---
title: How to Schedule a WooCommerce Product Import from Excel with a Cron Job
description: "Schedule WooCommerce product imports from Excel with a cron job: host the file at a public URL and save a mapping."
url: "https://wpfactory.com/docs/how-to-schedule-excel-woocommerce-product-import-via-cron-job/"
updated: "2026-10-05"
category: How to
---

# How to Schedule a WooCommerce Product Import from Excel with a Cron Job

You can automate WooCommerce product imports by scheduling a cron job with [WooCommerce Products Import & Export with Excel](https://wpfactory.com/item/woocommerce-products-import-export-with-excel/). Instead of uploading and mapping a file by hand each time, Products Import & Export with Excel reads an Excel file from a remote URL and imports or updates products in the background, once or on a repeating interval.

Scheduled imports are used mainly to create a large batch of new products in the background, or to keep stock and prices up to date by pointing the schedule at an Excel file that you refresh from a remote location.

### Before you start

- WooCommerce, active.
- [WooCommerce Products Import & Export with Excel](https://wpfactory.com/item/woocommerce-products-import-export-with-excel/), active.
- You must run one manual import first and save the mapping (see step 2). The schedule fields stay hidden until a saved mapping exists.

### Step 1: Host your Excel file at a public URL

Place the .xlsx file somewhere publicly reachable, for example `https://yourwebsite.com/products.xlsx`. You can also use a Google Sheets URL that is published and output as xlsx. You will paste this URL into the schedule settings later.

### Step 2: Save an import mapping template

The scheduled import needs to know how your Excel columns map to product fields. Save that mapping in either of two ways:

- Open **WPFactory > Product Import/Export > Settings** and use the **Products Import Template** sub-tab. This screen detects your WooCommerce product fields, taxonomies, and custom fields; set the Excel column letter for each field and save.
- Or, during a normal manual import on the **Import/Update Products** tab, map your columns and tick **Save Mapping for later use** before you start.

![Products Import Template settings for a scheduled import](https://wpfactory.com/wp-content/uploads/woocommerce-product-import-schedule-template.png)

### Step 3: Configure the schedule

Open **WPFactory > Product Import/Export > Settings** and click the **Products Import Schedule** sub-tab.

![Products Import Schedule settings](https://wpfactory.com/wp-content/uploads/product-import-cron-job-schedule.png)

- Set **Schedule Products Import** to **Yes**.
- Choose the **Schedule Type**: **One Time** or **Recurrent**.
- Enter the **Remote Products Excel URL** from step 1.
- Set the import **date** and **time**.
- For a recurrent import, choose the **Products Import Schedule Frequency**: 1min, 10min, 15min, 30min, 1 hour, 6 hours, 12 hours, Daily, Weekly, or Monthly.
- Optionally enter an email address under **Email info when cron finished** to receive a confirmation when each run completes.
- Save changes.

The import now runs in the background on the schedule you set, saving you from importing products one file at a time.

### Get the most from Products Import & Export with Excel

[WooCommerce Products Import & Export with Excel](https://wpfactory.com/item/woocommerce-products-import-export-with-excel/) can also schedule exports and sync products directly from Google Sheets. [See everything it can do](https://wpfactory.com/item/woocommerce-products-import-export-with-excel/).

Related articles

- [How to Import Affiliate and External Products with Excel](https://wpfactory.com/docs/import-affiliate-external-products-with-excel/)
- [How to Bulk Import WooCommerce Product Translations with Excel for WPML](https://wpfactory.com/docs/how-to-bulk-import-woocommerce-product-translations-with-excel-for-wpml/)
- [How to Import a Variable Product in WooCommerce from One Excel Row](https://wpfactory.com/docs/how-to-import-variable-product-in-woocommerce-with-1-excel-row/)
- [How to Import WooCommerce Products and Assign Category Terms with Excel](https://wpfactory.com/docs/taxonomy-structure-how-to-import-woocommerce-products-and-caterogory-terms-with-excel/)
- [Schedule a WooCommerce Product Export to Excel](https://wpfactory.com/docs/automate-your-product-cron/)