Quick answer:
Vacation Mode is a setting that temporarily pauses new orders in your Etsy shop. When Vacation Mode is on, buyers can visit your shop and message you, but your listings are hidden from search and can’t be purchased.
If Vacation Mode is optional for your shop, you can manage the settings in your Shop Manager.
If Etsy puts your shop on pause by placing it in Vacation Mode, you can't turn Vacation Mode off yourself and additional limitations may apply. Learn what to do if Etsy puts your shop in Vacation Mode.
In this article:
What to know before you turn on Vacation Mode
If you want to stop receiving new orders and remove your listings from search results temporarily, you can enable Vacation Mode for your shop rather than closing it entirely.
Sellers typically use Vacation Mode when they:
- Are traveling or unavailable for an extended amount of time
- Are sick or handling an emergency
- Need time to catch up on orders
Keep the following in mind when deciding if you want to enable Vacation Mode:
- Active orders & messages: Vacation Mode stops new incoming orders, but you are still responsible for fulfilling existing orders, managing cases, and replying to messages.
- Recurring charges continue: Subscription and auto-renewal fees are not paused automatically.
- Custom notices are optional: You can set up a custom announcement and auto-reply before or after turning Vacation Mode on.
- Vacation Mode stays on indefinitely: When you are ready to get back to selling, you’ll need to turn Vacation Mode off in order for your listings to appear in search and to receive new orders.
Vacation Mode does not pause shop responsibilities or recurring fees. You remain responsible for fulfilling open orders, resolving open cases, responding to buyer messages, and paying recurring subscription charges.
How to turn Vacation Mode on or off
If Vacation Mode is optional for your shop, you can turn the setting on or off through your Shop Manager on Etsy.com or in the Etsy Seller app.
The option to turn Vacation Mode off will not be available if Etsy placed your shop in Vacation Mode.
To turn Vacation Mode on or off on Etsy.com:
- Go to Shop Manager.
- Select Settings.
- Choose Options.
- Select the Vacation Mode tab.
- Toggle On to put your shop on pause, or Off to make your shop active.
- Select Save.
To turn Vacation Mode on or off in the Etsy Seller app:
- Open the Etsy Seller app.
- Select More.
- Select Vacation Mode under Shop Settings.
- Slide the toggle next to Vacation Mode to turn the setting on or off.
What happens when Vacation Mode is on
While Vacation Mode is on, certain shop features are paused or limited while others remain active, and you may continue to incur some fees unless you take action. Review the tables below to understand what happens when Vacation Mode is on.
Paused or limited features
| Feature or Service | What to Know |
| Search visibility | Listings and Etsy Ads do not appear in search results. Your shop may appear when buyers search for your exact shop name. |
| Shop homepage | Listings are hidden. Visitors see your Vacation Announcement, About section, past reviews, and any Star Seller badges you’ve earned. The options to contact and follow you remain visible. |
| Listing pages | Direct links to listing pages display an “Item unavailable” notice. Listing details, including photos, description, and price, are hidden. |
| Etsy Ads | Active campaigns pause automatically. You can view stats but cannot edit campaign settings. Etsy Ads charges do not accrue. Your previous settings resume when you turn Vacation Mode off. |
| Offsite Ads | Charges do not accrue. If Offsite Ads is optional for you, you can still turn it on or off. |
| Listing search factors | Factors impacting your search visibility on individual listings will not show. |
Active features
| Feature or Service | What to Know |
| Shop management | You can access Shop Manager, view shop stats, and update most shop settings, including payment information, sales and discounts, and your shop’s About section. |
| Order and case management | You can access orders, cases, and messages, issue refunds, cancel orders, and print shipping labels. You are still responsible for completing open orders and responding to buyers. |
| Listing management | You can edit and create new listings. Existing active listings will continue to show as "Active" on the Listings page in Shop Manager. New listings will be saved as drafts. |
| Messages | You can send and receive new messages. Consider setting up a Vacation Mode auto-reply so buyers know when to expect a response. |
| Star Seller | Vacation Mode does not pause Star Seller evaluation. Eligibility is still based on your last 3 months of performance. Earned badges remain visible on your shop homepage. |
| Shop management | You can access Shop Manager, view shop stats, and update most shop settings, including payment information, sales and discounts, and your shop’s About section. |
Fees that may apply and require your attention
Vacation Mode does not exempt you from monthly billing.
