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Import and Export Product EANs with the WooCommerce CSV Tools

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Importing and exporting product EANs lets you move GTINs in and out of your store in bulk using the built-in WooCommerce product CSV importer and exporter. EAN for WooCommerce adds an EAN column to both tools automatically, and this is a free feature.

How EANs are stored #

Each product’s EAN is saved in product meta under the _alg_ean key. The plugin registers an EAN column on the WooCommerce exporter and an EAN mapping option on the importer, so you do not have to touch the meta key by hand.

Export product EANs #

  1. Go to WooCommerce > Products > Export.
  2. In Which columns should be exported?, leave it on all columns or add the EAN column.
  3. Click Generate CSV. The EAN of every product appears in the EAN column.

Import product EANs #

  1. Prepare a CSV with a column holding each product’s EAN. Naming the column EAN lets WooCommerce map it automatically.
  2. Go to WooCommerce > Products > Import and choose your file.
  3. On the Column mapping screen, make sure your EAN column is mapped to EAN. If it is not matched automatically, pick EAN from the dropdown.
  4. Run the importer. The value is saved to the _alg_ean meta key on each product.

Note: if you changed the meta key at Advanced > Meta key (alg_wc_ean_meta_key), the EAN column still maps through the plugin, so import and export keep working with your custom key.

Migrating from another plugin’s key #

If your EANs are currently stored under a different meta key (for example from another GTIN plugin), you do not need a spreadsheet round trip. Use WPFactory > EAN > Tools > Copy from product meta (alg_wc_ean_tool_product[copy_meta]) to copy values from any meta key into the EAN field for all products at once.

Related #

Get more from EAN for WooCommerce #

CSV import and export of EANs is free. EAN for WooCommerce Pro adds 1D and 2D barcode images, PDF label printing, and extra identifier fields per product. See what Pro unlocks.