Magento 2 Multi Store Configuration

Today this article will take you on a step-by-step for Multi Store and Website Configuration. But before we jump into that, let’s take a look and understand what it is exactly.

Multi Store and its Purpose

Well simply put, this solution helps you manage multiple stores with only one administration account. You could use this if, suppose, you’re expanding your business or maybe want to have a presence in other locations as well. Now by managing all stores from a single backend you can expect it to serve many purposes, but particularly one: Convenience. With our schedules accounted for, down to the last minute, the convenience of managing all your stores from one place sounds like a life saver.

Time to Configure

Take advantage of this four-step guide to help you configure multiple stores now.

Step 1: Create a Website

As obvious as it sounds, it is definitely a pre-requisite. First and foremost, log in to Magento backend and visit the Panel placed on the left hand of your screen. Here, you will navigate from Stores to Settings and then to All Stores. This is the first option in the top left hand corner listed just below Settings. Now on the Stores page, you will find a Create Website option (it’s that hard-to-miss orange one). By clicking on the Create Website button you will land on a page showing two mandatory and one optional field, just like in the image below.

Let’s take a look at each field in detail.

• Name: This will cover your website’s name.
• Code: To prevent conflicts, this requires you to enter a special code.
• Sort Order: You can choose to add a numerical sort order. Since this is an optional field, it is by default set to a maximum value of ‘0’.

Once you have completed the fields, click Save Website and proceed.

Step 2: Creating Store

Your website has been created which means a base is ready to create multiple stores on. For this step we will again follow the same links as in the first step. Access the Magento 2 Panel and jump from Stores to Settings to All Stores, but this time click on the Create Store option. The image below shows the four mandatory fields that will be shown.

Listed below are breakdowns of each field.

• Website: Use this field to assign a parent website to your new store. (Remember, a single website can host multiple stores.)
• Name: Assign a name to your newly added store to identify it easily.
• Code: Enter a special code to associate with this store only.
• Root Category: Select a Root Category for this store from a set of previously added Root Categories. (If you need to add a Root Category for any reason, you can follow the steps provided here:
  • Make sure you are logged in as a user who is authorized to create a Root Category
  • Proceed to Products and click Categories
  • Select the Add Root Category option
  • Create a unique identity for the category in the Category Name field
  • Set  Enable Category option to Yes and Save)

As soon as the fields are complete, don’t forget to hit the Save Store button on the top right corner to enable your new store.

Step 3: Store View

The first step to creating a store view is to click on Store, Settings and then All Stores. When you reach the Stores page, select the Create Store View option. You will see four mandatory fields and one optional field.

Let’s go over the individual fields.

• Store: Choose the name of the store you would like to assign to this new Store View. Keep in mind that each store can have a variety of Store Views.            
• Name: Set a name to identify this particular Store View.
• Code: This allows you to set a unique ‘code’ to identify the Store View.
• Status: Use this option to enable or disable the Store View whenever you need to.
• Sort Order: You can choose to add a numerical sort order. Since this is an optional field, it is by default set to a maximum value of ‘0’.

After you have completed these steps, click on Save Store View. We are just one step away from completing this task.

Step 3: Give Your Store a URL

When you have created a new store, obviously you would want your customer to easily access it. To do so, you would need a unique URL to solely represent your store. This, too, will be done through the Magento Admin Panel. Start by going to Stores, Settings and then Configuration. Here, you will be shown a page that has a tab, with the heading General, it runs parallel to the Admin Panel. Listed right below is the Web option. After clicking on Web, drag your mouse to the dropdown located at the top left-hand corner and select the new view, you recently added, from Store View options. Then press OK to apply your current selection.

Tomake it a little less complicated, the image below shows the drop down that will include the Store View optionsas you add them.

The next phase of this step requires that you click on the drop down arrow for Base URLs. Uncheck the Use System Value checkbox to remove default settings and apply new settings. You will enter the new URL in both, Base URL and Base Link URL fields. One important thing you wouldn’t want to forget is to add a forward slash at the end to ensure that it can be extended to other URL Keys within your store. Click on Save Config to save and apply these new URL settings. If you are looking to set a secure URL, go to the Base URLs (Secure) section and repeat the same process.

In case of having more than one website, follow Step 1 to add a new website then select the new website from the Store View option and create new URLs for each individual site.

There you go. How simple was that? Wait don’t go just yet. We have a few more tips on Multi Store up our sleeves, which we’d love to share.

Tip 1: When You Want to Add Your Store Code to the Base URL

As always Magento is here to the rescue, it offers the option to incorporate a store code right there in the URL. Ultimately, simplifying multiple store set up. Don’t worry we will guide you through it.

Start off by going to Stores located on the Panel, click on Configuration under Settings. The General tab appears when you click Web, just like when you were creating URLs. Take your cursor to the top left-hand corner, to find the Store View dropdown and select Default Config. Expand the URL Options and uncheck the Use System Value checkbox that follows the Add Store Code to URLs field. Last but not least, remember to click Save Config. The image below will help you get a clear idea.