Auto External Links on Shopify with Vitals: features, pricing and setup
Last updated on November 5, 2026
Yes, Vitals opens external links in a new tab on Shopify stores automatically. The Vitals app (Vitals: Reviews, Bundles & 40+ on the Shopify App Store) includes Auto External Links: when it is on, every link on your storefront that points to another website opens in a new browser tab, so your store stays open behind it. It comes in the same plan as product reviews, bundles and 40+ other apps.
Auto External Links at a glance
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What it does | Opens every link to another website in a new browser tab, so shoppers do not leave your store when they click it |
| Which links | Full links (starting with http) that do not contain the domain the shopper is browsing. Relative links such as /products/... are never changed. A link to your store's other domain (for example your myshopify.com address seen on your custom domain) counts as external. |
| Options | None. The app is a single on/off switch. |
| Limits | No exclusion list and no page targeting: it is all external links or none. Links added to the page later (for example by lazy-loaded sections) may not be changed. |
| Pricing | Included in the Vitals All-in-One plan, $29.99/month, with a 7-day free trial. See the Shopify App Store listing for current pricing. |
Your store's external links should always open in a new browser tab to create a smooth user experience.
The downside effect would be significant. Imagine adding a Facebook page or Instagram profile link in your store's footer: you don't want your visitors to click on that link and Facebook or Instagram to open in the same tab, "over" your store.
Shopify makes it easy to choose when adding a new link, whether it should open in the same tab or a new one. But it's even easier to forget doing this every time, so we're providing you with a simple tool to open all external links in a new tab automatically.
Just enable it in one click, and you're set.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Vitals have an app that opens external links in a new tab on Shopify?
Yes. Auto External Links in the Vitals app opens every link to another website in a new tab. Turn it on in Vitals > Apps > Auto External Links with Activate app.
Can I keep one external link opening in the same tab?
No. The app has no exclusion list. It changes all external links, or none if you switch it off.
Does it change links to my own store's pages?
No. Links to the domain the shopper is browsing, and relative links, keep opening in the same tab.
Still stuck?
Chat with our support team, we'll sort it out with you.