Quick checklist (what we’ll cover)
Enable and configure stock management
Update product stock and SKU
Set up product categories and tags
Import and export products in bulk
1) Enabling Inventory Management
WooCommerce allows both global stock management and per-product stock control.
Global stock settings
Go to WooCommerce → Settings → Products → Inventory
Configure:
Manage stock: enable automatic stock management
Hold stock (minutes): how long to reserve stock for unpaid orders
Low stock threshold / Out of stock threshold
Notifications: enable stock email alerts for admin
Out of stock visibility: hide out-of-stock items from the catalog
Click Save changes when done.
Per-product stock settings
When editing a product:
Go to Product Data → Inventory
Options include:
SKU (Stock Keeping Unit): unique identifier
Manage stock? toggle on to track quantity
Stock quantity: current stock number
Allow backorders: choose if customers can order when stock is 0
Stock status: In stock / Out of stock / On backorder
Click update or publish to Save changes when done.
Tip: Always use SKUs for easier tracking and syncing with external tools (POS, ERP, etc.).
2) Organizing Products with Categories and Tags
Well-structured categories and tags make products easier to find — both for customers and for internal management.
Product Categories
Go to Products → Categories
Add category name, slug (URL-friendly name), parent category (if any), and optional image.
Example:
Parent: Clothing
Subcategories: Men, Women, Accessories
Assign categories to products under Product Data → Product Categories or from the right sidebar in the product editor.
Best practice: Use broad parent categories and avoid creating too many subcategories unless truly needed.
Product Tags
Tags are optional but useful for grouping similar products or search filters.
Add or select tags in the right sidebar under Product Tags.
Example: “summer”, “new arrival”, “cotton”.
Tags are flexible, while categories define your main structure. Use both strategically.
Assigning Categories and Tags to Products
Go to Products → All Products → Edit (any product)
On the right you will find boxes for product categories and product tags.
Check on the category you want for the product.
Type the tag you want for the product.
Click update or publish.
3) Importing and Exporting Products in Bulk
WooCommerce includes a built-in CSV importer and exporter to manage products quickly.
Exporting Products
Go to Products → All Products
Click the Export button (top of the page)
Choose which columns to export (e.g., name, SKU, stock, price)
Download the CSV file
Importing Products
Go to Products → All Products → Import
Upload a CSV file with product data
Match CSV columns to WooCommerce fields (name, SKU, price, etc.)
Run the importer
Tip: You can use the exported CSV file as a template for future imports.
Bulk Editing (alternative)
For small edits:
In Products → All Products, select multiple items
Choose Bulk actions → Edit
Update stock, categories, or prices for multiple products at once
4) Common Troubleshooting & Tips
Stock not updating automatically? Ensure “Manage stock” is enabled both globally and per product.
Duplicate SKUs? Each SKU must be unique — duplicates can cause syncing issues.
Import errors? Verify the CSV format (UTF-8) and column names match WooCommerce fields.
5) Short FAQs
Q: Can I manage stock for variable product variations?
A: Yes. Each variation can have its own stock quantity under Product Data → Variations.
Q: Can I bulk import images?
A: Yes, include image URLs in the CSV file under the “Images” column.
Q: Can I disable stock management for certain products?
A: Yes, uncheck “Manage stock?” per product — it’ll always appear as in stock.