Plenty of customers will flip to WooCommerce with the intention to run a full-featured on-line retailer the usage of WordPress. The overall “glide” comes to bringing property, merchandise, and content material into either one of those platforms. On the other hand, you’ll be able to additionally use WooCommerce to export merchandise too.

There are lots of causes for why you’d do that. Maximum frequently, you’ll have some management to hold out, corresponding to solving entries in bulk. On the other hand, you may additionally export merchandise if you select to transport your internet webhosting.

Regardless, figuring out the best way to export your merchandise — and the stairs concerned — is an impressive arrow to have to your quiver.

Figuring out the best way to export your merchandise — and the stairs concerned — is an impressive arrow to have to your quiver. 🏹 Be informed extra on this information ✅Click on to Tweet

For this educational, we’re going to turn you the best way to use WooCommerce to export merchandise. We’ll spherical up some plugins that will help you and give you a step by step educational to hold out the process.

First, let’s discuss use circumstances for exporting, and likewise the import procedure, in short.

Why You’d Wish to Export WooCommerce Merchandise

All of your inventory and stock is inside of WordPress — particularly, WooCommerce. Exporting those merchandise approach producing an inventory wherein you’ll be able to paintings at the information in any other program, away out of your retailer’s set up.

A spreadsheet showing a list of products from a WooCommerce store.
A spreadsheet of a product export.

You’ll frequently export those merchandise into some more or less spreadsheet structure, whether or not that’s a comma-separated values (CSV) record, an Excel spreadsheet, or perhaps a simple textual content record.

Whilst it would look like a drastic factor to do, if truth be told, you’ll frequently export your merchandise for various mundane and regimen causes:

  • Potency: It’s easier and acquainted to batch edit your stock via a spreadsheet reasonably than the WooCommerce interface. Plus, you’ll be able to use the devoted capability of the spreadsheet app to avoid wasting effort and time as well.
  • International error correction: There is also a subject along with your product record that you just’ll want to type on a world point. As an example, you might want to have an error along with your inventory holding unit (SKU) values. Exporting your WooCommerce merchandise allows you to clear up this factor, and re-import the record in a flash.
  • Migration simplicity: Chances are you’ll even need to improve your webhosting to one thing extra powerful and feature-specific in your wishes. Should you export your WooCommerce merchandise, it takes not anything to import all of the record right into a new set up, or onto a brand new server.


Talking of uploading, it’s price figuring out how to do that prior to you get into the export procedure. This offers you a excellent working out of ways entries relate to the “inside of” and “outdoor” worlds (with reference to WooCommerce, a minimum of).

How To Import WooCommerce Merchandise and Orders

At the floor, the import procedure for WooCommerce merchandise and orders turns out easy. Actually, there are many cogs that make up the entire wheel.

Over the following couple of sections, we’ll discuss one of the vital “need-to-know” parts, and display the precise procedure to import merchandise into WooCommerce.

Fundamentals of a CSV Record

Even supposing we name it a “CSV record,” it’s no longer in point of fact a record kind — it’s a record structure. That is in spite of CSV information having the .csv extension.

You’re in a position to learn CSV codecs the usage of virtually any app that may parse and show textual content. Maximum customers will open a CSV inside of a spreadsheet app as a result of this will likely be offering similar capability to paintings with the values inside of. On the other hand, there’s not anything incorrect, in a technical sense, with the usage of a textual content editor or any other resolution.

The important thing facet of a CSV record is its use of a “delimiter.” In fundamental phrases, this can be a separator and the default is a comma — therefore the structure exhibiting “comma-separated values.” While you use the CSV structure, the “translation” device (in our case, WooCommerce and a spreadsheet app) will take into account that each and every bite of data separated through a comma is a novel, person piece of knowledge:

A text editor showing WooCommerce product data values separated by commas.
Consumer names separated through commas.

With out the comma delimiter, you’ll see the information smashed into one cellular:

A text editor showing all of the data within merged into
A dataset merged because of the loss of a delimiter.

The wonderful thing about the CSV structure is the way it’s agnostic not to most effective this system you utilize to learn the information, but in addition this system you import into. If an app can paintings with CSV values, you’ll be able to transfer that information virtually any place — so long as you’ll be able to map the information correctly to this system you import it to.

