How to Create a Test Order in Shopify and Check Payment Settings

If you plan to test advanced store automation or integrations, check our Shopify Migration Experts Guide for smooth transitions.

What Is a Test Order in Shopify?

The Test Order is used to verify whether payment methods are functioning properly. Test your order flow runs smoothly. By placing a test order, you can make sure your checkout process, order settings, inventory, shipping, taxes email notifications are working properly. Place at least one order before launching your store or whenever you make changes to the payment settings. 

Considerations before placing a test order

Before placing a test order, review the following considerations:

• Customers can’t place a real order during the test mode. Make sure to deactivate the test mode after successfully testing that your customers can place orders.
• To place a B2B test order, you must activate customer accounts before you place a test order. Create a test company with at least one company location. In the test company, create a customer profile that you can use to log in as a B2B customer.
• If you’re using a development store, then you can’t test using the real transactions.
• Manual payment methods like Cash on delivery, Bank transfer do not support test orders.
• Test orders and simulated transactions don’t display in your payouts and reports.

If you run a B2B store, learn how to optimize the process using Shopify B2B Wholesale Channel.

Methods for Test Order in Shopify

There are different ways to place an order using Shopify. Some of these are given below.

1. Add Shopify’s Bogus Gateway
2. Test with a Real Payment
3. Create a Draft Order

Method 1: Add Shopify’s Bogus Gateway (Recommended)

Shopify allows you to add the Shopify Bogus Gateway to add a test order. When using a gateway in test mode, you need to use test payment details instead of your real credit card information.  Follow these steps to place a test order using the Shopify Bogus Gateway.

Step 1: Navigate to Shopify Admin > Settings.

Step 2: Scroll down to the Payment section and click on the test payment provider button. 

Step 3: Activate the test payment gateway.

Step 4: Visit your online store, add an item to the cart, and move to the checkout.

Step 5: In the payment details, add test payment details, for example, use:

• Card Number:  1
• Name on Card: Any Name
• Expiry Date: Any future date
• Security Code: Any 3-digit number, e.g., 123

Step 6: After adding the details, click on the Pay Now button.

Step 7: After placing the order, navigate to Shopify Admin > Orders.

Step 8: Select the order and mark it as fulfilled.

Step 9: Add tracking number, shipping carrier, check the email notification box, and click the Fulfill items button.

Step 10: When testing is done, navigate to Shopify Admin > Settings > Payments and deactivate the Bogus gateway.

Method 2: Test with a Real Payment

If you want to test the live payment method, then you have to enable the Shopify payment methods, like Shopify Payments or some third-party payment providers, depending on the requirements. Follow these steps to make a test order using real Payments.

Step 1: Navigate to Shopify Admin > Settings.

Step 2: Scroll down to the Payments section and activate Shopify Payments if available in your country.

Step 3: Place a test order using your own credit card details.

Step 4: After the test order, refund the full amount in the Shopify Admin.

Method 3: Create a Draft Order (For Manual Testing)

If you want to create using Shopify Admin to see the order flow, then you can simply create a draft order using the Shopify Admin. Follow these steps for the step-by-step process.

Step 1: Navigate to Shopify Admin > Orders.

Step 2: Click on the Create Order button.

Step 3: Add the products using the Browse or Add custom Item button.

Step 4: After selecting the Products, click on the Add button.

Step 5: You can mark it as paid or Payment due later as you want to proceed.

Step 6: Click on the Create Order button.