Overview
When your export is packaged into a ZIP file, you can choose how the images are organized inside it. The folder structure setting controls whether images are placed in a single folder or sorted into subfolders.
Available options
Flat (all images in root) — the default
All images are placed in the root of the ZIP with no subfolders. This is the simplest option and works well for smaller exports or when you plan to sort images yourself afterward.
Example:
export.zip/
Blue_T-Shirt_1.jpg
Blue_T-Shirt_2.jpg
Red_Hoodie_1.jpg
Canvas_Tote_1.jpg
By Product
Images are organized into folders named after each product. This is great for keeping images grouped by the product they belong to. A product with no title goes into an untitled-product folder.
Example:
export.zip/
Blue_T-Shirt/
Blue_T-Shirt_1.jpg
Blue_T-Shirt_2.jpg
Red_Hoodie/
Red_Hoodie_1.jpg
By Collection
Images are sorted into folders based on the first collection Shopify returns for each product. Products that are not in any collection go into an uncategorized folder.
Example:
export.zip/
Summer_2026/
Blue_T-Shirt_1.jpg
Red_Hoodie_1.jpg
Accessories/
Canvas_Tote_1.jpg
A product can belong to several collections, but it is only filed once. The folder is named after the first collection Shopify lists for that product, which is not necessarily the collection you filtered by. If you filter by "Summer 2026" and a product is also in "New Arrivals", it may land in a New_Arrivals folder.
By Vendor
Images are organized by the product vendor (brand). This is ideal for stores that carry multiple brands and want images sorted by supplier. Products with no vendor go into an unknown-vendor folder.
Example:
export.zip/
Nike/
Blue_T-Shirt_1.jpg
Adidas/
Red_Hoodie_1.jpg
By Product Type
Images are grouped by the product type assigned in Shopify. Products without a type go into an uncategorized folder.
Example:
export.zip/
T-Shirts/
Blue_T-Shirt_1.jpg
Hoodies/
Red_Hoodie_1.jpg
Folder names
Folder names are cleaned up the same way as file names: spaces become underscores and characters that are not allowed in folder names are replaced. See Custom File Naming Options for the full rules.
How to choose a folder structure
Open the Folder Structure dropdown on the dashboard and select your preferred option. The structure applies to all images in that export.
Which option should I use?
| Goal | Recommended option |
|---|---|
| Simple, all in one folder | Flat (all images in root) |
| Keep images grouped by product | By Product |
| Sort by seasonal or thematic groupings | By Collection |
| Organize by brand or supplier | By Vendor |
| Group by product category | By Product Type |
Large exports
Very large exports are delivered as several numbered ZIP files. Your folder structure applies inside each part, so the same folder can appear in more than one part and the folders merge when you unzip the parts into the same place. See Large Exports and Multi Part ZIP Files.
Folder structure works together with file naming. You can combine any folder structure with any naming template.