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The importer handles new catalogs, updates matched by ID or SKU, images, and variable products. The result depends on a correctly formatted schema, exact parent and attribute data, and a deliberate check of the import report and product editor afterward.
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WooCommerce reads each row of a CSV as a product or variation, then writes the values into the corresponding product fields. The workflow is intentionally simple: select a file, review the proposed column mapping, correct anything WooCommerce did not recognize, and submit the import. A CSV can describe simple, variable, grouped, external, variation, virtual, and downloadable products.
The built-in tool is best for a clean catalog creation or a controlled update where each row has a reliable product identity. Complex merge rules, repeated imports from a source system, or variation sets that cannot be ordered reliably may justify a dedicated import extension or service. Those tools should be evaluated against the same identity, image, merge, backup, and version requirements described below.
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Prepare a WooCommerce-compatible CSV
Save the file as UTF-8
Export or save the file with UTF-8 character encoding. This preserves accented names, currency symbols, and non-English descriptions. A file saved in another encoding can produce garbled text even when the columns appear correct in a spreadsheet.
Use the WooCommerce product schema
Keep the columns that describe the catalog rather than relying on arbitrary headings. The usual core data includes:
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- Type, SKU, and Name
- Publication and status fields
- Short and full descriptions
- Regular and sale prices
- Stock and inventory settings
- Categories and tags
- Attributes and variation relationships
- Images
WooCommerce can leave an unfamiliar heading unmapped. On the mapping screen, assign it to the correct field only when its contents really match that field; otherwise choose Do not import.
Follow the value rules
- Boolean fields use
1or0, not words such as “yes” and “no.” - Multiple values are comma-separated and must be quoted so the commas stay inside one CSV cell.
- Taxonomy hierarchy uses
>. For example, a child category can be represented asClothing > Shirts. - An existing record can be referenced with the
id:prefix, such asid:123. - Custom metadata is plain text only. Serialized data is not supported by the product CSV importer.
Check delimiters, line breaks, and quotation marks in a plain-text editor if a spreadsheet has rearranged the file. A malformed quote can shift every value after it into the wrong column.
Keep identifiers stable
Give every product and every variation a dependable SKU when your source system has one. For updates, include the WooCommerce product ID or SKU that identifies the existing record. Avoid changing an SKU casually between exports: a changed identifier can turn an intended update into a new product.
Import new products step by step
- Open the importer. In the WordPress dashboard, go to Products > All Products > Import.
- Select the file. Choose the prepared CSV or TXT file from your computer and continue.
- Review the column mapping. WooCommerce suggests a destination for each heading. Open the destination selector for any incorrect field, choose the matching product property, and set irrelevant or unknown columns to Do not import.
- Leave updates disabled for a new catalog. Do not select Update existing products unless you deliberately want rows that match an existing identity to be changed.
- Run the import. Select Run the importer after checking the mapping.
- Keep the page open. Do not refresh the browser tab or navigate away while rows are being processed. Wait for the completion report.
- Read the report. Note created rows, updated rows, warnings, and skipped rows before closing the screen.
A new-product file should contain one parent row for each standalone or variable product and one row for each variation where applicable. Do not place an old product ID in a file intended solely to create new records.
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Update products already in the store
Enable the update option intentionally
To modify existing products, select Update existing products during the import. The importer then looks for a matching identity in each row. A supplied product ID or SKU is used for that match; values in the remaining columns are applied to the matched product.
Make a small test export or test file first. Include only the fields you intend to change when possible, and map every other column to Do not import rather than sending accidental blanks or stale values.
GTIN, UPC, EAN, and ISBN matching in WooCommerce 11.2 and later
WooCommerce 11.2 added another matching option. A mapped GTIN, UPC, EAN, or ISBN can identify a product only when both ID and SKU are blank. If a row supplies an ID or SKU, that identifier takes precedence over the product code.
| Identifiers supplied in the row | Identifier WooCommerce uses | Practical implication |
|---|---|---|
| ID and SKU | ID or SKU matching, with supplied product identity taking precedence | Use the value that unambiguously identifies the existing record. |
| Only SKU | SKU | The SKU must be unique in the store. |
| Only GTIN, UPC, EAN, or ISBN (WooCommerce 11.2+) | The mapped product code | Leave both ID and SKU blank for this fallback. |
| No supported identity | No reliable existing-product match | Do not treat the row as an update until an identifier is supplied. |
Do not assume a product-code column will override an ID or SKU. The precedence rule prevents an ambiguous row from silently updating the wrong product.
