WooCommerce adds more moving parts than a simple brochure site. Before launch, test the customer journey and the background systems that make orders reliable.
Check PHP and Extensions
Use a PHP version supported by WordPress, WooCommerce, your theme, and your payment plugins. Test on staging before switching a live shop.
Test Checkout
Run a test order from product page to confirmation email. Check taxes, shipping, coupons, payment status, stock changes, and order emails.
Configure Email Properly
Order emails are business-critical. Use authenticated SMTP and make sure SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records are in place for the sending domain.
Review Caching
Cache product pages where safe, but exclude basket, checkout, account pages, and other customer-specific flows. Test after enabling any caching plugin or CDN rule.
Backups and Logs
Take a backup before launch and know how to restore it. Keep an eye on WooCommerce logs, payment gateway logs, and PHP error logs after opening the shop.
A shop launch is not just a design launch. It is an order-processing system, so test it like one.
Run Complete Test Orders
Test guest and account checkout, successful and declined payments, tax, shipping, discounts, stock reduction, refunds and transactional email. Use provider sandbox modes or a controlled low-value payment. Confirm staff can find and fulfil the order from the administration area.
Protect Dynamic Pages
Cache public catalogue pages where safe, but exclude baskets, checkout, accounts and personalised fragments. Confirm sessions survive navigation and payment redirects. Test on mobile networks and watch PHP, database and payment-callback errors under realistic concurrency.
Prepare Recovery and Operations
Take a full files-and-database backup, test restoration on staging and document who responds to failed checkout. Monitor uptime, resource use and payment-provider status. Freeze unnecessary plugin changes before launch and keep a rollback plan that preserves orders placed after deployment.
Keep the shop in test or maintenance mode until the team responsible for fulfilment has accepted a complete test order.
