Knowledge base
Clear restore guidancebefore a merchant needs it.
ThemeMate documentation explains automatic backups, manual restore points, ZIP downloads, version comparison, and safe Shopify restore steps in plain merchant language.
How automatic backups work
ThemeMate is designed to protect the active Shopify theme without asking the merchant to remember every backup manually.
- Approve a Shopify billing plan, or activate a purchased AppSumo license, and complete setup.
- The app syncs the active theme and creates a daily schedule.
- Merchants can still run manual backups before important changes.
- Completed snapshots appear in backup history with date, status, size, and asset count.
Activate a purchased AppSumo license
Your Shopify account is your login. One code activates lifetime access for one store; no separate password is needed.
- Copy your purchase code and visit the redemption page supplied by AppSumo. Verify the code, then install or open ThemeMate in Shopify Admin.
- On the welcome screen, open “Already purchased on AppSumo?”, paste the code, confirm the package limits, and click “Activate lifetime license”.
- Check Billing for AppSumo Lifetime and your usage. The package includes one daily, weekly, or monthly schedule and 10 manual backup starts per calendar month (UTC).
- Storage is limited to 2 GB, with up to 100 MB per snapshot. AppSumo snapshots expire after 30 days. Download important ZIP archives before expiry; reaching a limit can prevent new backups.
- One code covers one store. Codes cannot be stacked or transferred. Access, updates, and email support last for the lifetime of ThemeMate; Shopify’s own subscription is separate.
- Already paying for ThemeMate? Contact [email protected] before switching so recurring billing can be resolved. Activation does not silently cancel an existing subscription.
How to restore a theme safely
The restore flow is intentionally guided so the live storefront is not overwritten unexpectedly.
- Open the completed backup you want to use.
- Download the Shopify theme ZIP from ThemeMate.
- Open Shopify themes and import the ZIP as a draft theme.
- Preview the draft theme, then publish it only when it looks correct.
How version comparison helps
When a theme changes often, a simple comparison view helps teams understand which files changed between snapshots.
- Compare two restore points before choosing which one to download.
- Identify changed theme files after app installs or agency edits.
- Use comparison as a decision aid, not as a live-theme publishing tool.
- Keep a clean record of theme changes around campaign launches.
How agencies should use ThemeMate
Agencies can use ThemeMate as a lightweight protection layer before code work, redesigns, and client handoffs.
- Create a manual backup before starting development work.
- Create another backup after the final approved change.
- Use backup history to show when restore points were created.
- Download ZIP copies for internal client archives when needed.
Need help with a restore?
Send the shop URL, backup date, and what changed before the issue started.