Shopify allows easy previewing of draft blog posts; however, the generated links expire after 48 hours, cannot be customized or styled, and lack password protection. They’re useful for short-term testing — not for long-term sharing or controlled access.
If you need to share a blog post privately — with partners, collaborators, or VIP customers — this guide will walk you through how to create a password-protected post using only native Shopify tools.
The method outlined here is lightweight, SEO-friendly, fully Shopify-native, works with any theme, and can be implemented quickly without relying on third-party apps.
When to Use This Approach
Operating a Shopify store involves continuous testing, launching, and collaboration. This method is beneficial when you need to:
- Soft-launch blog content to a private audience
- Deliver partner-exclusive or affiliate-first resources
- Gate tutorial content without adding new tools
- Preview content without using expiring links
Key Advantages of This Approach
A straightforward, scalable solution for Shopify brands requiring private blog content without additional tools or complexity.
- No reliance on third-party apps or customer logins
- No impact on checkout or customer experience
- Works across any Shopify plan
- Fully reversible and compatible with all themes
- Quick to implement using only Shopify’s native tools
A Step-by-Step Implementation Guide
This method uses a custom blog post template, a single metafield, and a lightweight password prompt implemented with JavaScript.
1. Create a Custom Blog Post Template
- Go to Online Store > Themes > Edit code
- Under Templates, click Add a new template
- Type: article
- Name: password
- Shopify will generate article.password.liquid
2. Add the Password Gate Code
Paste the following into article.password.liquid:
<div class="page-width" style="padding: 4rem 0;">
<div id="password-wrapper" class="article-template" style="max-width: 500px; margin: 0 auto; text-align: center;">
<header class="article-template__header">
<h2 class="article-template__title">Enter password to view this article</h2>
</header>
<form id="password-form" style="display: flex; gap: 1rem; justify-content: center; margin-top: 2rem;">
<input
id="blog-password"
type="password"
class="field__input"
placeholder="Enter password"
style="max-width: 200px;"
>
<button type="submit" class="button button--primary">Unlock</button>
</form>
<p id="error-msg" style="color: #d72c0d; display: none; margin-top: 1rem;">Incorrect password. Try again.</p>
</div>
<div id="protected-content" class="article-template" style="display: none;">
<div class="page-width">
<header class="article-template__header">
<h1 class="article-template__title" itemprop="headline">{{ article.title }}</h1>
<div class="article-template__meta">
<span class="circle-divider">{{ article.published_at | date: "%B %d, %Y" }}</span>
<span itemprop="author">{{ article.author }}</span>
</div>
</header>
{% if article.image %}
<div class="article-template__image-container">
<img
src="{{ article.image | image_url: width: 1200 }}"
alt="{{ article.image.alt | escape }}"
class="article-template__image"
loading="lazy">
</div>
{% endif %}
<div class="article-template__content rte" itemprop="articleBody">
{{ article.content }}
</div>
<footer class="article-template__footer">
<a href="{{ blog.url }}" class="article-template__link">← Back to blog</a>
</footer>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<script>
document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', function() {
const form = document.getElementById('password-form');
const input = document.getElementById('blog-password');
const wrapper = document.getElementById('password-wrapper');
const content = document.getElementById('protected-content');
const error = document.getElementById('error-msg');
const required = "{{ article.metafields.custom.password_protect | escape }}";
form.addEventListener('submit', function(e) {
e.preventDefault();
if (input.value.trim() === required) {
wrapper.style.display = 'none';
content.style.display = 'block';
} else {
error.style.display = 'block';
}
});
});
</script>
This uses your theme’s default input and button styles, ensuring visual consistency.
Note: Theme compatibility matters here.
The password gate code above works on most Shopify themes, but depending on how your theme is structured, it might need small adjustments — especially if the layout or content classes are different.
If you see errors or the layout breaks, don’t worry. Even if you’re not a developer, you can still fix it using ChatGPT. Follow this guide to learn how to customize your Shopify code using ChatGPT — it walks you through exactly how to adapt the code for your store’s theme.
3. Create a Blog Post Metafield
- Go to Settings > Custom Data > Blog posts
- Click Add definition
- Name it Password Protect
- Set namespace and key to custom.password_protect
- Type: Single line text
- Save
4. Add a Password to a Blog Post
- Go to Content > Blog posts
- Open the post you want to restrict
- In the Metafields section, enter a password (e.g., preview2025)
- Save the post
5. Assign the Template
- Return to the blog post editor
- In the Theme Template dropdown, select password
- Save
The blog post is now gated. Visitors will need to enter the correct password to view it.
Common Questions
Is this secure?
This is a soft gate, suitable for casual protection but not for sensitive data, as the password is exposed in the client-side code.
Can I set different passwords per post?
Yes. Each post has its own metafield value.
Can I use this for product or page templates?
Yes. This method can be adapted to any Shopify template type.
Growth Ideas Keep Piling Up? Let’s Clear Your Bottleneck
If you’re a Shopify brand overwhelmed with growth ideas and limited time to execute them, I can help.
I work with Shopify brands that want to test new growth marketing ideas but don’t have the time or team to execute them. If that’s you — message me on LinkedIn.