🔧 Quick Info: This tool adds new categories or updates existing ones in your BigCommerce store from a spreadsheet. Rows with an ID update matching categories; blank IDs create new ones. The import runs in the background and emails you when done.
What It Does
Import Categories lets you add new categories or update existing ones in your BigCommerce store using a spreadsheet. You upload a file, map your columns to category fields, and the tool sends the changes to your store. The logic is simple: rows with an ID update the matching category, and rows with a blank ID create a brand-new category. The import runs in the background, so you can close the page after starting it. When it finishes, you get an email confirmation. If any rows had problems, an error file is generated so you can see exactly what went wrong and fix it.
When Should You Use This?
Use this tool when you need to add or edit categories in bulk. Common scenarios include setting up a new store and wanting to add many categories at once, bulk-editing existing categories like renaming them or changing visibility settings, updating SEO fields or sort order across categories, or if you exported your categories, edited them in a spreadsheet, and want to push those changes back to your store.
Before You Get Started
- Prepare a spreadsheet (CSV or Excel) with column headers in the first row. The tool reads these headers so it can map them to the right fields.
- Include an ID column. Leave it blank for categories you want to create new; fill it in for categories you want to update.
- Understand your category structure. Use the Parent Id column to nest a category under another category. Leave Parent Id blank to place the category at the top level.
- Know how to clear a value. To empty out an optional field on an existing category, put the word
deletein that cell and the tool will clear that field. - Check your store permissions. This tool writes categories to your store, so your connection must allow category changes.
How to Use It
1 Open the Tool
Navigate to the Import Categories tool in your Your Store Wizards dashboard for your BigCommerce store.
2 Choose Your Storefront (If Needed)
If your store has more than one storefront, select the category tree you’re importing into. Then proceed to upload your file.
3 Upload Your File
Upload your category file. Remember that the first row must contain your column headers so the tool can understand what each column represents.
4 Map Your Columns
Once the file is read, map each of your columns to the matching category field. This tells the tool which column contains which type of data.
5 Confirm Email Address
On the Email Delivery step, confirm the email address that should be notified when the import finishes. Your own email is filled in by default.
6 Start the Import
Submit and the import runs in the background. You can close the page and do other things. Watch for the completion email – if some rows failed, you can download the error file to review and fix them, then re-import just those rows.
File and Field Reference
Your file’s first row must contain column headers. During the upload step you map your columns to the fields below. All fields are optional, but the ID column controls whether a row updates an existing category or creates a new one. Tip: put delete in any optional cell to clear that field’s current value.
| Column Name | Required? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Id | No | Blank = create a new category. Filled in = update the category with that ID. |
| Default Product Sort | No | The default sort order for products in the category. |
| Description | No | The category description. |
| Is Visible | No | Whether the category shows on your storefront. Use a true/false (or 1/0) value. |
| Meta Description | No | SEO meta description. |
| Meta Keywords | No | Comma-separated list of keywords. |
| Name | No | The category name. |
| Page Title | No | SEO page title. |
| Parent Id | No | The ID of the parent category. Blank places the category at the top level. |
| Search Keywords | No | Keywords used by your store’s search function. |
| Sort Order | No | A number controlling where the category appears among its siblings. |
| Url | No | The category’s web address (path). |
Note: Category images are not handled by this import. An image column is not currently supported.
Troubleshooting
My import finished but nothing changed
Make sure your first row contains column headers and that you mapped your columns to the right fields during the upload step. The tool needs both to work correctly.
Everything created duplicates instead of updating
Rows without an ID always create a new category. To update existing categories, make sure you include the correct ID in each row that you want to modify.
I got a permission error
Your store connection may not allow category changes. Check out our guide on resolving API permission errors.
Some rows failed
An error file is produced listing the rows that could not be saved, along with an errors column explaining why. Fix those rows and re-import them.
How do I empty a field?
Put delete in the cell for that field and the tool will clear it instead of leaving the old value.
Where does the result go?
You will receive an email when the import completes. Check your inbox for the address you confirmed on the Email Delivery step.