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Preview links

Last updated: May 15, 2026

Preview links let you see a draft (or paused) variant on your live storefront before activating the test. They are cryptographically signed, scoped to one variant, and bypass the audience rules so you can preview from any URL or country.

  1. Open the test in the dashboard
  2. In the Variants section, click Preview next to a variant — the link is copied to your clipboard
  3. Paste it into a new tab

The link is a normal storefront URL with a ?splt_preview=<token> query parameter appended:

https://your-store.com/?splt_preview=eyJ0Ijoi...

You can change the path to preview the variant on any page that contains the test’s markup.

What preview mode does

While the preview token is active:

  • The visitor is forced into the variant the token authorises
  • Audience rules are bypassed (URL, country, device, visitor type)
  • The activation gate is bypassed - draft and paused tests render exactly like active ones
  • A banner appears in the top right of the page confirming preview mode

The variant assignment is not persisted as a sticky bucket. No splt_usr_id or splt_assignments cookie is set while in preview mode, and you don’t count as a participant in the test’s results.

How long a preview lasts

Two TTLs to know about:

  • The signed token is valid for 1 hour from when it was minted in the admin. After that, the link returns no assignment and the page falls back to the control.
  • The splt_preview cookie, set the first time you open the link, keeps preview mode active for 5 minutes of subsequent navigation. After the cookie expires you need to reopen the link (or any link carrying the same token, while the token itself is still valid).

So a preview link is reusable within its 1-hour token TTL, and a single browsing session stays in preview without the query string for 5 minutes between page loads.

Exiting preview

Click Exit on the in-page banner, or append ?clear-preview=true to any URL. The splt_preview cookie is cleared and you go back to seeing the storefront as a normal visitor.

The token is signed and scoped to one variant. You can paste it into Slack, email, or a doc and a colleague will see the same variant when they open it, as long as the 1-hour token TTL hasn’t elapsed.

The token cannot be revoked early. The signing secret is per-app, not per-test, so “regenerating” a link in the admin produces a new token but does not invalidate the old one — both stay valid until they hit the 1-hour expiry on their own. For sensitive previews, treat the link like any short-lived shareable URL and don’t post it where it’ll be archived publicly.

What previews do not change

A few things stay the same as a normal visit:

  • Custom events you fire still hit the pixel and the event ingestion endpoint. They are not specially filtered as preview traffic. If you trigger conversions while previewing, expect to see them in the data. Use a test payment method and avoid completing real orders in preview mode.
  • Existing assignment cookies are still read. If you have an splt_usr_id cookie from a prior real visit, that user ID still rides on events you fire in preview. Clear cookies for the storefront if you want a clean read.
  • The conversion goal is real. A completed checkout in preview is a real order with real money.

Inviting reviewers before activation

A common workflow:

  1. Create the test as a draft
  2. Copy each variant’s Preview link
  3. Send the links to teammates, copywriters, designers, or stakeholders
  4. Iterate on the variants until everyone is happy
  5. Activate the test

Because preview links are signed, the people you send them to do not need to have a Shopify staff login. Just remember the 1-hour token TTL — re-copy if a reviewer comes back the next day.