PayPal Standard in WooCommerce User Guide (Full Configuration + FAQ)

WooCommerce It is officially recommended that all those still using PayPal Users of Standard switch to the recommended PayPal Payments plugin, which comes with full payment functionality, supporting credit cards, PayPal Express Checkout, subscriptions, installments, and more.

Conditions of use

• Have a PayPal business account
  log in paypal.comRegister a business account or upgrade an existing personal account.

Sign up for a PayPal Standard business account

Setup and Configuration

• Go to the backend: WooCommerce > Settings > Payments
• Enable PayPal
• Click on "Settings" to go to the PayPal Standard page.

Basic settings

• The PayPal email field must be filled in with the same primary email address as your business account

• Sandbox mode: used for development testing, no real payments are generated (PayPal sandbox account required)
• Log debugging function: for troubleshooting, you need to manually create a wc-logs folder and give it write permission, path: WooCommerce > System Status > Logs
• IPN e-mail notification (optional):PayPal Send notifications on payments, refunds, rejections or cancellations
• Receiving e-mail: fill in the PayPal main e-mail address
• Identity Token (PDT): optional, used to authenticate payment data in the event of an IPN exception
• Invoice prefix: for multi-store identification orders (e.g. STORE1-)
• Distribution information settings:
  • Whether to send delivery information to PayPal for creating a waybill
  • Address Override Option: PayPal checks the address, it is recommended to keep it turned off.

PayPal Seller Protection may not work if delivery information sending is not enabled.

Payment Action

• Capture: automatic collection
• Authorize: authorization only, automatic collection when order status is processing or completed (no manual action required since WooCommerce 3.0)

Page style and image settings (optional)

• Page Style Name: The name of the custom page style set in PayPal.
• Image link: 150×50 image displayed on PayPal checkout page

API Credentials

The following three items need to be completed:

• API user ID
• API Password
• API Signature

Accessibility:

• Sign in to PayPal
• Gear Icons > Account Settings > API Access Privileges
• Select NVP/SOAP API Integration (Classic) > Manage API Credentials
• Apply for a signature and copy the required contents to fill in WooCommerce software development

PayPal Backend Supplemental Settings

IPN (Instant Payment Notification) Address

• Sign in to PayPal
• Settings > Notifications > Instant Payment Notifications
• Click "Select IPN Settings" and fill in the following address (replace example.com): https://example.com/?wc-api=WC_Gateway_Paypal
• Check Receive messages and save

Multiple sites can share a single PayPal account and pass the notify_url parameter for each transaction to use a different IPN address.

Auto Return

• Sign in to PayPal
• Settings > Site Payments > Site Preferences
• Enable Auto Jump and fill in the address below: https://example.com/checkout/order-received/

additional parameter ?utm_nooverride=1 Can be used to track original source information

Testing with PayPal Sandbox

When configuring and refining your website's checkout and payment processes, you have the option to use PayPal sandbox details in order to conduct transactions as you go. To do this

1. Register for aPayPal Developer AccountThe
2. After registering and logging in, select from the menuTest tool "Sandbox Account.
3. strike (on the keyboard)Create an account(2).
4. indicate clearly and with certaintyAccount Typerespond in singingCountry/areato meet your requirements.

Attention:nations/Regionwill determine the currency of your sandbox account, which should match your site's currency to avoid orders being set toawaiting paymentThe

5. Once created, you will see that the account is now in theAccount Namecolumn lists an e-mail address that you can use on the PayPal Standard Settings page of your websiteE-mail address for e-mail ID settings.
6. Next, click Manage Accountcolumn next to the newly added account in the dot menu, select theView/Edit Account(3) The details of the sandbox account can be displayed.

7. NVP/SOAP Sandbox API credentials on the open pageUnder the section, you'll notice that the API credentials for your sandbox account are the same as the settings at the bottom of your site's settings page.

Note: SandboxEmail IDApplied to your websitePayPal Emailrespond in singingThe Recipient Email field, which can be found in theWooCommerce > Settings > Payment > PayPalsearch underneathThe

If an existing PayPal email address is used, the order status will display"Pause."The order memo will show"Pending payment (unilateral). The status of the order has been changed from "Pending Payment" to "Suspended".The

In the API CredentialsNext, copy the API Credential information (username, password and signature).

You need to paste them into the appropriate fields in PayPal's standard settings on WooCommerce.

