Import Users From A CSV/XML file In A WooCommerce Store

Last updated on May 28, 2023

When you are merging multiple sites and want to automatically shift all users to a new site, the quickest way to accomplish this is by using a plugin to export and import the user data. WordPress User & WooCommerce Customers Import Export Plugin is one of the best plugins that can help you import user data in CSV/XML formats.

Click to download the Sample CSV

To import WordPress users / WooCommerce customers:

Click on WebToffee Import/Export(Pro) > Import

Step 1: Select post type

As a first step, you need to choose the post type as Users/Customers.

Selecting post type as User/Customer while importing user

Step 2: Select the import method

Choose from the below options to continue with your import:

Quick import
Based on a pre-saved template
Advanced import

Let us have a look at each of these import methods:

Quick Import

imports the basic/standard fields of the respective post type.
used primarily when your input file was exported using the same plugin
One can import file from:
1. Local
2. URL
  
  Only URLs that point directly to the CSV/XML files are supported. Make sure the URL is publicly accessible so that anyone with the URL can view and download the file. Use of password-protected file is not permitted.
3. FTP
Click the Import button to complete the action or proceed to Step3 for advanced options.
Navigate to Step 4 to know more about Advanced options/ Batch import/ Scheduling.

From pre-saved template

This method retains the previous filter criteria and other column specifications as per the chosen file and imports data accordingly.
By selecting this option, one can choose a previously saved template from the Import template drop-down.

Note: The template will be listed in the drop down only if you have saved it in previous imports, if you go through the Advanced import, at Step 4 you will get an option to save the template. Once you save that, next time when you want to import a pre-saved template, it will be populated within the drop down.

Click the Import button to complete the action or proceed to Step3 to map columns.
Navigate to Step 3 to know more about mapping import columns.

Advanced Import

This option takes you through a detailed process of filtration, column selection and advanced options.

Note: You can also save this file as a template for future use.

Step 3: Map import columns

Here, one can map and reorder the import columns under the following 3 fields:
1. Default fields: If required, you can edit the column names appearing in this section. On choosing the import method as pre-saved template, you will get the preferred names and choices that were last saved.
2. Meta(custom fields)
3. Hidden meta
Click on Step 4 to proceed.

Evaluate field

Appends a value/expression to an existing item while importing. It basically selects/maps any column from the input file and compute the values with expressions and creates output.

Expression: Any of the operators +*/-()&@ or string constants can be used along with the attributes to manipulate the respective value.
Input: Select the column from the dropdown which has to be modified.
Output: Sample value will be created based on the first record from input file.

Note: Columns that have no values in the input file may cause syntax errors if used in an expression.

Evaluation field in the Import export plugin for WooCommerce

Step 4: Advanced Options/Batch Import/Scheduling

On reaching Step 4, the following window will appear, from where one can:
1. Update Only: If you choose “Yes,” the store will only be updated with data from the input file for matching/existing records in the file. When you choose “No,” the entire data from the input file is processed for an update or insert, depending on the situation.
2. Match users by their: ID, Email, Username
3. If the user exists in the store: One can either Skip or Update the entry.
4. Retain user passwords
5. Email new users: One can Email all the new users upon successful import.

Note: On expanding Advanced options, one can set the number of records that the server will process for every iteration within the configured timeout interval. If the import fails due to timeout you can lower this number accordingly and try again.

Save the template file for future (if needed).

Save template option in the Import export plugin for WooCommerce

Click on Import/Schedule to finish.

Advanced options during import of Users in the import export plugin for WooCommerce

You can either import the users directly into your store or schedule the import.

Option to import and schedule in the Import Export Plugin for WooCommerce

To schedule the import:

Hit the Schedule option, and you will be taken to the cron schedule window as shown below:

Scheduling WordPress Cron in the Import Export plugin for WooCommerce

The plugin supports two different schedule types:

WordPress Cron: Upon a visit, WordPress Cron will check to see if the time/date is later than the scheduled event/s, and if it is– it will fire those events.
- schedules your job at the specified time.
- is dependent on your website visitors.
Server Cron: You may need to trigger the URL every minute depending on the volume of data to be processed.You can use this option :
- to generate a unique URL that can be added to your system in order to trigger the events.
- if you have a separate system to trigger the scheduled events.

