How to Change All Products to Physical Product Shopify – Complete Guide

Running a Shopify store is exciting… until the settings trip you up. One of the most common frustrations merchants face is figuring out how to change all products to physical product Shopify. Sounds simple, right? But when you’ve got hundreds (or thousands) of items, clicking through each one manually isn’t an option.

In this guide, we’ll break down exactly how to do it, the easy way. We’ll also share insider strategies on how to protect your store’s SEO during bulk changes, avoid common pitfalls, and even boost your rankings with a local SEO advantage if you’re running your business in Sterling, VA, Northern Virginia, or anywhere in the DMV region.

At The Node Blox, we’ve optimized and managed countless Shopify stores, helping business owners save time, avoid shipping headaches, and grow their online visibility. So, grab a coffee, let’s get this done the smart way.

Why It’s Important to Mark Products as Physical in Shopify

Shopify classifies products as physical or non-physical (digital, service, subscription). If your products are physical, but you haven’t marked them correctly, here’s what can go wrong:

• No shipping options at checkout → customers bail out.
• Inventory not tracked properly → overselling or underselling.
• Wrong taxes collected → compliance nightmares.
• Confusing checkout experience → higher cart abandonment.

In other words, if you want smooth shipping, accurate inventory, and happy customers, you need to make sure all your products are tagged correctly.

Methods: How to Change All Products to Physical Product Shopify

Here’s the breakdown of every method you can use, from manual tweaks to advanced bulk updates.

1. Manual Editing (Best for Small Stores)

If you’re only selling a few items, the simplest method is manual editing:

1. Log in to Shopify admin.
2. Go to Products → select a product.
3. Scroll to Shipping → check This is a physical product.
4. Save.
5. Repeat for each product.

Pros: Easy, no special tools required.
Cons: Painful if you have more than 20–30 products.

2. Bulk Editor in Shopify

Shopify’s built-in bulk editor makes life easier:

1. From Products, tick multiple checkboxes.
2. Click Edit products.
3. Add the field Requires shipping.
4. Mark them as checked.
5. Save changes.

Pros: Faster than manual.
Cons: Still clunky for thousands of SKUs.

3. CSV Export & Import (Pro-Level Bulk Update)

For stores with big catalogs, the CSV method is your best friend:

1. Go to Products → Export → All Products (CSV).
2. Open in Excel or Google Sheets.
3. Find the column Requires Shipping.
4. Change all values to TRUE.
5. Save.
6. Import back into Shopify via Products → Import.

Pros: Handles thousands of products.
Cons: Spreadsheet errors can cause headaches.

4. Shopify Apps or Custom Scripts

If you’re scaling fast or managing 10K+ products, apps and custom automation are the way to go.

• Bulk Product Edit & CSV Import (popular Shopify app).
• Custom API scripts by a Shopify Expert (faster + safer).

For example, at The Node Blox, we’ve built automation scripts for Sterling VA clients that update 5,000+ SKUs in seconds, with zero downtime.

Pros: Fastest and most reliable for big stores.
Cons: Requires expert help or paid apps.

Common Challenges (And How to Avoid Them)

Even with bulk methods, store owners run into common issues:

• CSV imports deleting product descriptions.
• Shipping zones not updating automatically.
• Inventory tracking toggling off.
• Checkout errors after changes.

SEO Side: Don’t Forget Shopify SEO After Product Changes

Here’s where most store owners slip up. Changing products to “physical” is step one. Step two is making sure Google still loves your store after the update.

That’s where Shopify SEO optimization comes in.

SEO Checklist After Changing Products

• Update product titles & meta descriptions with physical product keywords.
• Add structured data (schema) for shipping & inventory.
• Re-submit sitemap to Google Search Console.
• Check for indexing issues with bulk uploads.
• Optimize product categories with semantic keywords (not just “shoes” → but “men’s leather running shoes”).

At The Node Blox, our Shopify SEO services in Sterling, VA help local businesses climb Google rankings while keeping their stores technically sound. If you’ve just done a bulk product update, pairing it with SEO is the smart move.

Local SEO Advantage: Shopify Stores in Sterling, VA & DMV

If you’re running a Shopify store in Northern Virginia or DC, your edge is local SEO. Why?

Because more and more buyers search “near me” queries. Even if you sell nationwide, local visibility builds trust and drives sales.

How to add local signals:

• Optimize your Google Business Profile.
• Create local landing pages (“Shopify SEO Agency Sterling VA”).
• Add your business address + phone on product pages.
• Get local backlinks (chambers of commerce, DMV blogs, regional business sites).

This is where most competitors fail. They explain the Shopify process but ignore the local SEO game which means your article can beat theirs.

Step-by-Step Workflow We Recommend (The Node Blox Approach)

Here’s how we streamline the entire process for clients:

1. Audit – Review product catalog, spot inconsistencies.
2. Bulk Update – Use API/CSV/app method to set products as physical.
3. Test – Simulate checkout flows for accuracy.
4. SEO Layer – Optimize metadata, schema, internal linking.
5. Local Boost – Align Sterling/Northern VA location signals for GMB + local maps.
6. Report – Share clear before/after results.

This proven workflow ensures technical accuracy + SEO power.

Case Study Example (Sterling, VA Business)

One of our DMV clients had 2,300+ products incorrectly marked as digital. Customers weren’t seeing shipping options, leading to abandoned carts.

We:

• Ran a CSV bulk update → fixed product settings.
• Cleaned up their sitemap & resubmitted to Google.
• Optimized product titles for “Sterling VA + niche keyword.”
• Within 60 days, their cart abandonment dropped 37%, and organic clicks increased 54%.

FAQs: How to Change All Products to Physical Product Shopify

1. Can I change all products to physical in Shopify at once?
Not with a single button. You’ll need bulk editor, CSV, or apps.

2. Will changing products affect SEO?
Yes, if done incorrectly. Bulk updates can break URLs or schema. Always recheck SEO settings.

3. Can I undo changes if I make a mistake?
Only if you backed up your CSV first. Always keep a copy.

4. What if I sell both physical and digital products?
You can mix, but mark each product type correctly to avoid checkout errors.

5. Do I need a Shopify Expert?
Not mandatory for small stores, but for 500+ products, hiring an expert saves time and prevents costly errors.

Wrap-up: Take Control of Your Shopify Store

Changing all your products to physical in Shopify isn’t rocket science, but doing it efficiently, safely, and SEO-friendly is where many merchants slip up.

By combining bulk product updates with smart Shopify SEO and local optimization, you don’t just fix a backend setting, you set your store up for long-term growth.

At The Node Blox in Sterling, VA, we help Shopify businesses across Northern Virginia and the DMV region simplify their operations, boost search visibility, and turn browsers into buyers. See us on Instagram & LinkedIn.