To manage a newsletter pop-up on Shopify, go to Online Store > Themes > Customize, find the newsletter or email capture section in your theme editor, and either disable it or adjust its timing. If the pop-up comes from a third-party app, open the app's settings and toggle it off from there. This guide covers how to add, customize, and remove Shopify newsletter pop-ups, plus how to control popup timing without removing them entirely.
Where Do Shopify Newsletter Pop-ups Come From?
Before disabling anything, it helps to know what is generating the pop-up. Shopify newsletter pop-ups come from two places:
- Built into the theme: Shopify's default theme (Dawn) and most premium themes include an email capture pop-up that can be turned on or off in the theme customizer. This is the easiest to control.
- Third-party apps: Apps like Klaviyo, Privy, Justuno, Omnisend, and similar email marketing tools often install their own pop-up overlays. These are controlled through the app, not through the theme customizer.
If you disable the pop-up in the theme editor and it reappears, a third-party app is responsible. Check your installed apps under Apps in your Shopify admin.
How to Add a Newsletter Pop-up to Shopify
If you don't yet have a newsletter pop-up and want to add one, you have two options:
Option 1: Use the Built-in Theme Pop-up
- Go to Online Store > Themes > Customize.
- In the left sidebar, click Add section and look for Email signup popup or Newsletter popup. In Dawn, this is listed under Sections > Email signup popup.
- Configure the delay, message, and button text.
- Click Save.
Option 2: Install a Pop-up App
Third-party apps offer significantly more control over targeting, design, and timing than built-in theme pop-ups. The most widely used options:
- Klaviyo: The most popular email and SMS platform for Shopify. Includes exit-intent targeting, page-level rules, cart-value conditions, and A/B testing. Free up to 250 contacts.
- Privy: Strong for pop-ups and spin-to-win forms. Free plan available with basic targeting options.
- JustUno: Advanced targeting with A/B testing and analytics. Both free and paid plans available.
- Omnisend: Combines email, SMS, and pop-ups in one platform, with a generous free tier.
Why Disable Newsletter Pop-ups?
There are several valid reasons to disable or modify Shopify newsletter pop-ups:
- Interruption of user experience: Pop-ups that trigger immediately on arrival are the most disruptive. Studies show that pop-ups appearing within the first 5 seconds of a visit can increase bounce rates by 10–15%.
- Decreased conversion rates: A pop-up appearing before a user has browsed any products interrupts the consideration phase. Exit-intent pop-ups (triggered when the cursor moves toward the browser close button) convert at 2–4x the rate of entry pop-ups while causing far less friction.
- Mobile experience problems: Pop-ups that aren't optimized for small screens cover the entire viewport and are difficult to close. Google's mobile usability guidelines specifically penalize intrusive interstitials.
- GDPR compliance: In the EU, email collection without explicit consent is a legal issue. Pop-ups must include a clear opt-in mechanism and cannot pre-check consent boxes.
How to Disable Newsletter Pop-ups Through Shopify Theme Settings
For pop-ups built into your theme:
- Log in to your Shopify admin and go to Online Store > Themes.
- Click Customize next to your active theme.
- Look for a section called Email signup popup, Newsletter popup, or Announcement in the left sidebar. In Shopify's Dawn theme, this is listed under Sections > Email signup popup.
- Toggle the popup off or delete the section entirely.
- Alternatively, change the trigger delay to a longer value (e.g., 30 seconds instead of 5) to reduce intrusiveness without removing the feature.
- Click Save.
If you can't find a popup section, your theme may not have one - meaning the popup is coming from an app.
How to Control Newsletter Pop-ups From Shopify Apps
If the pop-up is generated by a third-party email app, manage it from within that app's settings:
- Go to Apps in your Shopify admin and identify which email marketing or pop-up app is installed.
- Open the app and navigate to its Pop-up or Forms settings section.
- Toggle the pop-up off, or adjust timing settings (delay, scroll percentage, or exit intent trigger).
- For apps like Klaviyo: go to Forms, find the active pop-up form, and either unpublish it or adjust its display rules.
- For apps like Privy: go to Campaigns, find the newsletter pop-up campaign, and pause or delete it.
Best Practices for Shopify Newsletter Popup Timing and Targeting
Before removing a pop-up entirely, consider whether adjusting it would solve the problem. These settings consistently improve popup performance while reducing user complaints:
| Setting | Recommended Value | Why It Works |
|---|---|---|
| Display delay | 20–30 seconds after page load | Gives users time to browse before interrupting. Reduces immediate bounce rate. |
| Exit intent trigger | On (when cursor moves toward close button) | Only fires when the user is already leaving. Converts 2–4x better than entry pop-ups. |
| Scroll trigger | 50% page scroll depth | User has demonstrated genuine interest before the pop-up fires. |
| Mobile display | Off or reduced size | Full-viewport pop-ups on mobile harm Google mobile usability scores. |
| Recurrence | Show again after 30 days if dismissed | Prevents the same user from seeing the pop-up on every visit. |
| Page exclusions | Exclude checkout and cart pages | Pop-ups during checkout interrupt the purchase flow and reduce conversion rates. |
How to Edit Your Store's Code to Remove a Pop-up
If neither the theme customizer nor the app settings resolve the issue, you can remove the pop-up by editing your theme code directly:
- Log in to your Shopify admin and go to Online Store > Themes > Actions > Edit code.
- In the Sections folder, look for a file named something like
newsletter-popup.liquidoremail-capture.liquid. - You can either delete the file (if you're certain it's not used for anything else) or remove the render call for it from your
theme.liquidlayout file. - Click Save.
Only use this method if you are comfortable with Liquid templating. If you're unsure, use a developer instead of risking breaking other theme functionality.
Hire a Developer
If you're not comfortable editing code yourself, Shopify maintains a list of approved Experts at shopify.com/partners. Freelancers on Upwork and Fiverr can handle this in under an hour for a minimal fee - it is a simple task for anyone with Shopify theme experience.
How to Get Rid of the Newsletter Pop-up on Shopify
Most Shopify newsletter pop-ups are either built into the theme (disable via Customize > Email signup popup section) or generated by an app (disable within the app's form settings). Editing theme code is a last resort and only necessary when neither approach works. Before removing pop-ups entirely, consider adjusting their timing or trigger conditions - an exit-intent pop-up with a 20-second delay is far less disruptive and typically converts better than an immediate entry pop-up.
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