Shopify has no built-in way to import discount codes from a CSV file. The admin creates codes one at a time, and there is no upload button on the discount page. If you already have a list of codes in a spreadsheet, you are stuck pasting them in by hand.
The Bulk Discount Code Tool adds CSV import to Shopify. Upload a file of pre-made codes, pick the discount they belong to, and the app registers every code in Shopify’s discount system for you.
Why Shopify has no native CSV import
Shopify’s discount admin is built for creating a handful of codes. You type a code, set the rules, and save. That works for a launch code or a VIP offer. It does not work when you have 5,000 codes printed on mailers or exported from another platform.
There is no bulk upload in the admin, and the discount API needs custom code to handle rate limits and retries safely. So merchants who arrive with a ready-made list of codes have nowhere to put them.
This is the gap the app fills.
How to import discount codes into Shopify
- Install the Bulk Discount Code Tool and open it from your Shopify admin.
- Create a discount set, or clone an existing discount, to define the rules every imported code follows: percentage off, fixed amount, free shipping, usage limits, and product restrictions.
- Choose Import from CSV and upload your file, or paste the codes straight from a spreadsheet.
- Review the preview. The app flags duplicates and invalid characters before anything is written.
- Start the import. The app uploads codes in batches and handles Shopify’s API rate limits, retrying any that fail.
- Export the final list as CSV or TXT once the import finishes, ready for distribution.
Preparing your CSV file
The file needs one code per row. A single column of codes is enough. A header row is optional.
SUMMER-4KD9
SUMMER-7XP2
SUMMER-QW83
Codes must be unique within the discount. The preview step catches duplicates and any characters Shopify rejects, so you can fix the file before committing.
If you do not have codes yet, generate them first with the free coupon code generator. Set a pattern, export the CSV, and import it here.
What you can import
Imported codes work with every Shopify discount type:
- Percentage and fixed-amount discounts
- Free shipping
- Buy X get Y offers
- Order and product discounts
- Usage limits and one-per-customer rules
- Expiration dates, including per-code expiry
Because the codes attach to a discount you define, the rules stay consistent across the whole batch.
Common reasons to import codes
Migrating from another platform is the most common one. Export your codes from the old store or coupon system and bring them into Shopify without recreating each one.
Printed and offline campaigns are another. Codes on mailers, packaging inserts, or event handouts get generated in advance, so you import the exact list you printed.
The same goes for partner lists. When an agency or affiliate sends over a set of codes to honor, upload it as-is instead of typing each entry.
And if you already screened a list for profanity or brand fit, import it directly rather than generating a fresh batch and screening again.
Exporting codes back out
The app also exports discount codes to CSV. Pull a full list for a distribution platform, a mail house, or your own records, then hand it off in the format they expect.
Get started
Install the Bulk Discount Code Tool to import discount codes into Shopify from any CSV or spreadsheet.
Need to make the codes first? The free coupon code generator creates up to 10,000 unique codes and exports them ready to import. For larger campaigns built inside the app, see bulk discount code generation.
Questions about a migration or a specific file format? Contact us.