{"id":5566764,"date":"2022-11-02T02:08:59","date_gmt":"2022-11-02T02:08:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wpallimport.com\/?post_type=documentation&p=5566764"},"modified":"2025-12-08T18:52:45","modified_gmt":"2025-12-08T18:52:45","slug":"import-types","status":"publish","type":"documentation","link":"https:\/\/www.wpallimport.com\/documentation\/import-types\/","title":{"rendered":"Import Types Available in WP All Import"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

WP All Import<\/strong> handles two distinctive import types: New Items<\/strong> and Existing Items<\/strong>. This is defined in Step 1 of the import process after uploading\/downloading\/choosing the import file. This article provides clear guidance on what each type is intended for. The import type can't be changed after it's chosen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Description of Import Types<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

We use WooCommerce products as an example, but the same definitions apply when importing other post types or custom post types via WP All Import.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

New Items Import<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"New<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

This is primarily used to create and manage products. It keeps internal track of the products that it imports, which means that it can later update\/create\/delete products as they're changed\/added\/removed in your import file (see: Recurring Imports<\/a>). It's also the only import type that can add\/remove variations to variable products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One limitation of New Items<\/strong> imports is that it cannot detect\/update products that it didn't previously create. If you need to use a New Items<\/strong> import with a file that contains existing products, you can use WP All Import's API and custom code to prevent duplicates from being imported: Do Not Create Products With Duplicate SKU<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Existing Items Import<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Existing<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

This is primarily used to update specific data (e.g., stock\/price) for products that already exist (created manually or by other imports). This import type can't maintain the relationship between parent products and their variations, so it can't be used to add variations to existing products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are updating product variations with this import type, you must match them by Post ID or a unique Custom Field value (as Title\/Content won't work). Also, you should make extra sure that these data points are not being updated in the import settings: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Update<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Import Any CSV, XML, or Excel to WordPress<\/h3>\n