1.1.6.2 - Granting & Managing Collaborator Access in Shopify (Difficulty: Beginner | Path: Launch)

Lesson Summary

Working Securely with Developers and Agencies (Advanced)

What is collaborator access? Collaborator accounts are a special, more secure way to give freelancers, agencies, or app developers access to your store. They request access using their Shopify Partner dashboard, and you approve it. This is different from creating a staff account for them.

Why is it better than a staff account?

• Security: They log in with their own Partner credentials. You never have to share passwords or create temporary logins.
• Accountability: All their actions are logged under their specific agency/developer name.
• Doesn't Use a Staff Slot: Collaborator accounts do not count towards your plan's staff limit.
• You Have Full Control: You can grant specific permissions and revoke access instantly once a project is complete.

How It Works

1. Your developer or agency will send a 'collaborator request' to you from their Partner dashboard. You will receive an email with a link.
2. Alternatively, you can give them your store's URL (the '.myshopify.com' version), and they can initiate the request.
3. When you get the request, you can review it, select the exact permissions you want to grant them, and approve it.
4. To manage or remove access, go to Settings → Users and permissions and scroll down to the 'Collaborators' section.

Real-Life Example

You hire a developer to install a new feature. Instead of creating a staff account with a password like 'tempdev123', you ask them to request collaborator access. They get access only to Themes and Apps. Once the job is done, you go in and click 'Remove collaborator access'. The access is instantly and cleanly revoked, ensuring your store remains secure.