Shopify Automated Collection Setup: Step-by-Step Guide

Setting up automated collections in Shopify allows you to organize products based on rules you define. This guide walks you through the complete setup process.

Before You Start

Prepare for automated collection setup:

• Review your product data for consistency
• Plan which collections you need
• Ensure products have proper tags, types, and vendors
• Document your collection strategy

Step-by-Step Setup

Step 1: Access Collections

Navigate to Products > Collections in your Shopify admin panel.

Step 2: Create New Collection

Click "Create collection" to start a new collection.

Step 3: Add Basic Information

• Enter a descriptive title
• Write a collection description for SEO
• Upload a collection image (optional)

Step 4: Select Collection Type

Choose "Automated" to create a condition-based collection.

Step 5: Define Conditions

Set up your product matching conditions:

• Select a product attribute (title, type, vendor, tag, price, etc.)
• Choose an operator (equals, contains, greater than, etc.)
• Enter the value to match

Step 6: Add Multiple Conditions (Optional)

Click "Add another condition" for more specific filtering.

Step 7: Choose Matching Logic

• All conditions: Products must match every condition
• Any condition: Products matching any condition are included

Step 8: Save and Review

Save the collection and verify the products included match your expectations.

Common Setup Examples

New Arrivals Collection

• Condition: Product tag equals "new"
• Or use date-based conditions if available via apps

Sale Collection

• Condition: Compare at price is greater than 0
• This captures products with discounted prices

Brand Collection

• Condition: Vendor equals "Brand Name"
• Creates automatic brand pages

Price Range Collection

• Condition 1: Price is greater than 50
• Condition 2: Price is less than 100
• Match: All conditions

SEO Settings

Scroll to the bottom of the collection page and click Edit website SEO to optimize for search engines:

• Page title: Include your primary keyword near the start — keep under 60 characters so it doesn't get truncated in Google results (e.g., "Men's Running Shoes | Your Store Name")
• Meta description: Write a unique 150-160 character summary that includes your target keyword and a reason to click — this appears as the snippet in search results
• URL handle: Keep it short, lowercase, hyphenated, and keyword-rich (e.g., mens-running-shoes) — if you change an existing handle, Shopify does not create a redirect automatically, so set one up at Online Store > Navigation > URL redirects

Post-Setup Verification

• Review the products included in the collection
• Add a test product to verify conditions work
• Check the collection page on your storefront
• Use analytics to monitor performance

Troubleshooting Setup Issues

• No products appearing: Verify product attributes match conditions exactly
• Wrong products included: Check all vs. any condition logic
• Products missing: Ensure products are published and active

Conclusion

Setting up automated collections involves defining clear conditions that match your product data. Take time to plan your collection structure and ensure consistent product attributes for reliable automation.

Related Resources

• Shopify Help: Collections
• What is a Shopify Collection?
• Using Tags Effectively