The following fees continue during Vacation Mode unless you take action to pause or cancel them. If your account becomes overdue while Vacation Mode is on, you’ll need to pay the outstanding balance before you can reopen your shop.
| Feature or Service | What to Know |
| Listing fees | You are not charged a listing fee for new draft listings until they are published after you return. |
| Auto-renew fees | If any listings set to auto-renew expire while Vacation Mode is on, you’ll be charged the renewal fee. You can disable auto-renew at any time. |
| Listing Expiration | Listings not set to auto-renew will expire after 4 months. This countdown continues while your shop is on Vacation Mode and cannot be paused. |
| Etsy Plus Subscription | Your monthly subscription fee continues. Unused listing or Ads credits expire at the end of the billing cycle and do not roll over. You can cancel Etsy Plus at any time. |
| Pattern Subscription | Billing continues and your Pattern site is also paused. Your vacation announcement appears on your Pattern site. You can disable Pattern separately at any time. |
How to customize your Vacation Mode settings
When Vacation Mode is on, you can add a custom Vacation Announcement that appears as a Note from the shop owner at the top of your homepage, replacing your shop announcement if you have one. Additionally, buyers will see the option to receive an email from Etsy when your shop reopens – you can't hide this option.
Expand to see an example of a shop homepage with a customer Vacation Mode announcement
You can also set up an auto-reply that is sent to anyone who messages you while Vacation Mode is on, replacing any other active auto-replies you have set up through Messages. Both settings are optional but recommended.
If you leave either field blank, that setting will not be applied.
Star Seller tip: Vacation Mode does not pause Star Seller evaluation. Unanswered messages will count against your response rate, but auto-replies count as responses. If you don't plan to actively monitor messages while your shop is paused, use the auto-reply feature while Vacation Mode on for your shop.
To customize your Vacation Mode settings on Etsy.com:
- Go to Shop Manager.
- Select Settings.
- Choose Options.
- Select the Vacation Mode tab.
- Enter your custom announcement in the Vacation Announcement field.
- Enter your message in the Messages Auto-Reply field.
- Select Save.
To customize your Vacation Mode settings in the Etsy Seller app:
- Open the Etsy Seller app.
- Select More.
- Select Vacation Mode under Shop Settings.
- Enter your custom announcement in the Shop announcement field.
- Enter your message in the Auto-reply field.
Your shop announcement and auto-reply should not be used to direct buyers to purchase from your personal website. Learn more about Etsy's Off-Platform Transactions policy.
What to do if Etsy placed your shop in Vacation Mode
If Etsy placed your shop in Vacation Mode, there may be an account issue you need to resolve before you can continue selling. You won’t be able to turn off Vacation Mode yourself, but you may see action items to complete in your account. Once those requirements are met, Etsy may remove the limitation from your shop.
Learn what to do if Etsy placed your shop in Vacation Mode.
Frequently asked questions
Can I make purchases while Vacation Mode is on for my shop?
Yes. You will still be able to browse and purchase from other shops while Vacation Mode is on for your shop.
My shop is in Vacation Mode, why did I get a bill for seller fees?
Vacation Mode does not pause the billing cycle. Any fees you accrued before turning Vacation Mode on are still due on the first of the month. It's also possible to accrue fees while Vacation Mode is on. Learn more about fees that may apply and require your attention.
Will my search visibility be affected once I turn Vacation Mode off?
Your listings become visible again shortly after you turn off Vacation Mode, usually within minutes. Search performance may change after a period of inactivity and can vary as buyers start interacting with your listings again.
Additional resources
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