How WooCommerce Makes use of CSV Information

WooCommerce makes use of CSV information in a similar fashion to different methods. You may have various fields inside of WooCommerce that explain the values in your merchandise:

The admin panel for WooCommerce, that shows a list of products and the corresponding data fields.
A listing of WooCommerce merchandise and information fields.

While you import a collection of goods from a CSV record, every worth will likely be collated beneath a header — an SKU, product title, variable worth, and extra. On the other hand, the ones headers will want to correspond to a suitable worth inside of WooCommerce.

As an example, you couldn’t import information from an Engine Kind header in case your WooCommerce product record doesn’t use that header worth. Let’s discuss this relating to the import procedure on the whole.

Uploading WooCommerce Merchandise and Orders from a CSV Record

The excellent news is that in spite of all the background data, the import process for WooCommerce merchandise and orders is easy. That is because of WordPress’ pleasant interface.

You’ll desire a CSV record to do that, and we’re going to make use of the WooCommerce pattern information. It’s to be had without cost, even though you’ll want to obtain the WooCommerce plugin record from WordPress.org. Inside, you’ll discover a folder referred to as sample-data which incorporates information to make use of:

A macOS Finder window showing three files: sample_products.csv, sample_products.xml, and sample_tax_rates.csv.
WooCommerce’s 3 pattern information information.

There are a couple of tactics to import merchandise into WooCommerce. In case you have a brand new set up and run during the Onboarding Wizard, you’ll be able to import a CSV record right through that procedure:

The WooCommerce Onboarding Wizard, showing four options, including an "Import via CSV" link.
The WooCommerce Onboarding Wizard asking you to import merchandise.

On the other hand, this will likely most effective be an possibility for brand-new retail outlets with out a merchandise. We’ll subsequent display you the best way to replace your WooCommerce product information, which additionally covers the import procedure the usage of a CSV record.

Updating Present Orders and Merchandise The usage of a CSV Record

The most efficient (and advisable) option to import WooCommerce merchandise is during the Merchandise > All Merchandise display screen inside of WordPress. If you choose Get started Import, you are going to see a conversation to make a choice a CSV record:

The WooCommerce Import Products screen, showing a button to choose a CSV file from your local computer and a checkbox to update existing products.
Opting for a record from the WooCommerce import conversation.

Should you click on the Display complicated choices button right here, you’ll be able to see some not obligatory settings for the trail of your CSV record in addition to the choice to make use of earlier mapping settings. Maximum vital is the choice to make a choice your record’s delimiter. That is going to assist in case your record doesn’t use commas:

The Show advanced options settings, including a path to a remote CSV file, the option to set the file's delimiter, and a checkbox to use old column mapping settings.
The Display complicated choices conversation.

Generally, the method right here is inconspicuous: Make a choice a CSV record out of your pc, then click on Proceed.

On the other hand, the additional checkbox here’s the way you’ll replace merchandise.

The tooltip explains, however it’ll examine merchandise with an identical ID or SKU and replace the guidelines to no matter your CSV record displays. What’s extra, traces within the sheet that don’t fit with an present product — i.e. new merchandise — gained’t import. This implies you’ll be able to replace the record with no matter information you wish to have, then import it to replace your stock, all the usage of one checkbox.

Mapping Product Columns

The Column Mapping display screen is the way you’ll relate the columns inside of your CSV record to WooCommerce product headings. Actually, WooCommerce does a “absolute best wager” in this — when you use the pattern information or import a record that has origins as an export, that is going to both be actual or shut sufficient:

The WooCommerce Column Mapping screen, showing spreadsheet values on the left, and drop-down menus relating to WooCommerce fields on the right.
The WooCommerce Column Mapping display screen.

While you take a look at those columns and make any important adjustments that will help you map columns with accuracy, you’ll be able to scroll down and click on the Run the importer button. From right here, WordPress will do the important, which might take a little time relying at the dimension of your CSV record.

On the other hand, you’ll see a good fortune display screen as soon as the method completes:

The WooCommerce Product Import screen showing a success message and a button to view the imported products within WooCommerce.
The WooCommerce Import Whole display screen.

That is all you wish to have to do to import merchandise the usage of the local capability. Subsequent, we’ll check out what WooCommerce provides relating to exporting too.

How To Use WooCommerce to Export Merchandise

To export from WooCommerce, you’ll need to head to the Merchandise > All Merchandise display screen. After you have merchandise inside of your set up, there will likely be an additional Export button:

The WordPress Products screen, showing the "Add New", "Import", and "Export" buttons.
The WooCommerce “Export” button.

