Shopify Abandoned Cart Recovery: Easy Ways to Win Back Customers

You know that moment when a customer adds products to their cart, heads to checkout and then disappears? 

That’s just not a lost sale; it’s a lost opportunity. You were close to winning a sale. For every online business, it’s one of the most frustrating experiences. 

Don’t waste your time thinking about why this happened. Use Shopify Abandoned cart recovery message tools and win back the lost sale

With the right understanding and recovery strategy, many of those “almost customers” can come back to complete their purchase.

In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about Shopify abandoned cart recovery, including:

• Proven strategies to recover abandoned carts
• Practical tips to improve conversions and retain more customers
• How to avoid Shopify abandoned carts?

What is an Abandoned Cart in Shopify?

A Shopify abandoned cart happens when a customer adds one or more products to their cart but doesn’t complete the purchase. 

In other words, they initiate the buying process but leave before reaching the final “Place Order” click or payment button, leaving the cart inactive with the added items. 

Why Do Shopify Abandoned Carts Happen?

Abandoned carts are a common challenge for online stores of all sizes. 

Studies show that nearly 70% of online shopping carts are abandoned, which means most businesses are missing out on sales that could’ve been theirs. 

Sometimes customers get distracted, change their minds, or simply forget to finish checking out. Or else, technical hiccups, lengthy forms, or unexpected costs deter them. 

Here are some of the most common reasons behind Shopify abandoned carts. 

📚Also Read: Shopify WhatsApp Integration: Verify COD orders on WhatsApp

1. Unexpected Extra Costs

High shipping fees, taxes, or hidden charges often surprise customers at checkout. 

When the final total looks higher than expected, many choose to leave instead of proceeding.

Adding surprising additional charges, such as taxes, convenience fees, and delivery charges, without informing any of them in the prior steps, is a major reason

👉 Fix: Be transparent about all costs early on. Use shipping calculators or offer free shipping thresholds to reduce drop-offs. 

2. Complicated or Time-Consuming Checkout Process

Too many steps, mandatory account creation, or lengthy forms can frustrate shoppers. 

The more effort it takes to buy, the higher the chance they’ll abandon their cart.

Every extra click adds to decision fatigue. When the brain perceives a task as too demanding, it tends to default to avoidance. That’s exactly what happens during long checkouts. 

Here, there is a fair chance that they will move on to your competitor if they really want the item.

👉 Fix: Simplify the checkout flow. Enable guest checkout and use autofill to make the process as seamless as possible.

3. Concerns about Payment Security

If your checkout page doesn’t feel trustworthy or lacks popular payment options, customers may hesitate to share their details. In the same scenario, even subtle design gaps or missing payment options can trigger doubt and cause drop-offs.

👉 Fix: Display trust badges, use HTTPS, and offer well-known payment gateways like PayPal, Apple Pay, or Google Pay.

4. Just Browsing or Comparing Prices

Sometimes, customers are only window shopping or checking for better deals elsewhere. 

It doesn’t always mean they’re uninterested. They might just need a nudge later.

Many shoppers add items to their carts as part of “the research phase.” It’s called the anchoring effect; people tend to compare your price with others before making a decision. They’re not saying no; they’re just gathering reference points.

👉 Fix: Capture their interest before they leave. Use email or WhatsApp reminders with limited-time discounts or restock alerts.

5. Technical Glitches or Slow Website Speed

A laggy page or a sudden error during checkout can quickly derail a potential sale. Even a few seconds of delay can make users give up.

If the customer clicked “Checkout” and then stared at a spinning wheel for too long? Most shoppers won’t wait; they’ll just close the tab. Technical hiccups like this silently kill conversions.

👉 Fix: Regularly test your store across devices and browsers. Optimize images and scripts for faster load times.

6. Lack of Preferred Payment or Delivery Options

If your store doesn’t support local payment methods or flexible shipping, some customers simply can’t complete their order even if they want to.

