How to Find What Shopify Theme a Store Is Using in 2025: 5 Proven Methods (and How to Read the Clues)

Ever land on a gorgeous Shopify store and think, I want my shop to look like that? You are not alone. Theme research is one of the fastest ways to turn design envy into action. In 2025, the Shopify theme landscape has evolved with Horizon and a wave of new free themes, plus more custom builds and headless storefronts. That means theme detection has a few new wrinkles, but the core techniques still work when you know where to look.

According to BuiltWith Trends, Shopify powers millions of live sites, with over 6.2 million currently active on the web, which makes it a rich environment for design benchmarking and inspiration. The Shopify Editions Summer '25 release introduced Horizon as the new design foundation and highlighted ten new themes, which impacts how themes present themselves and how merchants customize layouts. Understanding these changes helps you read the clues with more confidence.

The quick answer: paste a URL into ThemeProbe

If you just want the name fast, use ThemeProbe. It is a free, single-purpose utility that identifies the theme used by any Shopify store. No sign-up. Paste a store URL and get instant results. The interface is clean and privacy-forward. Your search history is stored locally, and the site uses minimal analytics as outlined in the privacy policy. Detection is not perfect because merchants can rename themes or run custom code, but ThemeProbe sets clear expectations and explains limitations in its terms of service.

Inspiration should lead somewhere useful. If you are ready to build your own store, you can start a free Shopify trial with this link to Shopify. Try a few themes, preview presets, and customize live to see what sticks.

Why theme detection is slightly trickier in 2025

Two platform updates matter most for theme sleuthing this year.

First, Shopify introduced Horizon as a new design foundation. As outlined in Shopify Editions Summer '25, Horizon is a system that unlocks more flexible blocks and sections, improves the theme editor, and adds AI-powered generation of blocks and themes. The Editions page also spotlights ten Horizon themes such as Ritual, Fabric, and Dwell, and links to a curated collection of Horizon themes in the Theme Store. The practical impact is that many stores are starting from a more modular base with options that can dramatically change the look without changing the theme itself.

Second, headless is more mainstream. Shopify’s Hydrogen framework and the Storefront API make it straightforward to build fully custom front ends that decouple from liquid theme code. Headless stores can be hard or impossible to detect with traditional theme methods because they may not load theme assets or include the standard Shopify theme variables in source.

Add common practices like renaming the theme in admin and bundling custom sections, and you will see why manual sleuthing sometimes comes up empty. Shopify even documents how to rename themes using CLI in the theme rename command, which explains why you might find a name like Summer 2025 instead of the theme’s original name. Still, several reliable techniques continue to surface strong clues.

Method 1: ThemeProbe for instant detection

ThemeProbe is built for one job. Paste a store URL, press enter, and view the detected theme result. It tends to surface the following information when available: theme name, whether the theme appears to be a Theme Store theme, and sometimes a link to the Theme Store listing where you can preview demos. Behind the scenes, the tool reads public code and assets, searches for canonical markers, and resolves common variations including renamed themes. It does not collect sensitive data or require sign-up, which aligns with ThemeProbe’s minimal footprint approach described in the privacy policy.

Because detection is based on public code, there are edge cases. A fully custom theme, a headless Hydrogen build, or a storefront that strips identifying markers may return a generic answer. ThemeProbe handles this gracefully with clear messaging, which keeps the experience approachable for non-technical users.

If your end goal is to build, you can jump straight from discovery to creation by launching a free Shopify trial here: Start your Shopify store. That way, you can try the same look with presets and sections without guesswork.

Method 2: View source and search for theme clues

When you want to understand the why behind a detection, nothing beats reading the page source. This is the classic technique and remains reliable for many stores.

• Load the store homepage in your browser.
• Right click anywhere and choose View page source.
• Use the find function to search for keywords like shopify.theme, theme_store_id, or theme.

On many stores, you will see a JavaScript object that looks a bit like this:

Shopify.theme = { name: "Dawn", id: 123456789, theme_store_id: 887, role: "main" };

The presence and format can vary. The name might be customized by the merchant. The theme_store_id often maps to a listing in the Shopify Theme Store. If you see theme_store_id populated with a number, you can usually search the Theme Store for that ID or for the theme name and find the listing to confirm. Practical guides from the community echo this approach. For example, a Shopify Community thread explains that you can search page source for shopify.theme to reveal the name and ID on many stores, which is a quick sanity check for non-developers. The community guidance is summarized in posts like How can I find the original theme of my online store? where users recommend searching the source for shopify.theme to find theme metadata.

