What A/B Test Preview Does
A/B Test Preview lets you load any experiment variant on your live storefront so you can confirm it is configured correctly before, during, or after a test runs. The preview loads the exact variant you select. Preview is available for experiments in the Draft, Scheduled, Active, and Completed states.
Previewing an experiment does not count as enrollment and does not change the experiment's traffic split or metrics in any way. You can preview freely without affecting your results.
Where to Find A/B Test Preview Links
A/B Test Preview is reachable from three places inside the A/B Testing section. Each entry point is described below.
Preview an A/B Test from the Experiment Edit Page
The A/B Testing experiment edit page for a Widget experiment in Draft state. The Preview Experiment link sits in the experiment header on the upper right and previews the control variant. In the Select Control and Variations section, each variant row has its own Preview link next to its traffic percentage, which previews that specific variant.
The per-variant Preview link only appears once the variant has been saved with a target asset.
(Image above: the experiment edit page header with the Preview Experiment link and the per-variant Preview link in the Select Control and Variations section)
Preview an A/B Test from the Experiment Index
On the A/B Testing index, open the three-dot (kebab) menu on any created A/B testing experiment card and select Preview. This link previews the experiment's control variant.
(Image above: the experiment index kebab menu open with the Preview option.)
Using the A/B Test Preview Bar
Clicking any of the A/B testing preview links opens your storefront with the Rebuy preview bar at the bottom of the page. The preview bar confirms you are in preview mode and shows the experiment name and page target.
To move between variants without leaving the preview, use the variant switcher dropdown in the preview bar. Selecting a different variant reloads the page to that variant within the same preview session.
To leave preview and return to the normal storefront, click Close Preview in the preview bar. This clears the preview cookie and query parameters.
The preview bar also includes the Rebuy Data and Toggle Highlight tools, which work the same way they do in standard Rebuy preview mode. For details on those tools, see Using Rebuy Preview Mode.
(Image above: the storefront in preview with the Rebuy preview bar and the A/B testing variant switcher dropdown.)
How A/B Test Preview Affects Active Experiments
Previewing an Active experiment does not interfere with the running test. Real shopper traffic continues to be assigned to variants randomly. Only your own session is forced to the variant you selected, and your preview session is not counted toward the experiment's results.
Previewing a Completed A/B Test Experiment
Preview is available for Completed experiments, but it reflects the asset as it currently exists, not as it existed while the test was running. If you have edited the widget, flow, or cart since the test ended, the preview will not match what shoppers saw during the test. A warning tooltip appears on the preview link for completed experiments to remind you of this.
A/B Test Preview Limitations
A/B Test Preview has the following limitations:
General experiments (CSS, JS, or Visual Editor) require a Page Target to be selected before a preview link appears. If no Page Target is configured, the preview link does not show. Set a Page Target on the experiment to make the preview link appear.
Smart Search A/B testing experiments cannot be previewed.
Checkout Offer experiments cannot be previewed, because Shopify's checkout extension cannot be loaded through a storefront preview URL.
A/B Test Preview FAQs
Does previewing an A/B test count as enrollment or affect my results?
Previewing an A/B test does not count as enrollment and does not affect your results. Previewing never changes the experiment's traffic split or metrics. For an active experiment, only your own session is forced to the selected variant, and that session is not counted.
Can I preview an A/B test experiment before it starts?
Yes, you can preview an A/B test experiment before it starts. A/B Test Preview is available for experiments in the Draft and Scheduled states, as well as Active and Completed states.
Why don't I see a Preview link on my General CSS or JS experiment?
A General experiment (CSS, JS, or Visual Editor) only shows a preview link once a Page Target is selected. If no Page Target is configured, the preview link is hidden. Add a Page Target to the experiment and the preview link will appear.
Can I preview a Smart Search or Checkout Offer experiment?
A/B Test Preview does not support Smart Search or Checkout Offer experiments. Checkout Offer experiments cannot be previewed because Shopify's checkout extension cannot load through a storefront preview URL.
Does the preview of a completed experiment match what shoppers actually saw?
The preview of a completed experiment shows the asset as it currently exists, not a frozen snapshot from when the test ran. If you edited the widget, flow, or cart after the test ended, the completed-experiment preview will not match what shoppers saw during the test.