---
title: Managing Product EANs and Choosing a Type
description: Choose the right EAN or GTIN type for WooCommerce products and assign an EAN to each product.
url: "https://wpfactory.com/docs/woocommerce-ean-management/"
updated: "2026-09-27"
category: How to
tags:
  - EAN and Barcodes for WooCommerce
---

# Managing Product EANs and Choosing a Type

To choose an EAN type in EAN for WooCommerce, go to WPFactory > EAN (also reachable at WooCommerce > Settings > EAN), open the General section, and set Type (default EAN-13), or pick Automatic for mixed catalogs. To add a code to a product, open it and fill in the EAN field, which sits in the Inventory tab by default.

[![EAN options in EAN for WooCommerce](https://wpfactory.com/wp-content/uploads/image51-1-1024x463.png)](https://wpfactory.com/wp-content/uploads/image51-1.png)

### Where to set the type

Go to **WPFactory > EAN** (also reachable at **WooCommerce > Settings > EAN**) and open the **General** section. The **Type** option (`alg_wc_ean_type`, default **EAN-13**) controls validation, the input pattern, structured data, and 1D barcodes.

### Supported EAN and GTIN types

| Type | Length | Typical use |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Automatic | Detected | Picks EAN-13, UPC-A, EAN-8, ISBN-13, JAN, or EAN-14 by length |
| EAN-8 | 8 | Small items |
| UPC-A | 12 | Most common in the United States |
| EAN-13 | 13 | Most common global standard |
| ISBN-13 | 13 | Books (prefix 978 or 979) |
| JAN | 13 | Japan (prefix 45 or 49) |
| EAN-14 | 14 | Trade item packaging levels |
| Custom | Any | Any of the 128 ASCII characters |

### Choosing the right type

- Pick **Automatic** if your catalog mixes standards or you are unsure.
- Pick a specific type if all your codes follow one format, so validation is stricter.

### Assigning an EAN to a product

1. Open a product for editing.
2. Find the **EAN** field. By default it sits in the **Inventory** tab next to the SKU (option `alg_wc_ean_backend_position`, default **Inventory: SKU**). You can move it to General, Inventory, or Advanced.
3. Type the code. With **Check if valid** enabled, the plugin verifies the check digit as you type.
4. Save the product.

**Note:** for variable products, set the EAN on each variation. If a variation has no EAN, the plugin falls back to the parent product's EAN.

### Where the EAN is stored

The EAN is saved in product meta under the key `_alg_ean` (configurable at **Advanced > Meta key**, option `alg_wc_ean_meta_key`). Use this key when importing, exporting, or mapping product feeds.

### Get more from EAN for WooCommerce

Storing and validating EANs is free. [EAN for WooCommerce](https://wpfactory.com/item/ean-barcodes-woocommerce/) Pro adds barcode images, PDF label printing, and extra identifier fields such as MPN. [See what Pro unlocks](https://wpfactory.com/item/ean-barcodes-woocommerce/).

Related articles

- [Import and Export Product EANs with the WooCommerce CSV Tools](https://wpfactory.com/docs/import-export-product-eans/)
- [Add EAN to Product Structured Data (GTIN for Google)](https://wpfactory.com/docs/ean-structured-data-gtin/)
- [How to Generate EANs for All Products](https://wpfactory.com/docs/ean-generate-tool/)
- [Bulk EAN Management with the Product Tools](https://wpfactory.com/docs/woocommerce-ean-toolkit/)
- [Automate EANs with Product Actions and Bulk Actions](https://wpfactory.com/docs/ean-product-actions/)

 

[![EAN, UPC, ISBN Generator: Product Barcode Inventory for WooCommerce](https://wpfactory.com/wp-content/uploads/EAN-for-WooCommerce.webp)](https://wpfactory.com/item/ean-barcodes-woocommerce/)