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How to connect a store and finish setup

Connect a WooCommerce store from the dashboard. Approve the connection on the store. Shoppers still buy on WooCommerce.

What it is

New accounts land on the setup wizard after signup. The title is Welcome, NAME or Welcome to WooDonkey. The subtitle is A few quick steps and your store is fully connected. When the first store is already connected and synced, the same page becomes Add new store. The store switcher item is Add new store. On Settings, Store Management, the button is Add Store. A floating Finish setup checklist can sit at the bottom-left until every step is done or you dismiss it. Companion download and Store data sync live on Settings, not on this wizard.

How it helps you

You connect without pasting API keys. WooDonkey sends you to the store to approve access, then brings you back. You can add another store later from the switcher or Settings. Shoppers never use this flow.

What is included

  • Wizard title: Welcome, NAME when a display name exists, otherwise Welcome to WooDonkey. Subtitle A few quick steps and your store is fully connected.
  • Step 1 Create your account: Always done once you are signed in. Desc Signed in as NAME when a display name exists.
  • Step 2 Choose a plan: Done because Free Trial auto-starts. Desc Your 14-day free trial is active. or PLAN active. Link See paid plans opens Plans & Billing. A paid or complimentary plan shows PLAN active, not the trial line.
  • Step 3 Connect your store: Active until a store is connected. Desc Approve the connection in your store’s admin – no API keys to copy. When done: Your WooCommerce store is connected. The Connect form sits inside this step while it is active.
  • Step 4 Sync your data: Last step. Before a store: Connect a store first, then we sync everything automatically. After connect, before sync finishes: We’re pulling in your products, orders and customers. When done: Your products, orders and customers are synced. While this step is active, button Go to dashboard.
  • Add new store page: Shown when setup is complete. Title Add new store. Same subtitle as Connect your store. Same Connect form. Button Go to dashboard. Footer can show PLAN active and Signed in as NAME.
  • Connect form: Store name (required). Store URL (required, placeholder https://mystore.com). Button Connect with WooCommerce. While pending: Redirecting to store… Trailing slashes on the URL are stripped. The browser then opens the store’s WooCommerce authorize screen (app name WooDonkey, read and write). No API keys to copy.
  • Other entry points: Store switcher Add new store. Settings Add Store. Dashboard empty No store connected, button Connect store. Analytics the same Connect store. Dashboard Initial sync required, button Go to sync page (that opens Settings, not the wizard).
  • Pairing return, checking: Finishing the connection… Receiving keys from your store.
  • Pairing return, success: Store connected successfully. Redirecting to the dashboard… Toast Store connected successfully. Then Dashboard.
  • Pairing return, canceled: Connection not completed. The connection was canceled in your store’s admin. Try again.
  • Pairing return, keys: The keys didn’t reach us. Body: You approved the connection in your store’s admin, but WooCommerce couldn’t send us the keys. This is usually caused by a security plugin (Wordfence, Cloudflare WAF, etc.) blocking outbound POST requests, or by the site running on HTTP instead of HTTPS. Make sure the store is reachable over HTTPS and not blocked, then try again. Go back and start over.
  • Pairing return, expired: The connection request expired. Start over.
  • Pairing return, error: Error, plus Missing connection token, Connection failed, Connection request not found, or The connection is not complete yet. Go back.
  • Finish setup: Floating card, bottom-left. Hidden on the wizard, when dismissed, or when every step is done. Title Finish setup. N of 4 done. Dismiss. Items Account created, Plan selected or Free trial started, Connect your store, Sync your data. Button Continue setup opens the wizard. It refreshes on its own until done. Dismiss hides it. It does not come back on the next page.
  • Store limits: Free Trial and Starter 1 store. Growth 3. Pro 10. Connecting past the plan limit fails. Open Plans & Billing to change plan. There is no extra dialog on this page.
  • Not on this page: No companion ZIP. No Sync changes / Sync everything. Those are on Settings. No shortcode. WooCommerce authorize labels belong to WooCommerce.

How to turn on and manage each capability

Open the wizard

  1. Create an account. The wizard opens after signup.
  2. If you already have an account and no store, open Dashboard and click Connect store, or go to the store switcher and click Add new store.

Connect the first store

  1. On step 3 Connect your store, fill Store name and Store URL.
  2. Click Connect with WooCommerce, approve access on the store’s WooCommerce screen, then wait for Store connected successfully.

Add another store

  1. Open the store switcher and click Add new store, or on Settings click Add Store.
  2. Fill Store name and Store URL, click Connect with WooCommerce, and approve on the store.

Use Finish setup

  1. If the card is visible, click Continue setup to return to the wizard, or wait for the checks to fill in.
  2. Click Dismiss only if you want the card gone. It does not come back after Dismiss.

Install the companion and sync

  1. After the store is connected, open Settings.
  2. Use Download the plugin (ZIP) and Store data sync there. That how-to is How to manage settings, sync, and the companion.

What to know before you start

  • The store URL must be reachable over HTTPS.
  • You do not paste API keys. WooCommerce issues them after you approve.
  • Free Trial counts as Choose a plan. See paid plans is optional.
  • Sync of products, orders, and customers starts after connect. Companion install is a separate Settings step.
  • Plan store limits apply. Trial and Starter 1, Growth 3, Pro 10.
  • Dismiss on Finish setup hides the card. There is no shortcode.

Problems you may hit, and how to fix them

  • Symptom: Connection not completed. Fix: You canceled on the store. Click Try again and approve on WooCommerce.
  • Symptom: The keys didn’t reach us. Fix: Use HTTPS. A security plugin or WAF may be blocking the outbound POST. Then click Go back and start over.
  • Symptom: The connection request expired. Fix: Click Start over and approve again without waiting.
  • Symptom: Missing connection token, Connection failed, or Connection request not found. Fix: Click Go back and run Connect with WooCommerce again.
  • Symptom: Dashboard or Analytics says No store connected. Fix: Click Connect store and finish the wizard.
  • Symptom: Finish setup is gone. Fix: Expected after Dismiss, or when all four steps are done. Open the wizard from Add new store if you still need to connect.
  • Symptom: A further store will not connect. Fix: The plan store limit is full. Open Plans & Billing.
  • Symptom: Sync your data stays on We’re pulling in your products, orders and customers. Fix: Click Go to dashboard, then on Settings use Store data sync. See the Settings how-to.

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