Thinking of moving on from Etsy? You're not alone. Whether you're migrating to your own website, taking a break, or simply don't have time to manage your shop, closing it down is a big decision.
Before you take an irreversible step, this guide will walk you through your options, from temporarily pausing sales to permanently closing your shop and account.
A Quick Note: I recommend performing all these steps on a computer or laptop, as the mobile browser and Etsy Seller app have limitations.
Alternatives to Closing Your Shop
Closing your shop is a big decision, so it's worth considering alternatives first. Have you tried everything to improve your chance of succeeding on Etsy? Here are a few of my guides to get you started:
- Improving your Etsy SEO to attract more buyers
- Optimising your listings for better conversion rates
- Upgrading your listing photos to stand out
If you just need a temporary break to catch up on orders or take a vacation, consider putting your shop on Vacation Mode. It allows you to pause your Etsy shop and prevent new orders from coming in. Here are the steps to put your Etsy shop on vacation mode:
- From your Etsy shop dashboard, click "Settings" and then "Options"
- Select the Vacation Mode" tab
- Turn the setting to "On"
- Fill in a temporary shop announcement and a message auto-reply to keep your customers informed. You can reopen your shop by turning this setting to "Off" whenever you're ready.
How to Close Your Etsy Shop
If you've made your decision, here are the steps to close your Etsy shop.
Keep in mind: You cannot close your shop if you have an outstanding balance on your payment account or any open cases. Please resolve these first. Interestingly, you can close your shop with open orders. You will still have access to manage and communicate with these customers after your shop is closed.
Steps to Close Your Etsy Shop
01 - From your Etsy shop dashboard, click "Settings" and then "Options":
02 - Click the "Close Shop" tab at the top of the page
03 - On the "Close Your Shop" page, select your reason for leaving from the dropdown menu. This feedback is for Etsy.
04 - Click the "Close Shop" button. A final confirmation pop-up will appear. Confirm your choice to proceed. The process can take up to 30 minutes to complete.
05 - And here is the screen you'll see after clicking the "Close Shop" button:
What Happens After Your Shop is Closed?
- Customers can still leave reviews for past purchases if they are within their 100-day review window
- Anyone trying to visit your shop URL will be redirected to your public profile
- Direct links to your old listings will now show a "page not found"
- You will still have access to your orders and billing history
Changed Your Mind? How to Reopen an Etsy Shop
Closing your shop isn't always final. Because your shop name is unique and reserved for you, you can reopen it later.
When you closed your shop, Etsy sent you a confirmation email. Simply find that email and click the link inside to begin the reopening process. You may be asked to put a new credit card on file.
If you can't find the email, you can use this direct link format (Just replace [YourShopName] with your actual shop name):
https://www.etsy.com/your/shops/[YourShopName]/status
Inside the link, you'll see this page to reopen your Etsy shop:
How to Close Your Etsy Account
It's important to understand the difference:
- Closing your Shop only removes your storefront. Your Etsy account remains active for buying and accessing past seller information.
- Closing your Account deletes your entire Etsy identity, including your ability to buy on the platform.
If you want to close your Etsy account, you have two options.
Option 1: Close Your Etsy Account (Reversible)
This option deactivates your account, but you can reopen it later by signing in again.
01 - Click on "Your Account" in the top-right corner, then "Account Settings"
02 - In the "Account" tab, scroll down and click "Close your account"
03 - A pop-up will ask for your password to confirm the action, but you can reopen your account in the future if you choose this option.
Option 2: Permanently Close and Delete Your Etsy Account (Irreversible)
This action permanently deletes all your data and cannot be undone.
01 - Go to "Account Settings" and then click the "Privacy" tab
02 - Scroll down and click the request button under "Permanently close and delete your Etsy Account"
03 - A pop-up will appear to confirm your decision. This is not the final step.
04 - Check the email associated with your Etsy account for a message from Etsy. Click the "Confirm my account deletion request" button inside.
05 - Once confirmed, a red banner will appear at the top of Etsy, stating that your account is scheduled for permanent deletion.
