How to Export WooCommerce Orders? (No Plugin Required)

Many store owners need to export WooCommerce order data to external tools like Google Sheets. This allows them to:

• Analyze order trends
• Build custom reports
• Connect with automation tools

With the basic export feature of WooCommerce comes several other limitations in terms of format, flexibility and automation. Let’s walk through how to export your order data without any plugin. We will also discuss the challenges you might face and when it’s time to consider a dedicated export tool like WPSyncSheets.

Why You May Want to Export WooCommerce Orders?

Exporting WooCommerce orders is about unlocking flexibility, visibility, and control over your store operations. Here’s how exporting orders can support your business:

• Generate accounting and tax reports: Whether it’s end-of-month reporting or annual tax prep, exporting orders allows you to quickly pull data for:
  • revenue summaries
  • tax calculations
  • invoice tracking

All of these without digging through your WooCommerce dashboard.

• Monitor order trends and inventory movement: With order data in tools like Excel or Google Sheets, it becomes much easier to track the following:
  • Which products are moving fast?
  • Which customers are buying what?
  • What trends are you seeing in your average order value?
    
• Collaborate with your team: Spreadsheets make it easier to share order data with your teams, without needing to give them WordPress admin access. You can:
  • Control who sees what by managing sheet access
  • Enable teams to easily filter and explore the data relevant to them
  • Ensure smooth workflows and strong data security
    
• Automate tasks with external tools: Exported order data can feed into automation tools like Zapier or Data Studio. This lets you automate tasks like:
  • Sending order alerts in Slack
  • Triggering follow-up emails
  • Updating a stock report

How to Export WooCommerce Orders Without a Plugin?

In the WordPress Tools section, WooCommerce has a native export option. Here’s how to export WooCommerce orders using the built-in export tool.

1. Log in to your WordPress dashboard.
2. Navigate to Tools > Export.
3. Select Orders from the list.
4. To get your XML file, click on the button: Download Export File. 

This file has all the order data stored in your WooCommerce store. While this method is simple and useful for basic data backup, it falls short for real-world business workflows.

Limitations of Using WooCommerce Built-in Tool to Export Orders

Here’s a closer look at its key limitations:

1. Exports Only in XML Format: Manually convert the exported file into Excel or Google Sheets manually.
2. No Filters or Customization: Orders can’t be exported based on specific date ranges, or statuses.
3. Limited Field Selection: Specific fields or metadata like product details or custom fields can’t be chosen.
4. No Automation or Scheduling: There is no way to schedule recurring exports.
5. Not Scalable for Large Stores: Exporting a high volume of orders can be slow.

The built-in WooCommerce export tool is good for backups, but not that great for business workflows. This tool is fine for occasional backups or simple data migrations. However, you’ll quickly encounter its limitations if your workflow requires you to:

• Analyze order data
• Share it with your team
• Automate routine tasks
• Sync data in real time

That’s when a plugin like WPSyncSheets for WooCommerce becomes a practical solution.

When You Might Need a Plugin Instead

If you find yourself doing any of the following, a plugin is worth considering:

• Filtering orders before export (e.g. only “Completed” status)
• Data exporting in multiple formats (including CSV, XLSX, JSON)
• Automatically sending order reports to Google Sheets or email 
• Pulling custom fields or line-item metadata
• Scheduling daily or weekly exports without logging in manually

That’s where tools like WPSyncSheets for WooCommerce step in, streamlining everything from export to integration.

Top Plugins for Exporting WooCommerce Orders

Here are some popular plugins designed to overcome the native export limitations:

1. WPSyncSheets For WooCommerce

Syncs WooCommerce orders with Google Sheets seamlessly. This plugin is perfect for store owners who want real-time update without manual exports for:

• order tracking
• client reporting
• data visualization

The plugin syncs order data in real-time without coding. Works with custom fields and order metadata. Once the set up is completed, it runs automatically. 

Learn more about WPSyncSheets For WooCommerce

2. Advanced Order Export For WooCommerce

This is a feature-rich plugin that gives you complete control over what and how you export. The Advanced Order Export For WooCommerce plugin supports multiple export formats and lets you filter exactly what data to include.

• Export orders to CSV, XLS, XML, or JSON
• Use advanced filters to sort by order status, products, dates, and more
• Supports custom fields, shipping, tax, and payment data
• Schedule automated exports via email or FTP
• Great for businesses needing detailed reporting or system integrations

It also includes a live preview feature to test your exports before downloading.

3. WooCommerce Customer / Order / Coupon Export

An official WooCommerce extension built for store owners who need advanced export capabilities for customers, orders, and coupon data.

• Export customers, orders, and coupons to CSV
• Customize the fields you want to include
• Create and manage automated export schedules
• Export data directly to external services via email, FTP, or HTTP POST
• Offers compatibility with major CRM and ERP systems

Note: This premium plugin offers official WooCommerce support along with frequent updates.

Final Thoughts

Exporting WooCommerce orders without a plugin is time-consuming and has limitations. For one-time use, the built-in export tool works. But, you’ll need more flexibility for:

• Regular reporting
• Deeper insights
• Integrations with Google Sheets
• Automation workflows

WPSyncSheets For WooCommerce is an excellent next step if you want full control over your data without manual effort.

FAQs

1. Does WooCommerce let me export specific order statuses?

No, the built-in export exports all orders. You’ll need a plugin to filter by status.

2. Can I schedule automatic exports?

Not with the default WordPress tools. Export scheduling is a plugin feature.

3. By default, is XML the only export format available?

Yes, native tools only offer XML. For other formats, like CSV, Excel, or Google Sheets, use a plugin.

4. Will exporting slow down my site?

No. Manual exports run in the dashboard and won’t affect your store’s performance.