--- title: Common Issues and Solutions for Product XML Feeds description: Product XML feed returning 404, missing products, custom meta filter or custom_function not working? Common causes and fixes. url: "https://wpfactory.com/docs/common-issues-fixes/" updated: "2026-09-27" category: Troubleshooting tags: - Product XML Feeds for WooCommerce --- # Common Issues and Solutions for Product XML Feeds Most feed problems in [Product XML Feeds Manager for WooCommerce](https://wpfactory.com/item/product-xml-feeds-woocommerce/) come from file permissions, scheduling, or a template detail. If the feed URL returns 404 or an old file, open WPFactory > Product XML Feeds, click Save changes, then Create now. If a red access warning appears, make the target directory writable or change the XML file path and name. ## The feed URL returns 404 or shows an old file 1. Open the feed section at **WPFactory > Product XML Feeds** (also reachable at **WooCommerce > Settings > Product XML Feeds**). 2. Click **Save changes**, then **Create now** to generate the file immediately. 3. Check the **XML file path and name**. The URL shown on screen is where the file is served from; make sure that is the URL you gave your marketplace. ## "Plugin doesn't have access to..." appears in red The plugin writes the feed file into your WordPress root by default. If that directory is not writable, the settings screen shows a red warning and no file is created. Ask your host to make the target directory writable, or set **XML file path and name** to a folder the web server can write to. ## The feed is empty or missing products - Confirm the feed's **Enable/Disable** toggle is on. - Review **Products Filtering Options**. An include filter (products, categories or tags) restricts the feed to only those items; clear it to include everything. - Check **Total products**: a non-zero value caps the number of products. Set it to 0 for all. - For variable products, set **Variable products** to match what your marketplace expects (variable only, variations only, or both). ## The scheduled update does not run on time Automatic updates use WordPress cron (WP-Cron), which only fires when your site receives traffic. On a quiet store, "Update every minute" or "Hourly" may lag. For reliable timing, use the **Manual Cron Job Command** shown in the feed section with a real server cron, and enable **Turn off WP schedule** for that feed. Note that changing the update frequency requires Pro; the free version updates weekly. ## Generation times out or runs out of memory on a large store 1. Go to the **General** section and open **Advanced Options**. 2. Lower **Block size for products query** (for example from 512 to 128) so fewer products are processed per loop. 3. Raise **PHP time limit** (or set it to 0 for no limit) and, if your host allows it, **PHP memory limit**. 4. Enable **Ajax feed creation** so the file is built in the background with a progress bar. ## Template tags show as text instead of data Templates use shortcodes. If a shortcode appears literally in the output, check the spelling against the [Shortcodes for generating XML fields](https://wpfactory.com/docs/shortcodes-for-generating-xml-fields/) reference. If your XML tags are being stripped, review the **"Raw" input** option: when it is enabled, write real `<` and `>` tags; when disabled, use `{` and `}`. ## Products with a custom status are missing By default a feed includes published products only. If you use an extra product status, for example a "Discontinued" status added by another plugin, open the feed and select that status in **General Options > Products status**. The list shows every status registered on your site. Leave it empty to include products of all statuses. This option is free. ## The custom meta filter only works with "=" **Custom meta filter** (Pro, in **Extra Products Filtering Options**) takes a meta key, a comparison and a value separated by commas. Write it **without spaces around the commas**, for example `_stock,>,0`. The parts are not trimmed, so a comparison typed as `>` with spaces is not recognized and WordPress falls back to an "equals" match, which is why only `=` seems to work. - Values are compared as text, not numbers. `_stock,>,0` is reliable for "has stock", but a test such as `_stock,>,9` can skip products with 10 or more. - To export only products that track stock and have units left, combine **Stock status** set to **In stock** with `_stock,>,0`. **Stock status** alone also includes in-stock products that do not track a quantity. ## A custom_function attribute stopped working after an update For security, the `custom_function` attribute now runs only functions that you allow-list. Any other function name is ignored and the shortcode prints its normal value, for example the plain product ID for `[alg_product_id custom_function="my_function"]`. Add your function to the allow-list in your theme's `functions.php` or a code snippets plugin: ``` add_filter( 'alg_allowed_custom_functions', function ( $functions ) { $functions[] = 'my_function'; return $functions; } ); ``` The function receives the shortcode's value as its only argument and its return value is printed. To output a calculated value, such as price minus cost, use `[alg_product_id custom_function="my_function"]` and calculate everything inside `my_function( $product_id )`. The allow-list is also listed in the [developer hooks and filters reference](https://wpfactory.com/docs/product-xml-feeds-developer-hooks-filters/). ## Still stuck? Our team answers every ticket on the [Product XML Feeds support forum](https://wpfactory.com/support/item/product-xml-feeds-woocommerce/). Include your feed settings and a link to the generated file so we can reproduce the issue quickly. Related articles - [How to Add WooCommerce Brands to a Product XML Feed](https://wpfactory.com/docs/xml-feed-woocommerce-brands/) - [How to Create a WooCommerce Product XML Feed: Getting Started](https://wpfactory.com/docs/intro-how-to-use-woocommerce-product-xml-feeds-manager/) - [Shortcodes Guide for Product XML Feeds](https://wpfactory.com/docs/woocommerce-xml-feeds/) - [Configuring WooCommerce Product XML Feed #1](https://wpfactory.com/docs/configuring-woocommerce-feed/) - [General Settings for a WooCommerce Product XML Feed](https://wpfactory.com/docs/product-xml-feed-setup/)   [![Product XML Feeds for WooCommerce](https://wpfactory.com/wp-content/uploads/Product-XML-Feeds-for-WooCommerce.webp)](https://wpfactory.com/item/product-xml-feeds-woocommerce/)