On the other hand, when you click on this with out settling on merchandise, not anything will export. You’ll first want to make a choice the goods you wish to have to export the usage of the checkboxes within the record, then click on the Export button.

This will likely convey you to a display screen that shouldn’t want a lot enter from you — the Export Merchandise conversation:

The "Export Products" dialog, showing three options to select columns to export, and the "Generate CSV" button.
The WooCommerce “Export Merchandise” conversation display screen.

Right here, make a choice the choices from the dropdowns that correspond to the information you’d love to export. While you end, click on the Generate CSV button to begin the method and save the CSV on your pc.

From right here, you’ll be able to overview your CSV the usage of any program you’re ok with. As an example, Excel is standard, as is Google Sheets.

On the other hand, whilst this local procedure is fast and easy, it’s no longer essentially the most versatile or robust. We’ll discuss this in additional intensity subsequent.

Obstacles of WooCommerce Local Capability

The constraints of WooCommerce’s local export capability — and that of the import procedure — gained’t display themselves in a variety of daily use circumstances.

It is a double-edged sword. At the one hand, you’ll be capable of succeed in virtually the whole lot you wish to have in a variety of eventualities.

Alternatively, although, there are a couple of barriers that gained’t be obvious till you come upon them. As an example, you may no longer be capable of import particular kinds of customized information and sophisticated merchandise in essentially the most optimum method.

That is the place a plugin can assist through bridging the distance between the local export procedure and one thing adapted on your wishes. Automattic acknowledges this, which is why they launched the Product CSV Import Suite WooCommerce extension.

The extension is going above and past the fundamental local capability in various tactics:

  • You may have extra beef up for different WooCommerce extensions, corresponding to WooCommerce Images, WooCommerce Bookings, and Google Product Feed.
  • There’s a option to import, export, and replace customized and sophisticated data. Whether or not you assign merchandise to distributors, upload model names to merchandise, or the rest, you’re in a position to nonetheless paintings with this information inside of your CSV record.

On the other hand, there are extra possible choices than most effective first-party WooCommerce extensions. You’ll be able to additionally use third-party plugins to assist export WooCommerce merchandise. We’ll talk about this, and the best way to export the usage of a plugin, within the ultimate segment.

How To Export WooCommerce Merchandise and Orders With a Plugin

For the reason that a plugin would possibly be offering a greater option to export WooCommerce merchandise, you’ll to find various them available on the market. Subsequent, we’re going to run down various plugins available on the market to provide you with a taste of what’s on be offering.

From there, we’ll get into the best way to export WooCommerce merchandise the usage of this sort of answers, evaluating this to the local manner.

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Plugins for Exporting WooCommerce Merchandise

There are myriad plugins to be had in any respect value issues that will help you export WooCommerce merchandise. You’ll additionally to find that in spite of the selection of plugins to be had, a bit of them do one thing other to the remaining.

A plugin corresponding to WP All Import is extra of an all-purpose exporter plugin. The standout characteristic here’s the drag-and-drop editor. This will give you the chance to construct complicated merchandise the usage of an interface very similar to a web page builder. You’ll be able to even design the XML scheme the usage of drag-and-drop, which is implausible when you shudder on the considered breaking out your textual content editor.

The WP All Import plugin's schema editor, showing XML code along with user-defined values and parameters within the code.
The WP All Import XML Editor.

Product Import Export is any other plugin that helps CSV and XML codecs and has high-compatibility with third-party plugins and WooCommerce extensions. It additionally has any other trick up its sleeve.

A green-blue panel for the Product Import Export plugin that lists some of the key features, and includes a WooCommerce logo.
The Product Import Export plugin.

The plugin allows you to arrange more than one Protected Record Switch Protocol (SFTP) channels with the intention to agenda your imports and exports. This has two advantages: First, you’ll be able to switch information in an effective method via SFTP; 2d, you are taking a “hands-off” manner that can scale back mistakes and building up your potency.

Whilst either one of those answers are top rate plugins, you may no longer need to shell out for an answer. WooCommerce Retailer Exporter is a unfastened plugin with a minimalist focal point.

A spreadsheet mockup showing WooCommerce products on a purple background with a text
The WooCommerce Retailer Exporter plugin.

