Minimize Third-Party Scripts on Shopify

If your Shopify store feels a little sluggish lately, third-party scripts might be to blame. These extra bits of code—often from apps or analytics tools—can quietly pile up and slow everything down.

We’ll walk through how to spot the scripts that are holding you back, clean up the ones you don’t need, and speed up the ones you do. The result? Faster load times, happier visitors, and better chances of turning clicks into customers.

• Audit your scripts: Use tools like Chrome DevTools to identify and measure the impact of each script.
• Remove unused scripts: Uninstall apps you no longer need and clean up leftover code.
• Replace with Shopify's built-in tools: Use native Shopify features for analytics, reviews, and more.
• Optimize essential scripts: Load scripts asynchronously, delay non-critical ones, and minimize file sizes.
• Monitor performance: Regularly test with tools like Google PageSpeed Insights and Shopify's Speed Report.

Key takeaway: Fewer third-party scripts = faster store, better user experience, and higher sales. Start by auditing your scripts and replacing unnecessary ones with Shopify features.

Step 1: Check Your Current Scripts

Use Browser Tools to Identify Scripts

To get started, open Chrome DevTools by pressing F12 or right-clicking on the page and selecting Inspect. Go to the Network tab and filter by "JS" to view all JavaScript files. Pay attention to external domains loading scripts.

Here’s what to focus on in Chrome DevTools:

Once you've identified the scripts, the next step is to measure their impact on load times.

Analyze Script Load Times

In the Network panel, use the waterfall view to see how each script affects your store’s performance. Look for scripts that:

• Take over 200ms to load
• Block the page from rendering
• Have multiple dependencies
• Contribute to network congestion

Key metrics to evaluate include:

• DNS lookup: Time to resolve the domain
• Initial connection: Time to establish a connection
• TTFB (Time to First Byte): Time before the browser receives the first byte
• Download time: Time needed to fully load the script

Once you’ve analyzed load times, organize your scripts based on their purpose.

Categorize Scripts by Purpose

Now that you’ve identified and timed your scripts, group them to determine which ones need optimization or removal. Use the table below as a guide:

For each script, document its purpose, load time, and whether it’s actively used. This will help you prioritize which scripts to optimize or eliminate.

Step 2: Delete Unused Scripts

Decide Which Scripts to Keep

Review all scripts to determine their importance. Focus on how often they're used, their impact on sales and site performance, and whether Shopify's built-in features can handle the same tasks. Pay attention to scripts that directly contribute to sales or enhance user experience. Once you've identified the ones you need, you can start removing the rest.

Remove Old Apps and Scripts

• Backup your live theme: Always create a backup before making changes.
• Uninstall unused apps: Go to your Shopify admin and remove apps you no longer use.
• Clean up leftover code: Check your theme files for any leftover script tags or code from old apps and delete them.

After these steps, test your store to ensure everything is working as expected.

Use Shopify's Built-In Features Instead!

Once you've removed unnecessary scripts, consider replacing external tools with Shopify's built-in features. Shopify offers native solutions for things like analytics, product reviews, currency conversion, inventory alerts, and related products. Before adding any third-party scripts, always check if Shopify already provides what you need. This helps keep your store running smoothly.

Step 3: Speed Up Required Scripts

After removing unnecessary scripts, it's time to optimize how the remaining ones load.

Load Scripts Asynchronously

Using the async or defer attributes can prevent scripts from blocking your page's rendering. Here's how to set up asynchronous loading in your Shopify theme:

1. Open your theme's code editor.
2. Find the <script> tags in your code.
3. Add the async attribute like this: <script async src="script-url.js"></script>.

For scripts that depend on others, use defer instead. This ensures the correct order while still avoiding rendering delays.

Delay Non-Critical Scripts

Non-essential scripts can wait until the main content has loaded. For example:

• Load analytics scripts after the primary content is visible.
• Lazy load social media widgets.
• Use event triggers to load scripts only when needed.

To delay script loading, wrap the code in a function like this:

document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', function() {
    // Add delayed loading logic here
});

Reduce JavaScript File Size

Streamline your JavaScript files to improve performance:

• Minify your code: Use tools like Terser to remove unnecessary characters.
• Combine files: Merge related JavaScript files to cut down on HTTP requests.
• Remove unused code: Audit your JavaScript using Chrome DevTools' Coverage tab to find and eliminate unused functions or variables.

These steps will help your scripts load faster and keep your site running smoothly.

Step 4: Use Shopify Speed Tools

Once you've optimized your scripts, it's time to take advantage of Shopify's built-in tools to make your store even faster.

Shopify offers features that help reduce reliance on third-party scripts and improve overall performance.

Set Up Shopify CDN

Shopify includes a Content Delivery Network (CDN) that automatically spreads your store's assets across servers worldwide. This setup speeds up content delivery for visitors no matter where they are. To get the most out of it, enable automatic image optimization in your theme settings and use responsive srcset for images.

Add Image Lazy Loading

Shopify supports lazy loading for images, which delays loading off-screen images until they're needed. Simply add loading="lazy" to your image tags and make use of the Shopify Image API to improve your store's initial load time.

Configure Browser Caching

Shopify also includes browser caching to minimize unnecessary server requests. Check your theme settings to ensure caching is properly configured and optimized for better performance.

Step 5: Track Script Performance

Once you've optimized your scripts, it's crucial to keep an eye on their performance. This helps you spot and fix issues early, ensuring your store runs smoothly.

Run Speed Tests Regularly

Use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights to test your store's speed on a regular basis. Pay attention to metrics like First Contentful Paint (FCP), Time to Interactive (TTI), and Total Blocking Time (TBT). Keeping a record of these metrics can help you track performance trends and address any slowdowns before they become bigger problems.

Monitor Shopify Speed Scores

Check Shopify's Speed Report by navigating to Analytics > Speed report. This provides a detailed look at how specific pages are performing. Focus on optimizing pages that are heavily impacted by third-party scripts or slower load times.

Test New Scripts Before Adding Them

Before introducing any new scripts to your live store, test them in a staging environment. Here's how:

• Add the script to a staging store and run performance tests.
• Ensure the script meets your speed and performance benchmarks.
• Check for compatibility across different browsers and devices.

If a script negatively affects performance or causes issues, explore Shopify's built-in features or other alternatives that better align with your store's needs.

Conclusion: Next Steps for Your Store

Improving your store's speed not only makes it load faster but also creates a better experience for users and helps increase sales. The strategies outlined earlier can lead to noticeable performance improvements.

What to Expect

By managing scripts effectively, you can achieve:

• Quicker page load times
• Better First Contentful Paint (FCP) results
• Smoother Time to Interactive (TTI) performance
• Higher conversion rates
• Improved mobile performance scores

Keeping Your Store Running Smoothly

To maintain your store's speed and performance, regular monitoring and updates are crucial. Here are some key practices:

• Regularly audit your store's performance and scripts.
• Test new features in a staging environment before going live.
• Use tools like Shopify's Speed Report and Google PageSpeed Insights to track metrics.
• Opt for Shopify's built-in features instead of relying heavily on third-party apps.
• Schedule periodic optimization reviews to address any new issues.

UltraLabs: Your Partner in Optimization

UltraLabs specializes in fine-tuning Shopify stores for top performance. Here's what we offer: