Overview
The Update Products feature automatically synchronizes your store's inventory with AliExpress, ensuring accurate pricing, stock levels, and product availability. Products that are no longer available on AliExpress will be automatically moved to draft status, preventing customers from ordering items that cannot be fulfilled.
Accessing the Update Feature
- Log into your WordPress admin dashboard
- Navigate to Products → Update in the left sidebar menu
- You'll see the "Update AliExpress Products" page with connection status and update options
Configuration Settings
Before Running Updates
Configure how the system handles products during updates:
For Out-of-Stock Products:
- ✅ Set stock quantity to zero - Marks unavailable products as out of stock
- ✅ Set product status to Draft - Hides unavailable products from customers (recommended)
For Out-of-Stock Variations:
- ✅ Set stock quantity to zero - Marks unavailable variations as out of stock
- ✅ Set to Inactive - Hides unavailable variations from product options
Update Options:
- ✅ Update prices from AliExpress - Keeps your pricing current
- ✅ Update stock quantities - Maintains accurate inventory levels
Running the Update Process
Manual Update
- Review and adjust your settings as needed
- Click the "Check and update products now" button
- A progress window will appear showing:
- Number of batches being processed
- Products being updated
- Products moved to draft
- Overall progress percentage
What Happens During Updates
The system processes products in batches of 10 for optimal performance:
- Green progress bar indicates active processing
- Products updated shows items with refreshed prices/stock
- Products moved to draft shows items no longer available on AliExpress
- The process typically takes 1-2 seconds per product
Understanding Results
After completion, you'll see a summary:
- Total products processed: All products checked
- Products updated: Items successfully synchronized with current AliExpress data
- Products moved to draft: Items no longer available (removed from AliExpress, shipping restricted, or permanently out of stock)
Best Practices
- Run updates during low-traffic hours to minimize server load
- Update products weekly to maintain accurate inventory
- Review drafted products periodically - some may become available again
- Keep the "Set product status to Draft" option enabled to prevent customer frustration
Troubleshooting
If you see "API connection issue":
- Contact support to verify API credentials
- Check your server's internet connectivity
- Ensure your hosting plan supports external API calls
The update process is essential for maintaining a reliable dropshipping store, automatically handling the frequent changes in AliExpress inventory to provide customers with an accurate, frustration-free shopping experience.