How to add PayPal payment gateway on Shopify

beginner 8 min read Updated 2026-03-18

Quick Answer

Adding PayPal to your Shopify store involves navigating to Settings > Payments, selecting PayPal Express Checkout from the payment providers list, and connecting your PayPal Business account. The integration is straightforward and typically takes just a few minutes to complete.

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Prerequisites

Active Shopify store
PayPal Business account
Admin access to Shopify store
Verified PayPal account with bank details

Step-by-Step Instructions

Access Shopify Payment Settings

Log into your Shopify admin dashboard and navigate to Settings in the bottom left corner. Click on Payments from the settings menu to access your payment configuration options.

Ensure you have admin privileges on the store to access payment settings.

Locate PayPal in Payment Providers

Scroll down to the Alternative payment methods section. Look for PayPal Express Checkout in the list of available payment providers. Click the Choose alternative payment dropdown if PayPal isn't immediately visible.

Select and Activate PayPal

Click on PayPal Express Checkout from the payment providers list. You'll see a setup screen with PayPal branding. Click the Activate PayPal Express Checkout button to begin the connection process.

PayPal Express Checkout is the most common and recommended PayPal integration for Shopify stores.

Connect Your PayPal Account

You'll be redirected to PayPal's secure login page. Enter your PayPal Business account email and password. If you don't have a business account, you'll need to upgrade your personal account or create a new business account during this process.

Use the same email address that's associated with your primary PayPal business account.

Grant Shopify Permissions

PayPal will display a permissions screen showing what access Shopify is requesting. Review the permissions and click Agree and Continue to allow Shopify to process payments through your PayPal account. This enables automatic payment processing and order synchronization.

Configure PayPal Settings

Back in Shopify, configure your PayPal settings. Set your Payment capture method to either Automatically (recommended) or Manually. Enable PayPal Express Checkout on product pages if you want customers to checkout directly from product pages using PayPal.

Automatic capture processes payments immediately, while manual capture requires you to capture payments within 29 days.

Test and Save Configuration

Click Save to apply your PayPal settings. Navigate to your store's checkout page and verify that PayPal appears as a payment option. Consider placing a test order using PayPal's sandbox feature to ensure everything works correctly before going live.

Test the entire checkout flow, including payment confirmation and order completion emails.

Common Issues & Troubleshooting

PayPal option not appearing at checkout

Ensure your PayPal account is verified and has a confirmed bank account. Check that PayPal Express Checkout is activated in Settings > Payments and that your store's currency is supported by PayPal in your region.

Customers getting redirected but payment not completing

Verify that your Return URL and Cancel URL settings are correct in your PayPal account. Go to PayPal's developer dashboard and ensure your Auto Return feature is enabled with the correct Shopify return URL.

PayPal connection keeps failing during setup

Clear your browser cache and cookies, then try connecting again. Ensure you're using a PayPal Business account rather than a personal account. If the problem persists, try the connection process from an incognito/private browser window.

Orders showing as pending in Shopify after PayPal payment

Check your PayPal account for any payment holds or disputes. Verify that your Payment capture method is set correctly in Shopify. If using manual capture, ensure you're capturing payments within PayPal's time limits.

Prices mentioned in this guide are pulled from current plan data and may change. Always verify on the official Shopify website before purchasing.

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