Import variable products and variations
One-import conversion in WooCommerce 11.1 and later
WooCommerce 11.1 introduced a one-import route for converting an existing simple product to variable and creating eligible variations. The parent row must appear before its variation rows in the CSV. The required pattern is:
- Set the parent row’s
Typetovariable. - Set each child row’s
Typetovariation. - Leave new variation IDs empty.
- Give every variation a unique SKU.
- Set
Parentto the parent SKU or to an ID in the formid:123. - Make the attribute names and nonempty values on each variation match the parent’s attributes and options exactly.
“Exactly” includes spelling, capitalization, spacing, and the chosen attribute name. A parent using Size with options S, M, and L will not reliably connect a child row that uses a different name or an option with different text.
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When to use two imports
Use separate imports when the file cannot guarantee parent-before-child order or when the store is running an earlier WooCommerce version. First create or convert the parent products and confirm their attributes. Then import the variation rows with the parent identifier and unique SKUs. This adds a verification point and avoids asking one pass to resolve a parent that has not yet been created.
Illustrative row layout
The following shortened example shows the relationship. Map the headings to the corresponding WooCommerce fields in your file; keep multiple attribute options quoted in the actual CSV.
Type,SKU,Name,Parent,Regular price,Attribute 1 name,Attribute 1 value(s)
variable,TSHIRT-001,Classic T-shirt,,24.00,Size,"S,M,L"
variation,TSHIRT-001-S,,TSHIRT-001,24.00,Size,S
variation,TSHIRT-001-M,,TSHIRT-001,24.00,Size,MThe parent row comes first, each variation has its own SKU, and the child’s Parent value points to the parent SKU. Add the other required product, stock, status, and attribute columns for your catalog.
Verify the variation result
After the import, open the product editor and select the Variations tab. Confirm that the product is marked variable, the expected variation count is present, and each variation that should sell is published, priced, enabled, and selectable. A row can exist in the database yet remain unavailable to shoppers if one of those settings is incomplete.
Import product images
Image values must point to media WooCommerce can access. You can use an image that is already in the media library by referencing its existing filename, or provide an external URL that WooCommerce can retrieve and import into the media library. The source must be available when the importer runs; a private, expired, or blocked URL cannot be fetched successfully.
Place image values in the Images column and check the mapping screen before submission. If several images belong to one product, keep them together according to the schema’s multiple-value rule and quote the cell so separators are not interpreted as new CSV columns.
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After completion, open representative products and check the featured image, gallery order, and image association. A successful product row does not prove that every remote image downloaded correctly.
Map fields without overwriting data accidentally
| CSV content | Map to | Check before running |
|---|---|---|
| Product kind such as simple, variable, or variation | Type | Parent and child rows use the intended types. |
| Store identity | ID or SKU | Update rows contain the correct existing identifier. |
| Product or variation title | Name | Variation rows do not accidentally replace a parent name. |
| Parent relationship | Parent | Use the parent SKU or an id:-prefixed ID. |
| Price and inventory values | Regular price, sale price, stock fields | Numeric formats and stock settings match the store’s needs. |
| Category or tag paths | Categories or Tags | Use > for hierarchy and quote cells containing multiple values. |
| Attribute definitions and options | Attribute fields | Variation names and nonempty options match the parent exactly. |
| Remote or library image references | Images | URLs are reachable or filenames already exist in the media library. |
| Unrelated source-system columns | Do not import | Do not map internal notes or unsupported serialized metadata. |
Mapping is not merely a cosmetic review. A correctly spelled heading can still contain the wrong type of value, and an unmapped field is safer than a guessed mapping that changes live products.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Validate the catalog after importing
Use the completion report as the first check, then inspect the store as a customer would. Work through this list:
- Confirm the number of created and updated rows is plausible.
- Open a sample of simple products and compare names, descriptions, prices, status, categories, stock, and images with the source file.
- Open variable products in the Variations tab and check parent links, attribute options, prices, enabled status, and purchasability.
- Search for duplicate SKUs, especially among variations.
- Test a category and tag hierarchy that used the
>separator. - Open product pages in a logged-out browser and test selecting an option and adding it to the cart.
- Review image thumbnails and the media library for failed downloads or unintended duplicates.