If the shop uses a Theme Store theme, the listing page will also show version history. You can see this in action on the official Dawn theme page, which shows release notes such as the March 2025 update. Comparing the store’s features to the latest release notes helps you understand if the store runs a current or older version.

A second clue is in asset filenames. Look again at the page source or the Network tab and search for paths like assets/theme.js, assets/theme.css, or main.bundle.js. Open these files in a new tab and scan the first few lines for header comments. Some theme authors include name and version comments at the top of core assets. Not every theme does this, but when it is there, it is a quick win.

Method 3: Use the browser Network inspector

If the source is minified or missing obvious references, DevTools can help.

• Open the store in Chrome.
• Press Command Option I on Mac or Control Shift I on Windows to open DevTools. Click Network.
• Reload the page and filter by CSS or JS.
• Look for large files like theme.js, global.js, or section-main-product.js.

Open the Response tab of these files and search for theme related strings. Some themes ship identifiable namespaces or comments that hint at the origin. For example, a Horizon theme might use section names or schema JSON that matches what you see in the Theme Store demo. If you are comparing presets, also inspect the HTML structure. Class naming patterns can be a subtle signal. Dawn has historically used class names like header__menu and product-form__buttons in its markup. Horizon themes have their own patterns depending on the specific theme. These are soft clues, not definitive evidence, but they can help you triangulate.

Another useful trick is to click the Initiator column for key assets. This shows which template or script included the asset, and sometimes the path will contain a theme name. Again, not guaranteed, but worth checking when other clues are missing.

Method 4: Cross reference with the Shopify Theme Store

Once you have a likely theme name or a theme_store_id, validate with the Theme Store. Search by name to find the official listing. Then:

• Open the live demos and flip through styles or presets.
• Compare header layout, navigation placement, and product page features.
• Check release notes to see if major UI changes line up with what you see live.

The Theme Store listing is especially useful in 2025 because Shopify introduced Horizon as a foundation along with a group of Horizon themes. The Shopify Editions Summer '25 page links directly to Horizon themes like Ritual and Fabric, and the demo previews make it easy to compare details like collection grid density, image treatment, and footer layouts. If your detected theme is Dawn or another pre Horizon classic, the listing pages still provide release notes and demos for visual confirmation. The Dawn listing is a good example that shows ongoing improvements.

If you only have a theme_store_id, search engines often resolve it when paired with site:themes.shopify.com in your query. Try searching for the numeric ID or add the term Release notes to find the listing faster. In many cases, ThemeProbe will provide a direct link when it can confidently map the ID.

Method 5: Read the design clues like a pro

No source code luck? Train your eye. After a while, you can identify likely theme families by their patterns.

• Headers and navigation. Observe how the header transitions on scroll, where the menu icon sits, and how mega menus animate. Themes often have a signature approach.
• Product cards. Look for wishlist icons, hover states, badges, and swatch styles. The combination of features can hint at the base theme.
• Search behavior. Is predictive search a dropdown or a full screen overlay? Are recent searches and collections included? Themes tend to ship consistent search UX.
• PDP layout details. Note media gallery behavior, sticky add to cart, shipping policy blocks, and tab systems. Side by side comparisons with Theme Store demos are helpful here.

These are heuristics. Apps can add features like wishlists, and custom CSS can change spacing and type. Treat this method as supportive evidence that you cross check with the other methods.

What if the store uses a custom or headless theme

Some stores simply will not reveal their theme. Here is why and what to do next.

• The theme was renamed. Merchants can change a theme’s display name in admin or with CLI as described in Shopify’s theme rename command. In this case, the shopify.theme.name might be a freeform label that does not match the Theme Store listing.
• It is a custom theme. Custom builds may not include a theme_store_id. You might see theme_store_id set to null or not present at all. Manual code clues will be sparse.
• It is headless. Hydrogen and the Storefront API let teams build bespoke React front ends that consume Shopify data without using traditional theme files. Shopify explains Hydrogen’s headless approach in the Hydrogen docs, and the Storefront API reference covers the data layer that powers these builds. In headless setups, theme detection using Liquid or theme assets will not work because the storefront is not loading them.

When detection fails, take notes on design elements you love and rebuild them in your store using the theme editor and sections. Horizon and the improved editor in Summer '25 make this process far faster than in the past, as shown in the Editions page where Shopify highlights AI generated blocks and a better block picker.

Practical accuracy tips and ethical boundaries

A few guidelines keep theme research productive and respectful.

