A shipping-delay notice tells shoppers what to expect before they order. It does not update shipping rates, delivery estimates, order statuses or fulfillment settings in Shopify.

Create the message

  1. Open Notices → Create notice.
  2. Add an internal title that identifies the affected period or reason.
  3. Set Notice type to Shipping delay.
  4. Write a plain-text message describing the delay accurately. Avoid customer names, order numbers and private delivery information.
  5. Review Message preview, choose readable colors, and save as a draft.

Example:

Orders placed 24–26 December will begin dispatching on 27 December. Please allow extra time for delivery.

Use dates and promises appropriate to your own operations. If the delay applies only to certain regions or products, make that limitation clear in your message or in a linked information page.

Add an optional link

Starter and Pro support Link label (optional) and Link URL (optional). Supply both fields together. Use an HTTPS address or a store-relative path beginning with /, for example /pages/shipping-information. Check that the destination exists and is appropriate for shoppers. The Free plan does not display paid CTA links.

Publish for the affected period

Set start and end times using the timezone shown in the editor. Set the notice to Published, enable it, and save. If the delay has no confirmed end yet, leave the end empty and plan to pause or update the notice when normal service resumes.

Check the storefront and any overlapping announcement priorities. This message alone does not send an email to customers or modify their orders; use your normal Shopify workflows for order-specific communication.

Related guides

Covers the Phase 1 notice editor reviewed in October 2026.