Scheduling Server Cron in the Import Export plugin for WooCommerce

Also, you can schedule the import/export on daily, weekly, monthly and custom basis. It is possible to configure the time at which we want to schedule the import.

To directly import:

Hit on the Import option

On successful import, a pop-up window will appear with the import status, including the number of active and failed imports (if any).

To know more : WordPress Users & WooCommerce Customers Import Export Plugin.

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This article posted in Documentation, Import, Knowledge Base, WordPress Users & WooCommerce Customers Import Export and tagged csv file, CSV file utf-8 encoded, export, Import, WordPress users, WordPress Users & WooCommerce Customers Import Export

Written by

Vineetha

Vineetha is a technical content writer with a knack of simplifying complex information into readable content. She focuses on writing content in a conveyable and clear format.

Comments (16)

Dion

June 5, 2023

Could you indicate which fields are mandatory at the least for a successful import?

Reply
- Vineetha
  
  June 7, 2023
  
  Hi Dion,
  Thanks for reaching out! For successful import of users, the only mandatory column is user_email.
  
  Reply
Cathy

February 1, 2023

How can I tell what pre-saved template my scheduled import is using? And how do I clean up old pre-saved templates?

Reply
- Alan
  
  February 21, 2023
  
  Hi Cathy,
  
  Thanks for reaching out to us.
  You can choose the desired pre-saved template before creating the schedule in Step 2.
  In order to delete the existing templates you may please go to the general settings of the plugin and delete it from there.
  
  Reply
pierre

September 21, 2022

Hello,

I tried to import users from a .csv file (UTF-8 encoding, fields separated by commas) but the same error appears every time “skipped: cannot insert user without email.”. But the column user_email exists and is completed.

Can you help me with that ?

Reply
- Alan
  
  September 23, 2022
  
  Hi,
  Can you please reach out to us via support and share the CSV file you used to import so that we can check it?
  
  Reply
Kurt Meyer

February 10, 2022

It seems that when I import a user with a zip code that has a leading zero (01370 for example) the leading zero is lost. Is there a way to keep the leading zero so it displays correctly on the checkout and account details pages? Thanks for any advice.

Reply
- Alan
  
  February 17, 2022
  
  Hi,
  The issue you are facing is that the leading zeroes in the zip code column are excluded when you saved the file. In the spreadsheet applications, the leading zeroes will be automatically removed when the file is saved. ie. the data “000113” will be saved as “113” in the CSV file. We can assure you that the issue is not caused due to the plugin instead it is because of how the data is saved by the spreadsheet application.
  
  Reply
Justus Erima

March 22, 2021

Im trying to import about 2000 subscribers, it goes through successfully but when I open the excel document, it is empty,even though it shows me users import successful

Reply
- Alan
  
  March 31, 2021
  
  Hi,
  
  As per our understanding you are having issue with importing users on your site. Please reach us via support and share your import log.
  
  Reply
ami

March 17, 2021

it imports customers into users section. how can I import into woo customers section?

Reply
- Alan
  
  March 17, 2021
  
  Hi,
  
  The reason why the imported users do not show up under Woocommerce > Customers is because any one user to appear in this section
  (DB view wp_customer_lookup) has to have at least 1 placed order. And freshly imported users have 0 orders.
  So once an imported user places his/her first order, this view will be populated and the the users will show up under
  Woocommerce > Customers
  
  Reply
Markus

March 11, 2021

Hello
I did some test with the customer importer.
I like to import my existing web shop customer from an other system into WP / Woocommerce.
The importer worked fine so far and I saw my customer in WP / Users.

QUESTION:
As “roles” it makes from the improt directly “subscriber”. Should this not be “customer” and if so how can I manage this, with the import to have this set correctly?

Thank you very much for your kind support!

Reply
- Alan
  
  March 16, 2021
  
  Hi,
  
  To import users with the role “customer” please create a column in your file with header “roles” and then specify the data “customer” in those columns so that they will be imported as customers.
  
  Reply
Sven Adam

March 7, 2021

What date format is expected for UNIX timestamp dates in XML import file?

Reply
- Alan
  
  March 8, 2021
  
  Hi,
  
  Please use the date format YYYY-MM-DD(2020-02-17) in the import XML file to import dates.
  
  Reply

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Import Users From A CSV/XML file In A WooCommerce Store

Step 1: Select post type