• Verify across methods. Do not rely on a single clue. Combine ThemeProbe results with source checks and demo comparisons.
• Expect renamed themes. A label like Summer 2025 Homepage is not a theme name. Use theme_store_id or asset clues to backstop.
• Check multiple pages. Some apps or custom sections load only on certain templates. Look at collection pages and product pages for extra context.
• Avoid copying proprietary content. Use themes for structure and UX inspiration, not to replicate another brand’s creative assets.

ThemeProbe is mindful of acceptable use and sets clear expectations about accuracy and acceptable behavior in its terms of service. The tool is designed to support discovery and benchmarking, not to encourage copying.

A simple competitive benchmarking workflow

Research is faster when you have a repeatable routine. Try this flow.

1. Build a shortlist. Use search, social, or marketplaces to find 10 stores in your niche that you admire.
2. Detect themes. Paste each URL into ThemeProbe and record the result.
3. Validate visually. Open Theme Store listings for detected themes and preview demos to confirm similarities.
4. Compare performance. Run a quick speed check and Core Web Vitals assessment on 3 to 5 of the stores. Then apply improvements to your theme setup.
5. Rebuild the best UX. Use your chosen theme and configure sections to emulate the patterns you liked. Document your changes.

For a deeper dive into this workflow, the post on Shopify competitive benchmarking with theme detection outlines a step by step approach, from building a comparison grid to turning insights into design decisions.

From inspiration to launch in a day

The most useful research ends in action. Once you detect a theme you like, move quickly to preview and build.

• Start your store. Launch a free trial with Shopify to work in a live environment. Free trials make it safe to experiment with multiple themes.
• Try Horizon themes. Browse the Horizon collection linked from Shopify Editions Summer '25. The new themes are optimized for flexibility and conversion.
• Speed matters. Your theme choice and setup affect performance and SEO. For practical fixes, the in depth guide on Shopify theme speed and SEO covers 30 plus improvements you can make without heavy development.

By pairing a strong starting theme with a systematic optimization pass, you can ship a store that looks polished and loads fast. The combination of Horizon’s editor improvements and a focused performance checklist is a winning formula.

FAQs that save you time

Is it legal to check which theme a store uses? Yes. You are inspecting public code and assets loaded by your browser. Avoid copying content or proprietary assets. Use the information for design inspiration and benchmarking.

Does theme detection work on every store? No. Fully custom or headless stores, or code that deliberately strips identifying variables, may not reveal the theme. In those cases, rely on design pattern analysis and rebuild the UX with your theme’s sections.

What does theme_store_id mean? On many Shopify stores, theme_store_id is a numeric identifier that points to a Theme Store listing. It helps map a detected theme to a specific product page in the Theme Store, where you can see demos and release notes.

Why does the theme show a custom name like Summer 2025? Merchants can rename themes in admin or via CLI as described in Shopify’s theme rename command. The display name often reflects internal organization rather than the official listing name.

Can I recreate a store’s exact look? You can often recreate the structure and UX using the same base theme and similar sections. Elements like photography, copy, and brand systems are not transferable. Let the best ideas inspire your own execution.

How does Horizon change theme research? Horizon formalizes blocks and expands the editor, which means a single theme can accommodate many looks. As the Editions Summer '25 overview shows, you can generate blocks with AI and customize sections more fluidly. When detecting themes, expect more visual variety within the same theme family.

Putting it all together

Here is a practical recap of the five methods that are working well in 2025:

• Use ThemeProbe for a fast, free answer. Keep an eye on the tool’s confidence and any Theme Store links provided.
• View page source and search for shopify.theme, theme_store_id, or theme. Community guidance like the thread on finding theme details in source mirrors this approach.
• Open DevTools and inspect CSS and JS assets. Look for identifiable comments, section schema, and class naming patterns that match Theme Store demos.
• Cross check with the Theme Store. Use the listing pages like the Dawn theme page to validate release notes, layout details, and style presets.
• Read design clues when code is inconclusive. Headers, product cards, search overlays, and PDP blocks often hint at the theme lineage even when the name is hidden.

If a store is headless or custom, fall back to pattern matching and rebuild the UX using your theme’s sections. The Hydrogen documentation explains why some storefronts will not expose theme metadata. That is fine. Your goal is to capture the spirit of the experience, not the exact code.

When you are ready to act on your research, open ThemeProbe, gather your theme shortlists, and then start building with a free trial on Shopify. Keep your process light, your privacy intact, and your UX focused on what matters most. And if you want to go deeper on performance once you have picked a theme, bookmark the Shopify theme speed and SEO playbook for quick wins you can ship today.

For ongoing tips, you can browse more guides on the ThemeProbe blog, where we share practical playbooks and benchmarks tailored to Shopify’s evolving design ecosystem.