How to Remove Animations from Shopify

Animations on Shopify stores can be a double-edged sword. On one hand, they can make your site more visually appealing and interactive. On the other hand, they can slow down your site's loading speed and distract users from the main content. If you've decided that the cons outweigh the pros, you may be wondering how to remove animations from your Shopify store. Let's explore this topic in more detail.

Understanding Shopify Animations

Before we dive into the process of removing animations, it's important to understand what they are and how they work. Shopify animations are visual effects that occur when a user interacts with your online store. These can include hover effects, loading animations, and transition effects. They are typically added to a Shopify theme using CSS or JavaScript.

While animations can make your site more engaging, they can also be a distraction or cause performance issues. In some cases, they can even negatively impact accessibility for users with certain disabilities.
 

Disabling Animations Through Theme Settings

Many Shopify themes provide an option to enable or disable animations directly from the theme's customization panel. Follow these steps to check and modify the settings:

1. Navigate to your Shopify admin panel.
2. Go to 'Online Store' and then 'Themes'.
3. Click 'Customize' next to the theme you are using.
4. Look for sections like 'Animations', 'Effects', or 'Motion' within the settings.
5. Toggle off or adjust the animation settings as required.
6. Save your changes.

This method is straightforward and doesn't require any coding knowledge.
 

Removing Custom Animation Code

1. From your Shopify admin, navigate to "Online Store" and then "Themes."
2. Find the theme you want to edit, click "Actions," and then click "Edit code."
3. Look for CSS files with names like "theme.scss.liquid" or "styles.scss.liquid." These files may vary depending on your theme.
4. Search for keywords related to animations, such as "transition," "animation," or "transform." These keywords are often used in the CSS code that controls animations.
5. Once you've found an animation, you can remove it by deleting the corresponding code or commenting it out. To comment out code, wrap it in /* and */. This will disable the code without deleting it, which can be helpful if you want to revert your changes later.
6. Click "Save" to save your changes.
7. View your online store to see the changes in action.
8. Test various interactions, like hovering over products or clicking buttons, to ensure animations have been removed.

Remember, it's always a good idea to backup your theme before making any changes to the code. This way, you can easily revert your changes if something goes wrong.
 

Addressing Animations from Apps

Sometimes, apps installed on the Shopify store add their own animations. To disable these:

1. Identify which apps might be adding animations.
2. Go to the app settings in your Shopify admin.
3. Look for any settings related to animations or effects within the app's configuration.
4. Disable these settings if available.
5. If the app doesn't provide an option to disable animations, consider contacting the app support or looking for alternative apps that offer more customization.
    

Conclusion: How to Remove Animations from Shopify

Removing animations from your Shopify store can be a simple yet effective way to improve performance and user experience. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can ensure a seamless and efficient browsing experience for your customers, ultimately driving more sales and conversions.