Imagine a customer in another country ready to buy, but your store doesn’t support their local wallet or delivery option. The intent is there, but the access is not. They leave, not out of disinterest, but because they are unable to complete the purchase.

👉 Fix: Offer region-specific payment options and delivery partners. Convenience can often seal the deal.

7. Distractions or Second Thoughts

Online shoppers are easily pulled away. It could be a phone notification, a call, or just uncertainty about the purchase that can make them pause and never return.

👉 Fix: Use gentle reminders, like automated cart recovery messages, to bring them back when they’re ready.

How to Check Abandoned Carts in Shopify?

Before you can fix the problem, you need to know where it’s happening. Thankfully, Shopify makes it easy to track and view all your abandoned carts right from your dashboard.

Here’s how you can check them in just a few steps. 

Step 1: Log in to your Shopify admin panel

Head to your Shopify dashboard and make sure you’re logged in to the store where you want to track abandoned carts.

Step 2: Go to “Orders” → “Abandoned checkouts”

On the left-hand menu, click on Orders, then select Abandoned checkouts.

Here, you’ll see a list of customers who added items to their cart but didn’t complete the purchase. 

Step 3: Review customer details

Shopify records the following details for each abandoned checkout:

• Date and time of abandonment

• Items left in the cart

• Customer email address (if available)

Strategies to Reduce Shopify Cart Abandonment

On Shopify, an abandoned cart is automatically recorded whenever a customer enters their email or phone number during checkout, but doesn’t finish the payment. 

This gives you an opportunity to follow up through emails, messages, or even WhatsApp reminders and bring them back to complete the sale.

To make it easier, we’ve divided these strategies into two parts:

• Reactive strategies – to recover carts after they’ve been abandoned.

• Proactive strategies – to prevent cart abandonment in the first place.

Let’s explore both in detail.

Reactive Strategies for Shopify Abandoned Cart Recovery

Reactive strategies are what you use after a customer abandons their cart.

The goal here is simple: bring them back, re-engage them, and complete the sale.

1. Send a WhatsApp Reminder

With billions of users worldwide, WhatsApp has become one of the most powerful channels for cart recovery. 

Thanks to its high engagement rates and personal nature, it helps businesses reconnect with customers more effectively than email.

Here’s why WhatsApp stands out:

• Personal touch: WhatsApp feels natural and conversational. That familiarity helps you connect on a human level, not just as a brand.

• User-friendly and rich media: Add product images, videos, or direct checkout links to make messages more engaging and convenient.

💡 Pro tip: Use WhatsApp automation tools to send personalized abandoned cart reminders, limited-time offers, or even restock alerts without manual effort. 

Book a demo: See how Wati automates WhatsApp cart recovery for Shopify

2. Send a Cart Recovery Email

Email isn’t outdated. It’s still one of the most reliable ways to recover lost sales.

To make your cart recovery emails effective:

• Send 2–3 follow-up emails spaced a few hours to a day apart.

• Keep the subject line simple and clear. Example: “You left something behind!”

• Use visuals and personalization. Show the exact products left in the cart.

• Add incentives smartly. Offer discounts or free shipping only in later emails.

💡 Pro tip: Combine your email workflow with WhatsApp reminders to double your recovery chances. One hits the inbox, the other the chat screen.

3. Use Exit-Intent Popups

They may be slightly annoying, but they work.

Exit-intent popups detect when a user is about to leave your store and show a message that stops them in their tracks.

According to OptiMonk, exit-intent popups can achieve conversion rates of over 17%.

Try these pop-up ideas:

• Discount offer: “Wait! Here’s 10% off your order.”

• Cart reminder: “You’ve left something behind.”

• Urgency popups: “Only a few left in stock — grab yours now!”

💡 Pro tip: Keep your pop-up designs simple and mobile-friendly. A clear call-to-action (like “Complete my order”) works better than flashy animations.

4. Run Retargeting Ads

Sometimes, all customers need is a little nudge.

