How to Fix Your Shopify Store Speed and Reduce HTTP Requests

Is your Shopify store running slower than you’d like? Are you seeing an error message stating “Your page makes 39 requests. More than 20 requests can result in slow page loading”? You’re not alone. Many Shopify store owners face this challenge, but the good news is that there are several effective strategies to address this issue and significantly improve your store’s performance.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the causes of this error and provide you with actionable steps to optimize your Shopify store’s speed. By implementing these techniques, you’ll not only resolve the error but also enhance your store’s overall performance, leading to better user experience and potentially higher conversion rates.

Understanding the Error

What Does the Error Mean?

When you encounter the “Your page makes 39 requests” error, it indicates that your Shopify store’s pages are making an excessive number of HTTP requests. Each request represents a separate file or resource that needs to be loaded, such as images, scripts, or stylesheets. When these requests exceed 20, it can significantly impact your page loading speed.

Why Is This a Problem?

Slow page loading times can have severe consequences for your online store:

1. Poor User Experience: Visitors may become frustrated and leave your site before it fully loads.
2. Lower Conversion Rates: Slow sites often see fewer sales and conversions.
3. Reduced SEO Performance: Search engines like Google consider page speed as a ranking factor.

Strategies to Reduce HTTP Requests and Optimize Speed

1. Optimize Images

Images often contribute significantly to the number of HTTP requests. Here’s how to address this:

Compress Images

Use tools like TinyJPG (https://tinyjpg.com/) to compress your images without significant quality loss.

Implement Lazy Loading

Lazy loading ensures that images load only as they come into view, reducing initial page load time.

Use Appropriate Image Formats

Choose the right format for each image. For example, use JPEG for photographs and PNG for graphics with transparency.

2. Minimize and Combine CSS and JavaScript Files

Reducing the number of separate CSS and JavaScript files can dramatically decrease HTTP requests.

Combine Files

Merge multiple CSS files into one, and do the same for JavaScript files.

Minify Code

Remove unnecessary characters, white space, and comments from your CSS and JavaScript files.

Inline Critical CSS

Consider inlining critical CSS directly in your HTML to reduce render-blocking resources.

3. Leverage Browser Caching

Caching allows browsers to store static files locally, reducing the need for repeated requests.

Set Appropriate Cache Headers

Configure your server to set cache headers for static resources like images, CSS, and JavaScript files.

Use a Content Delivery Network (CDN)

A CDN can help distribute your content across multiple servers, reducing load times for users in different geographical locations.

4. Remove Unnecessary Third-Party Scripts and Apps

Third-party scripts and Shopify apps can significantly contribute to the number of HTTP requests.

Audit Your Apps

Regularly review and remove any apps you’re no longer using.

Optimize Third-Party Scripts

Evaluate the necessity of each third-party script and consider asynchronous loading for non-critical scripts.

5. Choose an Optimized Theme

Your Shopify theme plays a crucial role in your store’s performance.

Select a Performance-Optimized Theme

Choose a theme that’s designed with speed in mind, avoiding themes with unnecessary features or complex designs.

Customize Wisely

When customizing your theme, be mindful of adding elements that might increase HTTP requests.

6. Utilize Shopify’s Built-in Tools

Shopify provides several tools to help you optimize your store’s performance.

Use Shopify Theme Inspector

The Shopify Theme Inspector for Chrome can help identify code that’s slowing down your pages.

Leverage Shopify’s CDN

Shopify’s built-in CDN can help deliver your content faster to users worldwide.

Advanced Optimization Techniques

For those looking to take their optimization efforts further, consider these advanced techniques:

Implement HTTP/2

HTTP/2 allows for more efficient loading of multiple resources.

Use Server-Side Rendering

This can help reduce the initial load time for your pages.

Optimize Web Fonts

Choose system fonts or optimize the loading of custom web fonts to reduce HTTP requests.

Monitoring and Ongoing Optimization

Optimization is an ongoing process. Regularly monitor your store’s performance using tools like:

• Google PageSpeed Insights
• GTmetrix
• Shopify’s own speed score

By implementing these strategies and continuously monitoring your store’s performance, you can effectively resolve the “Your page makes 39 requests” error and create a faster, more efficient Shopify store. Remember, a faster store not only improves user experience but can also lead to higher conversion rates and improved search engine rankings.