Use a representative sample rather than checking only the first row. Include products with long descriptions, multiple categories, several images, non-ASCII characters, and more than one variation.
Back up before high-risk imports
Create a current backup or run the job on a staging copy before converting products or importing a complex variation set. A staging test reveals mapping errors without changing the production catalog, while a backup gives you a recovery point if an update matches more rows than intended.
Keep the original CSV, the mapping decisions, and the importer report together. That record makes it possible to identify which source values were sent and which rows were skipped if you need to correct and rerun the job.
Troubleshoot skipped rows and incorrect results
Rows are skipped
Start with the import report rather than rerunning immediately. For variation rows, verify that every SKU is unique, the Parent value points to an existing or earlier parent, the parent row precedes its children when using the one-import method, and attribute names and nonempty values match exactly. For ordinary products, check that required identity and type fields are present and that malformed quoting has not shifted columns.
Rows create products instead of updating them
Confirm that Update existing products was selected and that the row contains the intended ID or SKU. If relying on GTIN, UPC, EAN, or ISBN in WooCommerce 11.2 or later, remove both ID and SKU from that row; either one takes precedence when present. Check for whitespace or spelling differences in the identifier.
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Open the product’s Variations tab. Check that the parent is variable, each child has the correct parent, an exact attribute option, a price, an enabled status, and a published state. A variation missing any of those values may appear in the editor but not as a selectable purchase option.
Images are missing
Test the external URL in a browser without authentication, or verify that the referenced filename is already in the media library. Correct inaccessible URLs, rerun only the image-related rows when practical, and inspect the media library for import errors.
Text or categories are wrong
Reopen the source file in a UTF-8-aware editor. Check that multiple values are quoted, hierarchy uses >, and boolean columns contain 1 or 0. Correct the source and mapping rather than trying to repair dozens of products manually.
Built-in importer or a dedicated extension?
The built-in tool is usually sufficient when the file already follows WooCommerce’s schema and the job is a one-time creation or a straightforward update. A dedicated extension or managed import service becomes more useful when you need repeatable merges, complex variation transformations, or operational controls beyond the core screen.
| Decision area | Built-in WooCommerce importer | Extension or service |
|---|---|---|
| New catalog creation | Suitable for schema-compliant rows. | Useful when the source format needs transformation before import. |
| Existing-product updates | Matches by ID or SKU; WooCommerce 11.2+ can use a mapped GTIN, UPC, EAN, or ISBN when ID and SKU are blank. | May provide additional matching or merge rules; verify the exact behavior. |
| Simple versus variable products | Supports both, with parent-before-child requirements for the WooCommerce 11.1 one-import variation path. | Can help restructure complex variation data; confirm version compatibility. |
| Images and external URLs | Can import reachable external URLs into the media library and reference existing filenames. | May add queueing or retry controls; check how failures are reported. |
| Merge capability | Basic row mapping and update behavior. | Potentially stronger for recurring merges, but rules differ by product. |
| Staging and backups | Relies on your WordPress backup or staging process. | Some services include operational safeguards; confirm what is actually provided. |
| Version compatibility | Behavior follows the WooCommerce version installed, including the 11.1 and 11.2 changes. | Check that the extension supports the installed WooCommerce and WordPress versions. |
Do not choose a tool solely because it accepts CSV. The decisive question is whether it preserves your identifiers, parent relationships, attributes, images, and recovery plan.
Pre-flight checklist
- Export or save the file as UTF-8.
- Use WooCommerce field names or map every heading manually.
- Confirm booleans are
1or0, multi-value cells are quoted, and taxonomy paths use>. - Remove serialized custom metadata; only plain-text custom meta is supported.
- Decide whether this is a new import or an update before selecting the update checkbox.
- For updates, verify ID, SKU, or the WooCommerce 11.2+ product-code rule.
- For variations, put the parent first, use unique variation SKUs, and match attribute names and options exactly.
- Confirm image URLs are reachable or filenames exist in the media library.
- Create a backup or use staging for conversions and complex variation sets.
- Keep the importer page open and save the completion report.
Bottom line
For a correctly prepared file, the path is Products > All Products > Import, followed by careful mapping and Run the importer. Treat identifiers, variation order, exact attributes, and image availability as data integrity requirements—not optional cleanup—and verify the resulting products before exposing the full catalog to shoppers.
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