Retargeting ads remind visitors of what they left behind and bring them back when they’re ready to buy.

They work especially well for cart abandoners because these users are already at the bottom of your sales funnel.

Try running dynamic product ads on Facebook, Instagram, or Google that show the exact items customers added to their carts. 

Add a small incentive like a free delivery offer or 10% off to increase conversions.

💡 Pro tip: Set frequency limits so your ads feel like reminders and not spam.

Proactive Strategies for Shopify Abandoned Cart Recovery

Proactive strategies help you reduce cart abandonment before it happens.

They’re all about creating smoother, faster, and more reassuring shopping experiences.

5. Leverage Data and Make Insight-Driven Decisions

Data tells the story your customers won’t.

Shopify gives you detailed analytics on:

• Date and time of cart abandonment

• Total order value abandoned

• Number of items in the cart

• New vs. returning shoppers

Use this data to find patterns.

For example, if certain products are repeatedly abandoned, revisit their pricing, shipping costs, or descriptions. If you notice frequent drop-offs at checkout, review your payment flow.

💡 Pro tip: Analyze your abandoned checkout data monthly and test one improvement at a time, like a shorter form, faster load speed, or clearer shipping info.

6. Use Live Chat Support

A quick answer at the right time can save a sale.

Live chat helps customers resolve questions instantly, from product sizing to payment issues. 

If someone hesitates at checkout, a proactive chat message like “Need help completing your order?” can make a big difference.

You can also integrate a WhatsApp chat button on your Shopify store so customers can continue the conversation seamlessly from their phones.

💡 Pro tip: Train your support team to identify intent. Not every chat needs a discount; sometimes, reassurance is all it takes.

Bonus Resource: Live Support vs Automated Support: Making the Right Choice

7. Test and Simplify Your Checkout Process

Your checkout experience should be as quick and frictionless as possible.

Run regular usability tests with real shoppers and ask for feedback on things like:

• Ease of navigation

• Payment options

• Page load times

• Shipping clarity

Small improvements like enabling guest checkout, auto-filling details, or showing progress indicators can make a big impact.

💡 Pro tip: Test on both desktop and mobile. A smooth mobile checkout is now essential since most Shopify traffic comes from smartphones.

Also Read: How to Add WhatsApp Chat Button to the Website? (2025)

8. Start a Reward or Loyalty Program

Who doesn’t love rewards?

A well-designed loyalty program keeps customers coming back and makes them less likely to abandon carts.

Here’s how rewards can help. 

• Reduce price sensitivity: Offer redeemable points or cashback to make purchases feel more valuable.

• Encourage repeat purchases: Reward loyal shoppers for completing checkouts.

• Gamify engagement: Use badges, tiers, or milestones to make shopping feel fun and rewarding.

Boost referrals: Let existing customers earn points for referring friends who complete a purchase.

💡 Pro tip: Integrate rewards directly into checkout. A visible “You’ll earn 200 points with this order” reminder can be the final push to complete the purchase.

How to Integrate Automation for the Abandoned Checkout?

Manually following up on every abandoned checkout is time-consuming and inconsistent. 

That’s where automation steps in, helping you recover lost sales at scale without lifting a finger.

With automation, you can send personalized reminders to every shopper who leaves their cart behind (through email, WhatsApp, or both) based on timing, behavior, and purchase intent.

Here’s how you can integrate automation for Shopify abandoned checkouts. 

1. Enable Shopify’s Built-In Abandoned Checkout Automation

Shopify offers a native feature that automatically sends reminder emails to customers who leave during checkout.

To enable it:

• Go to Settings → Checkout → Abandoned checkouts.

• Check the option to “Automatically send abandoned checkout emails.

Choose how long after abandonment you’d like the email to go out (for most stores, 1–6 hours works best).

💡 Bonus tip: Customize your message with the customer’s name and product image. A simple, friendly tone performs better than a hard sell.

2. Use WhatsApp Automation for Higher Engagement

Emails work, but WhatsApp gets seen super fast. 