You’ll be able to additionally export to faraway SFTP codecs, in addition to the usage of POST. It is a development-level characteristic that can assist you if you wish to have a customized export resolution. On the other hand, if you wish to use the plugin as a easy export software, there’s a one-click possibility to be had to output a spreadsheet that incorporates your information.

The general plugin is one we’re going to display within the subsequent segment. Complicated Order Export for WooCommerce is solely as simple as WooCommerce Retailer Exporter, with better flexibility relating to its output settings.

The WordPress dashboard, showing the "Export Orders" options, including numerous filters, data range options, and output formats.
The Complicated Order Export plugin’s dashboard.

You get a plethora of output settings that, relying in your wishes, you’ll worth. The standard suspects are there — CSV, XML, and XLS codecs — and there also are PDF and HTML codecs to be had.

You additionally get a tab-separated values (TSV) record structure. Whilst this isn’t as versatile as the power to set the delimiter, it does provide you with an enduring possibility when you experience the usage of that structure in your information.

How To Export WooCommerce Merchandise Step through Step

In fact, the method you’ll take to export WooCommerce merchandise will likely be other relying at the plugin you select. We’re going to make use of the Complicated Order Export for WooCommerce plugin right here, and we’ll talk about one of the vital basic steps for the method.

While you set up and turn on the plugin, you’ll need to search for the related profile settings. Usually, a plugin will permit you to create a devoted export profile. This allows you to save a novel setup to make use of once more.

For Complicated Order Export for WooCommerce, it’s beneath the WooCommerce > Export > Profiles segment:

The WordPress back end, showing the Profiles section to export orders. There is a list of columns, complete with information on formats and data ranges, and also an actions icon menu.
The Export Profiles segment of the plugin.

We will paintings with the Copied from “Export Now” profile — when you click on it, you’ll come to an in depth display screen with the fields you wish to have with the intention to entire an export on your liking:

The full profiles screen, showing export data ranges, bulk action settings, filter settings, and more within WordPress.
The Export Orders display screen appearing a unmarried profile.

From right here, you’ll need to modify settings in keeping with the next:

  • Date vary: There will have to be a date vary that fits the information you wish to have to export, and less.
  • Output structure: You’ll need to make a choice the fitting output structure. CSV would be the default for many programs, even though you may want a duplicate in XML too.
  • Columns: The filters permit you to make a selection the columns you export, so this will have to be the place you spend the majority of your consideration.


Complicated Order Export for WooCommerce has myriad filters for you to make a choice the precise vary of your output information. As an example, we now have filters for merchandise weight, whether or not the product is a backorder (as a customized box worth), variable characteristic, and extra:

The Export Order dialog, showing a list of filters and range values, along with format output options, and custom date settings.
Modifying product filters in WordPress.

On the other hand, this doesn’t prohibit the selection of columns you’ll see to your spreadsheet. For this plugin, you’ll open up the “Arrange fields to export” menu:

A list of green fields with attributes for an individual product, and a purple "Remove all fields" button.
The Box Export record in WordPress.

While you set those, it’s a good suggestion to avoid wasting your adjustments and profile for long run use. From there, you’ll be able to run an export.

For this plugin, you’ll use the WooCommerce > Export Orders > Export Now display screen if you wish to have a snappy basic export, or the Export button on the backside of a profile if you wish to have that individual one:

The bottom of an export profile, showing a number of buttons including the Export option.
The Export button inside of WordPress.

This will likely save a CSV record on your pc that incorporates the information export:

A Google Sheets document showing the data export from WordPress, including the columns set in the export dialog screen.
A Google Sheets report that incorporates the export information from WordPress.

While you perform your adjustments, you’ll be able to save and import the spreadsheet again into WooCommerce and WordPress with out fuss.

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Abstract

The power to get information out of and into WooCommerce is a basic and very important one. As such, WooCommerce provides local tactics to do each. Whilst the integrated uploading procedure is easy, intuitive, and fairly error-free, the local export capability isn’t at all times the most efficient manner.

This publish has checked out the usage of plugins to export WooCommerce merchandise, and the excellent news is there are many answers to be had. After you have your CSV record, you’ll be able to open it in Google Sheets, Excel, or even a textual content editor to check it. From there, you’ll be able to import the record again into WooCommerce and replace your merchandise.

Do you export WooCommerce merchandise frequently, and if that is so, what’s your technique? Tell us within the feedback segment underneath!

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