View Test Transactions on PayPal Sandbox

To view the PayPal Sandbox Mode enabled WooCommerce For transactions received by the store, you need to log in to the PayPal Sandbox website: https://www.sandbox.paypal.com/

Once you're logged in, you can click the Activity tab to view all transactions in your WooCommerce store:

Frequently Asked Questions

Is SSL necessary?

Although payments are completed on the PayPal website, it is recommended to use the SSLthat boosts website trust and improves search rankings

Is there a fee?

WooCommerce offers the PayPal Standard plugin for free, and PayPal itself charges a fee based on account and transaction volume.

Why are orders Pending?

If the customer does not complete the payment after jumping to PayPal, the order will remain Pending and the system will cancel the order after a set period of time.

Payment completed but order not updated?

This is usually an IPN callback failure:

• Check that the IPN settings are correct
• Does sandbox mode mix official mailboxes
• Consistency of e-mail addresses
• Does the server support fsockopen
• Does the firewall allow 443 outbound
• Whether plug-ins (e.g., cache-type plug-ins) cause interception

Internal Server Error?

Often due to incorrect e-mail addresses

Error reported using the same PayPal account for multiple sites?

WooCommerce uses an "invoice" system. There is a setting to "Block Duplicate Invoices". If both sites use invoices, then duplicate invoice numbers will inevitably appear. By deselecting this setting in PayPal, invoices will not be a problem. Please check that the invoice prefix is different for each website in the WooCommerce PayPal settings.

Alternatively, to disable duplicate invoice checking, log in to your PayPal account and go to Profile > Profile & Settings > My Sales Preferences > "Block Payments" (or) "Payment Acceptance Preferences", and then remove the " Blocking unforeseen payments"Set to "clogged".

Does the customer need a PayPal account?

Not required. Enable the "Optional Accounts" feature in the PayPal backend to allow customers to pay directly with a credit card

Is seller protection in effect?

Valid only when using a shipping address. PayPal does not support protection if a billing address is used

Error "Seller only accepts payments from unencrypted payments"?

indicates that the button is not encrypted and the PayPal Set to accept only encrypted buttons:

• Sign in to PayPal
• Settings > Website Payment Preferences
• Turn off the "Encrypt website payments" option and save the settings.

Error "This invoice has already been paid"?

Duplicate order numbers cause this. Adding a unique invoice prefix will fix it

Can't use the subscription feature?

Required:

• Configuring API Credentials
• Setting the IPN Address
• Enable subscription support checkbox

IPN Troubleshooting

• In WooCommerce > Settings > Products > Inventory, leave the "Keep in stock time" blank to avoid automatic order cancellation.
• Log in to PayPal to view IPN history:Viewing IPN Status

Local tests not working?

If you are using a local environment such as MAMP, PayPal cannot access the site, you need to deploy to a public server for testing.

Check if the server supports fsockopen

fsockopen is an important function for WooCommerce to communicate with PayPal, which can be viewed in WooCommerce > System Status

Firewall Settings

Ensure that the server has port 443 outbound open

Enable log debugging

Settings to open the debug log to see if the response is normal return, such as no response, try to close the other plug-ins test

Mailbox validation

The email address set by PayPal should be the same as the IPN return email address and set as the primary email address, otherwise the order status will not be updated.

Error "Payment pending (unilateral)"?

Indicates that the receiving email address is not registered as a PayPal account or verification has not been completed. Add the email address to your account and complete the verification to fix it!

W3 Total Cache Plugin conflicts?

If the order status is not automatically updated, try temporarily disabling the caching plugin

Inconsistent sandbox payment currencies?

When the sandbox account currency does not match the site:

• PayPal shows as Unclaimed
• WooCommerce is shown as On Hold

The status returns to normal after accepting the payment manually. It is recommended to create a sandbox account with the same currency

Can't display the download link?

Usually due to unsuccessful IPN callbacks. Supplemental authentication with PDT can be enabled:

• Login PayPal Back Office > Site Settings
• Enable PDT to get an identity token
• Paste into the appropriate field in WooCommerce > Settings > Checkout > PayPal

If this still does not resolve the issue, it is recommended that you contact your hosting provider to confirm if there is a cache, firewall, or other security setting that is blocking the PayPal request.

summarize

With the help of this article, I am sure you are already familiar with the PayPal Standard in WooCommerce The complete setup process, debugging methods, and FAQs in WooCommerce are clearly understood. Although WooCommerce has been hidden in newer versions, it remains a stable payment method for sites that still use it.

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