With tools like Wati, you can set up automated WhatsApp reminders that send as soon as a customer abandons checkout.

These reminders can include:

• Product images and pricing

• A direct checkout link

• A short, friendly message like: “Hey {Name}, you left something awesome in your cart. Complete your order here before it’s gone 👉 [checkout link].”

💡 Bonus tip: Use automation triggers like “abandoned checkout” or “payment not completed” to ensure messages go out at the perfect time.

3. Combine Channels for Maximum Recovery

The most effective approach isn’t choosing between email and WhatsApp. It’s using both.

You can set up multi-channel automation workflows like this:

• Send a WhatsApp reminder first (within 1–2 hours).

• Follow up with an email after 12 hours.

• Send a final WhatsApp nudge the next day with a small incentive (like free shipping or 10% off).

💡 Bonus tip: Always include a clear call-to-action button and make the checkout process one click away. The fewer steps, the better the results.

How to Recover Shopify Abandoned Carts Using Wati 

With Wati’s WhatsApp Business API solution, you can send your Shopify abandoned cart recovery messages directly to your customers’ WhatsApp inboxes. 

This makes the follow-up personal, timely, and effective.

Here’s how you do it. 

1. Install and connect the Wati Shopify app

• Log in to your Wati account and go to Integrations → Shopify. 

• Enter your Shopify store domain and complete the installation. 

Once connected, Wati can access triggers like “abandoned cart” or “checkout not completed” from your Shopify store. 

2. Navigate to Automated Messages

• In the Wati dashboard, go to Automated Messages for the Shopify integration (you may see this under More / Integrations in the UI).

• Locate the section labelled something like “Abandoned Cart Recovery Message” or “Abandoned Recovery Message”.

3. Enable the Abandoned Cart Workflow

• Toggle the option from Disabled to Enabled. This activates the automated flow for abandoned carts.

• Once enabled, you’ll be able to set key parameters like:

• Select Template
• Message Delay (Send message after)
• Include Discount Coupon (optional)

4. Configure Each Option Carefully

• Select Template: Choose from predefined WhatsApp message templates or create your own. (In Wati: Broadcast → Template Messages → New Template Message).

• Send Message After: Choose how long after abandonment you want the message to go out (minutes, hours, or even days).

• Include Discount Coupon: If you want to incentivize the user, check this option and set the discount type (e.g., percentage or fixed amount) and value.

• Follow-Up Messages: If the first message doesn’t produce a result, you can schedule follow-up reminders (e.g., a second message after X hours/days) via the Wati flow setup.

Add Product Image / Personalise Message

Wherever possible, include the product image(s) from the cart in the WhatsApp message and personalise the text (use the customer’s name, mention the item they left behind). 

This tends to boost engagement and conversions.

Monitor Performance and Optimise

After your flow is live, keep an eye on the analytics inside Wati (and Shopify). These could be: 

• Number of messages sent
• Carts recovered
• Conversion rate from these messages 

Tweak your timing, message copy, template design, or discount offer based on results.

👉 Recover Shopify abandoned carts with Wati today by signing up for a free trial. 

The Smarter Way to Recover Shopify Carts

Recovering Shopify abandoned carts isn’t just about sending reminders. It’s about understanding why customers leave, creating better buying experiences, and using the right tools to bring them back.

By combining smart automation, personalized messages, and customer-friendly strategies, you can turn lost opportunities into loyal relationships.

WhatsApp (along by Wati) makes this easier than ever. It helps you connect with customers where they already are, with messages that feel personal and timely, not pushy.

You can start by enabling abandoned checkout automation, testing your recovery templates, and tracking results over time. Even a few small improvements can have a big impact on your overall sales.

At the end of the day, every abandoned cart is a chance to re-engage, rebuild trust, and recover revenue that might have been lost. The right Shopify abandoned cart message at the right time can turn a missed sale into your next success story.

FAQs on Shopify Abandoned Carts