How to Import WooCommerce Products? (Using a Free Plugin)

This article explains how to import products to WooCommerce from a CSV file. We will also highlight the clear benefits of using plugins for bulk product imports during a store migration.

So, you decided to move your online store. With so many products to transfer, it might seem a bit overwhelming. There are obvious difficulties with migrating products and their particulars. But no worries.

We’re here to make the migration process smooth and stress-free. Our Product Import Export Plugin for WooCommerce plugin is a lifesaver in this process, handling the heavy lifting of data transfer with the least chance of errors. It essentially simplifies and automates the migration process.

If your products are organized in a spreadsheet as a CSV file, our plugin makes importing them to your WooCommerce store fast and easy, saving you valuable time and effort.

In this article, we’ll show you how to import products from a CSV file to your WooCommerce store using our Product Import Export plugin.

Let’s get started.

Transferring your WooCommerce products can occur for several reasons. One reason is that you have switched to a new platform and don’t want to start from scratch.

Migration, like importing data, ensures that your products and their linked particulars, such as descriptions, pricing, images, etc., get smoothly carried over to the new platform. And plugins are the right option to save your day. Here’s how they ease the data migration process:

• Automates Tasks – Plugins like our Product Import Export Plugin for WooCommerce take the manual effort out of migration. You can set the conditions for imports, selectively choosing products, and they automatically transfer product data. This frees you more time to focus on other aspects of your store or migration.

• Zero Coding Required – Plugins feature easily navigable interfaces that guide you through the migration step-by-step. You don’t need coding or technical expertise, as plugins have clearly defined pathways that make the process smooth and hassle-free.

• Error-free – Plugins are designed to handle extensive product data sets, ensuring quick imports with minimal downtime while keeping your product inventory intact. There’s no need to manually enter product data, which reduces errors and missing information.

Once you have your CSV file ready, follow the below steps to import products to WooCommerce using the free WooCommerce product import export plugin.

Once you have your CSV file ready, follow the below steps to import products to WooCommerce using the free WooCommerce product import export plugin.

Step 1: Install & Activate WebToffee Product Importer Plugin

1. From your WordPress dashboard side panel, go to Plugins > Add New Plugin.
2. In the search bar, enter “Product Import Export for WooCommerce.”
3. Click Install. Once done, Activate the plugin on your WordPress dashboard.

Step 2: Select Post Type

Now that the plugin is active, a new menu, WebToffee Import Export (Basic), will appear on your admin panel’s sidebar.

So, let’s look at how to import products to your store. For this:

1. Go to – WebToffee Import Export (Basic) > Import in the admin side panel.
2. Select the post type as Product and click Select import method.

Step 3: Choose an Import Method

Next, select the method for importing your products. There are two options: Quick import and Advanced import.

You can use the Quick import option if you have used the same plugin to export the input file. Here, let’s focus on the Advanced import method, which has advanced options that give you more control over the import process.

1. Now, drag and drop or upload the input CSV file.
2. From the Delimiter drop-down, select a character (e.g., comma, semi-colon, tab) to separate columns in the CSV file.
3. Then click the Map import columns button to proceed.

Step 4: Reorder Columns of Products CSV File

Now, you need to map the import column headers of the input CSV file to match the WooCommerce product fields.

Columns are matched automatically if a matching header name is found in the input CSV file. If the input file header lacks an exact name or if you need to change any mapping, you can do so by:

1. Clicking the file columns and choosing a header name from the drop-down.
2. Once done, click on Advanced options/Batch import.

You can also fix and update a particular mapping field for your products. To learn more, check out our help documentation.

Step 4: Advanced Options for Importing Products to WooCommerce

Next, there are a range of options that you can decide on:

• Update the existing products in your store.
• Import new products from the input file.
• Set the number of products to import in a single batch.

You can choose to skip these and proceed to the next step.

You can also save the steps that you used to import products as a template.

1. Click Save template to save your import configuration for future use. This way, you can reuse the template without setting it up manually the next time.
2. Once done, click Import to import your WooCommerce products from a CSV file.

That’s it. After the import is completed, a pop-up will appear showing the import status, such as the number of successful imports and any failed imports.

Opting for the pro version of the Product Import Export plugin unlocks more advanced features for exporting your product data than those offered in the free version.

Although the steps for the import process remain the same, the premium version gives you more control over product import with features like:

• Support for importing variable and subscription products
• Import custom fields (meta), third-party plugin fields, and hidden meta
• Ability to import files from Excel, CSV, XML, and TSV formats
• Advanced filtering and customization options
• Support for product import via FTP/SFTP
• Schedule automatic imports using WordPress/Server Cron

When moving to another platform, you must import products and all their particulars into your online store. If you have a large product catalog, these import migrations can be laborious and time-consuming.

That’s where the right plugin makes all the difference. Our Product Import Export Plugin for WooCommerce is built to simplify this task, making your product import smoother and quick.

We hope this article has provided you with a clear understanding of the steps involved in importing your products.

You can refer to our detailed documentation for more information.

We also encourage you to share your thoughts in the comments below and join the conversation!