a Shopify Partner or developer secure access to your store — without handing over your login or adding them as a staff member. Here's why it's the way to go:

• Keeps your account secure — they never see your password
• Avoids extra staff seat costs — collaborator accounts don't count toward your plan limit
• Full transparency — you can see exactly what your partner has access to
• Shopify's recommended approach — it's the official way to work with agencies and developers

How to Find Your Collaborator Code

Option 1: From the Users Section

1. Log in to your Shopify admin
2. Click Settings (bottom-left corner)
3. Select Users
4. Scroll down to the Collaborator section
5. Copy the 4-digit collaborator code and share it with your partner

Option 2: From Security Settings

1. Log in to your Shopify admin
2. Click Settings
3. Select Users and Permissions
4. Click Roles and Security
5. Go to the Security tab
6. Find the Collaborators section
7. Copy and share your collaborator code

Tip: Once your partner submits a request using the code, you'll receive an email asking you to approve their access. You stay in control the whole time.

Why Not Just Add Them as a Staff Member?

It might seem easier to just add your developer as a staff member, but there are good reasons to use the collaborator approach instead:

• Staff accounts use your plan's allocated seats — once they're full you'd need to upgrade
• Staff are treated as team members, not external helpers — the permissions model is different
• Collaborator access is easier to manage — better for temporary or project-based work
• Simpler to revoke — when the project is done, you can remove access in a couple of clicks

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the collaborator code expire?

No — your collaborator code stays the same until you manually change it. You can share it with multiple partners.

Can I remove a collaborator's access?

Yes! Go to Settings > Users and you'll see a list of active collaborators. Click the one you want to remove and hit Remove collaborator.

Is it secure?

Very. The code alone doesn't grant access — your partner uses it to request access, and you must approve that request before they can do anything in your store.

Does it cost anything?

Nope. Shopify provides collaborator accounts at no cost, regardless of how many staff seats your plan includes.