A shopper visits your Shopify store, finds a product they like, checks a few more items, and then leaves without buying. Later, they return, but they cannot remember where they found that first product. They search, browse a few collections, get frustrated, and leave again.
The interest was still there. The problem was simply finding the product again.
This is where Recently Viewed Products on Shopify can make the shopping journey easier. Instead of asking customers to remember what they viewed, your store can automatically bring those products back to their attention. It is a simple way to preserve browsing context and reduce unnecessary product-search steps.
Why Browsing Intent Gets Lost
Online shoppers rarely browse in a straight line. They may open several products, compare prices, check sizes, look at reviews, or switch between different pages before making a decision.
Sometimes they simply get distracted.
From the store owner's perspective, this may look like another visitor who did not convert. But the shopper may have already shown genuine interest in several products. When they return later, they may not have enough time or patience to retrace their entire journey.
That small amount of friction can turn product interest into a missed opportunity.
A Simple Way to Bring Shoppers Back
A recently viewed section works like a memory for your online store. It remembers products a shopper has already opened and displays them again in a convenient section, usually through a carousel or product slider.
For example, imagine someone views three dresses during their lunch break and leaves the website. When they return that evening, those products can appear directly on the homepage or another relevant page.
Instead of searching again, they can simply click the product and continue where they stopped.
This does not create artificial demand or guarantee a purchase. It simply removes one unnecessary obstacle between interest and action.
Recently Viewed vs. Recommended Products
There is an important difference between recently viewed products and recommendations.
Recommendations try to predict what a customer might like next. Recently viewed products show what the customer has already explored.
Both can be useful. Recommendations help shoppers discover something new, while recently viewed items help them rediscover something they already considered.
Together, they can support both sides of product discovery.
Where Should You Display Them?
Placement can make a difference.
On product pages, recently viewed items can help customers compare products they explored earlier.
On the homepage, they can help returning shoppers quickly reconnect with their previous browsing journey.
On collection pages, they can remind shoppers about products that already caught their attention while they continue exploring your catalog.
The goal is simple: make it easier for shoppers to continue their journey without starting from zero.
How Qe Recently Viewed Helps
This is where Qe Recently Viewed becomes useful for Shopify merchants. The app provides a responsive carousel that can display previously viewed products across important areas of the store. Shoppers can also use a quick product drawer to check variants and add products to their cart without leaving the current page.
Setup is designed to be simple through the Shopify Theme Editor, with no coding required. Merchants can also customize elements such as the slider style, image size, product display range, and quick-add options.
But there is more to consider when choosing the right setup for your store—including placement, mobile experience, customization, and how this feature fits into your broader conversion strategy.
Want to see how this can work for your Shopify store? Read the full guide on Recently Viewed Products on Shopify and explore how a small UX improvement can help shoppers find their way back to products they already liked.
