As a Shopify store owner, you need to make sure your tracking tools capture customer purchases. This helps your Google Analytics, Facebook Pixel, and other marketing tools work properly.
How to test purchase events
Test with your browser
This is the easiest way to check if tracking works.
Open your store in Chrome. Press F12 on your keyboard. Click the “Console” tab at the top.
Now make a test purchase. Keep the console open while you shop. You should see messages pop up when tracking fires. Look for text like “Purchase tracked” or “Event sent.”
Check Shopify’s tracking dashboard
Shopify shows you which tracking tools are working.
Go to your admin panel. Click Settings, then Customer events.
Here you’ll see your tracking apps. Each one shows “Connected” or “Disconnected.” Connected means it’s working. Disconnected means there’s a problem.
Make real test purchases
The best test is buying something for real.
Go to Settings, then Payments in your admin. Turn on “Test mode” if you use Shopify Payments.
Use a fake credit card or anything like that to test.
Buy something small from your store. Go through the whole checkout.
After you finish, check your tracking tools in a few hours.
Check your analytics tools
Look at your tracking platforms after test purchases.
For Google Analytics:
- Go to “Realtime” then “Events”
- Look for purchase events happening now
For Facebook Pixel:
- Open Facebook Events Manager
- Check for “Purchase” events with correct prices
Most tools show new data within minutes. This makes testing quick and easy.
Test different ways to buy
Try different checkout methods to make sure all tracking works.
Test these scenarios:
- Guest checkout (no account)
- Logged in customers
- Mobile phone purchases
- Different payment methods
- Express checkout like Shop Pay
Each method might track differently. Testing all of them finds any missing tracking.
Compare with Shopify orders
Your Shopify admin shows all real orders.
After a test purchase, check Orders in your admin. Compare this with your analytics tools.
The order total should match. Product names should match. Customer info should match.
If numbers don’t match, your tracking has problems.
Use app dashboards
Most marketing apps have their own tracking reports.
Check these after test purchases:
- Google & YouTube app
- Facebook & Instagram app
- TikTok app
- Other marketing apps
These apps usually show if they received purchase data. Many have help sections if tracking breaks.
Test mobile and computer
People shop differently on phones versus computers.
Test purchases on both:
- Your computer/laptop
- Your smartphone
- Maybe a tablet
Phone tracking sometimes works differently. Testing both ensures all customers get tracked properly.
Conclusion
Testing purchase tracking is simple. Use your browser tools, make test purchases, and check your analytics platforms. Do this regularly, especially after adding new apps or changing your store. Good tracking helps you understand customers and improve your marketing.
