Many Etsy sellers don’t realize they can hide their sales history. By default, Etsy displays your sold listings to the public, which means anyone—including curious shoppers and competitors—can see what you’ve sold and how many sales you’ve made.

In today’s YouTube video and this blog post, I’ll explain why hiding Etsy sales history is a smart move and exactly how you can do it.

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👉 Watch the YouTube video below or keep reading for the full guide. 

What Is Etsy Sales History?

When sales history is enabled, every item you’ve sold remains visible on your Etsy storefront under “Sold Listings.” This feature was originally intended to help customers see what your shop offers and get a sense of trust by showing past activity.

However, it also means:

• Your total sales volume is public.
• Shoppers can estimate your income.
• Competitors can view your bestsellers.

For many sellers, this creates more risks than benefits.  

Why Consider Hiding Etsy Sales History?

So, why do some sellers prefer hiding Etsy sales history? Let’s break it down.

Protect Your Income Privacy

The first reason is simple: privacy. When your sold listings are public, anyone can calculate roughly how much money your shop is making. While some sellers are fine with this transparency, others see it as intrusive.

Your income should be your choice to share, not something strangers can easily track.

Prevent Copycats from Stealing Ideas

Another big reason is competition. When your bestsellers are visible, other sellers can quickly identify what’s working for you and create similar—or even identical—products.

This is how “copycat shops” appear. A seller sees that your handmade jewelry or digital download is selling well, gets “inspired,” and starts offering the same thing. Before long, your niche is flooded with duplicates.

By hiding Etsy sales history, you reduce the risk of your hard work being copied.

Other Reasons to Hide Sales History

Beyond privacy and competition, sellers hide their sales history to:

• Avoid overwhelming buyers with “sold out” products.
• Keep their storefront clean and focused on active listings.
• Protect product strategies from being reverse-engineered.

How to Hide Sold Listings on Etsy (Step-by-Step)

Turning off your sales history is quick and easy. Just follow these steps:

1. Log in to your Etsy Dashboard.
2. Go to Shop Manager > Settings > Options.
3. Find the Sold Listings section.
4. Toggle it Off to hide all sold items from public view.

That’s it! From now on, your shop visitors will only see the items you currently have for sale.

Should You Hide Etsy Sales History?

Whether or not you hide your sales history depends on your shop goals.

Pros of hiding sales history:

• More privacy regarding income.
• Less risk of competitors copying your bestsellers.
• A more focused, streamlined storefront.

Cons of hiding sales history:

• Some buyers like seeing sold items for reassurance.
• Transparency may help establish credibility with new shoppers.

If you’re selling unique, high-demand items and want to protect your designs, turning it off is a wise choice. On the other hand, if your shop thrives on transparency and repeat products, leaving it on could help build trust.

Final Thoughts on Hiding Etsy Sales History

For most sellers, the advantages of privacy and protection outweigh the downsides. Personally, I keep sales history turned off in all of my Etsy shops to safeguard both my income privacy and my product ideas.

Do you plan on turning off your sold listings history? Drop a comment below—I’d love to hear your thoughts.