How to fix it
- Open the file in your spreadsheet program and save or download it as CSV (choose "CSV UTF-8" if it is offered).
- Check that the file name ends in .csv, not .csv.xlsx or .numbers, including the path you typed under "Show advanced options".
- Upload the new .csv file on Products, Import.
Example
A file with this problem (named products.xlsx)
Name,SKU,Regular price Mug,MUG-1,12.00
What the checker says about it
- The file is called "products.xlsx". WooCommerce only accepts .csv and .txt files. On a normal upload WordPress refuses it with "Sorry, you are not allowed to upload this file type."; with a file path on the server WooCommerce says "Invalid file type. The importer supports CSV and TXT file formats." Save or download it as CSV first.
Once the listed rows are fixed, check the file again; the checker also looks for the other problems in WooCommerce's import code, so you do not trade one error for the next.
Questions
- What does "Invalid file type. The importer supports CSV and TXT file formats." mean in WooCommerce?
- WooCommerce's product importer only opens files that end in .csv or .txt. This exact message appears when you enter the path of a file already on your server (under "Show advanced options") and that file is not .csv or .txt. On a normal upload from your computer, WordPress refuses such a file first, with "Sorry, you are not allowed to upload this file type." A file that WordPress lets through but WooCommerce still rejects gets "Invalid file type for a CSV import."
- How do I fix it?
- Open the file in your spreadsheet program and save or download it as CSV (choose "CSV UTF-8" if it is offered). Check that the file name ends in .csv, not .csv.xlsx or .numbers, including the path you typed under "Show advanced options". Upload the new .csv file on Products, Import.
Other WooCommerce import errors
- The file is empty or using a different encoding than UTF-8, please try again with a new file.
- The uploaded file exceeds the upload_max_filesize directive in php.ini.
- A product with this SKU already exists.
- A product with this ID already exists.
- Invalid product type.
- Variation cannot be imported: Missing parent ID or parent does not exist yet.
- All checks
Sources
- WooCommerce 11.2.2 source: class-wc-product-csv-importer-controller.php: https://github.com/woocommerce/woocommerce/blob/11.2.2/plugins/woocommerce/includes/admin/importers/class-wc-product-csv-importer-controller.php
- WooCommerce 11.2.2 source: class-wc-product-csv-importer.php: https://github.com/woocommerce/woocommerce/blob/11.2.2/plugins/woocommerce/includes/import/class-wc-product-csv-importer.php
Based on WooCommerce 11.2.2's import code and documentation. Not tested on a live store.