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shopify / discounts / discount-codes

Shopify Discount Code URL: What the Link Applies

By StoreKitly

A Shopify discount link applies one active code to the next cart. See the /discount/CODE format, redirect option, and rules that can still reject it.

A Shopify discount link puts one active discount code into a URL so the customer does not have to type it. The link applies that code to the next cart, or to a cart the customer already has open. It does not create a second offer, and it does not bypass eligibility, combination settings, usage limits, or the discount’s active dates.

Quick answer

  • The shareable path is /discount/{code}.
  • One link or QR code carries one discount code.
  • The code must be active; the most recent discount wins when several touch the same product.
  • Add ?redirect=/path if the link should open a collection or product page.
  • Auto-apply only skips typing. Every discount rule still applies.
  1. Create and save an active discount code.
  2. In Discounts, open that discount.
  3. Choose Promote, then Get a shareable discount code.
  4. Pick the page the link should open: home, a collection, or a product.
  5. Optional: attach a marketing campaign so UTM identifiers are added.
  6. Copy the link, or download the QR code.

A shareable link or QR code works only for active discounts. If several discounts touch the same product, Shopify Help says the most recent discount is the one the link applies.

Avoid special characters in the code name. Shopify requires that so the code is added correctly when it is placed in a checkout URL.

What the URL looks like

Shopify documents the shareable path as /discount/code, where code is your discount code string. After you copy the link from Promote, paste it into a text editor so you can inspect the full /discount/{code} path before sharing.

If the landing page must change, use the redirect pattern:

/discount/code?redirect=/collections/fresh-finds

Replace fresh-finds with the page path you want. That redirect changes the landing page. It is not a second discount, and it does not widen eligibility.

A cart permalink can append a query parameter such as ?discount=15off so a curated cart opens with a code attached. That is a sibling pattern for pre-built carts, not a substitute for the Discounts Promote link. Use Promote when you are sharing an offer that should open a storefront page; use a cart permalink when you are sending a specific variant lineup into cart or checkout.

Why the code still fails after the click

Auto-apply only skips typing. The code still has to pass every rule you set on the discount.

Still fails when… What to check
The discount is not active Promote works only for active codes; deactivated or expired codes will not apply
The cart or customer is out of scope Minimums, product/collection/variant scope, customer or segment eligibility, market
Another discount is already on the cart Combination settings; shareable-link codes follow the same rules
The order already has too many codes The five-discount-code limit per order still counts codes from links
Usage is spent or held Total-use or one-per-customer limits, including an unfinished-checkout hold
The customer wants the cart without the offer Remove discount at checkout, or clear site cookies and visit the store directly; opening the link again reapplies it

When the code is present but still rejected, treat it as a code-rule failure, not a broken URL. Check the discount’s scope, combinations, usage limits, and dates in that order.

Test before you send

  1. Confirm the discount is Active.
  2. Open the link in a private browser window with a cart that should qualify.
  3. Confirm the code appears at checkout and the savings match the offer.
  4. Test one cart that should fail: wrong product, below minimum, or already using another code.
  5. If you use a redirect, confirm the landing page opens and the code still applies.
  6. Send one code per link. Need a second offer? Build a second discount and a second link. If you need many single-use codes, see unique discount codes.

Common mistakes

  • Sending a link to a deactivated code. Promote only works for active discounts.
  • Expecting two codes from one link. One link carries one code.
  • Assuming the link bypasses combination rules. It does not; the five-code limit still applies.
  • Using a special character in the code name. The URL may not apply it correctly.
  • Re-clicking the link to remove the offer. That reapplies it. Use Remove discount or a direct visit after clearing cookies.
  • Confusing a discount link with a cart permalink. They solve different jobs.

FAQ

Does a Shopify discount code URL bypass combination rules?

No. Codes from shareable links combine with existing cart discounts only when your combination settings allow it. The five-code-per-order limit still includes codes from those links.

No. A shareable link or QR code can have only a single discount applied to it.

How do I send someone to a collection instead of the home page?

Use Promote’s page picker when it offers the collection, or apply the redirect form: /discount/{code}?redirect=/collections/your-handle.

Related, not identical. A cart permalink attaches a code to a curated /cart/... URL. The Discounts Promote link is the admin path for an offer URL shaped like /discount/{code}.

Opening the link reapplies the code. If the customer removed it, clicking the same link puts it back. Use Remove discount at checkout, or clear site cookies and visit the store directly.

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