Sandbox Mode is only available when UpCart is active on your storefront. If UpCart is disabled then you can instead use Preview Mode to test changes.
When should you use the Sandbox Mode?
Sandbox Mode allows you to test changes to UpCart settings without affecting your real customers.
You should use Sandbox Mode to:
✅ Preview large changes
✅ Share changes to colleagues for review
✅ Test custom CSS and custom HTML
You should not use Sandbox Mode to:
❌ Preview small changes. Small changes that do not require testing should be saved directly to the live cart because it is quicker and easier.
❌ Keep previous cart versions for reference. Sandbox Mode is intended as a temporary testing area. Changes in Sandbox Mode should be published or deleted after testing.
How to use Sandbox Mode
Click "Edit Cart in Sandbox" in the Cart Editor
Modify settings in Sandbox Mode and save. Changes saved in Sandbox Mode will not be shown to real customers.
Preview your changes using the "Preview" button. You can share the preview link with colleagues for review.
Publish the settings from Sandbox Mode to your live cart using the "Publish Sandbox" button.
Limitations of Sandbox Mode
Shipping Protection add-ons cannot be edited
Shipping Protection add-on settings cannot be edited in Sandbox Mode because any changes to the Shipping Protection product would instantly apply to the live cart. This limitation does not apply to add-ons using specific products; these can be edited in Sandbox Mode.
Previewing page refreshing and multiple tabs
UpCart will refresh your browser tab when opening the sandbox preview or when switching from the sandbox preview to the live preview. This is required to load the correct settings from Shopify metafields. Real customers do not experience this refresh.
If you have two preview tabs open at once, one with the live preview and the other with the sandbox preview, then UpCart must refresh every time you switch from one tab to the other. For a better experience with fewer refreshes, you can open one of the tabs an incognito/private browser window.