How to Export All Products in Magento 2: A Comprehensive Guide

Exporting all products in Magento 2 is an essential operation for store owners and developers for data migration, backup, or third-party platform integration. Magento 2 has a native export tool that can easily export products. However, this native export tool has some limitations such as missing custom fields and complex data structures.

Here we will walk you through the step-by-step export of products in Magento 2 as well as important settings and options. We will also discuss common problems you may encounter and provide practical solutions to make your export effective. In addition, for those who need more control, we will discuss advanced methods using related Magento 2 extensions or customized scripts to export data. By reading this guide to the end, you will be able to export product information for your Magento 2 store with accuracy and efficiency.

How to Easily Export Products in Magento 2

Step 1: Start the Export Process

Before exporting, make sure you are signed in to your Magento 2 admin panel. Just follow these simple steps:

1. Log in to Magento Admin: Proceed to your Magento 2 Admin Panel with your credentials.
2. Navigate to System: Go to Admin sidebar > System > Data Transfer > Export.
3. Select the Product Entity Type: In the Entity Type dropdown, select Products. This will ensure that you export only the product-related data.

Step 2: Configure the Type of Export Data

After selecting the product entity type, you must configure the export type. Exporting your content in various formats (such as XML or CSV) and filtering to export specific product information is supported by Magento 2.

Options to Configure:

1. Export Format: You can choose the export format you prefer (usually CSV is used). This is convenient for you to manage the information using Excel or any other tool that accepts CSV.
2. Fields to Export: You can export all fields or select individual attributes (such as SKU, name, price, etc.). If you are exporting your entire product catalog, you can leave the selection as "All fields."
3. Filters (Optional): Filters can be applied if you want to export products based on certain criteria (such as categories, status, visibility, etc.). If you are exporting all products, you can skip this step.

Step 3: Export Your Data

After configuring the export options, you can follow these steps to complete it:

1. Click on "Continue": Once you are satisfied with your configuration, click on the Continue button. Magento 2 will start processing your export request.
2. Download the File: After completing the process, you will have a link on your page to download your product information in a CSV file. You can save this file on your system and use it whenever needed.

Magento 2 Export Products Default: Limitation and Solution

Exporting products in Magento 2 is quite easy, yet it has some limitations. Below are the common challenges and ways to overcome them:

1. Limited Number of Products in Default Export

• Restrictions: By default, it is difficult to export a large number of products at once using Magento, especially for stores that have thousands of products.
• Solution: Increase your server's PHP memory limit or split your export into smaller parts (use filters to export a smaller number of products per export).

2. Missing Data Fields

• Restrictions: In some cases, particular fields of products or customer attributes are not exported by default.
• Solution: Customize your export by filling in missing fields through custom exports or by including extensions that build on the default export capability to support more attributes.

Advanced Method to Export Magento 2 Product Data

For advanced store owners or large inventories, the default export function may be insufficient. Here are some advanced methods to export product data:

1. Using Magento 2 API

1. The Magento 2 API allows you to programmatically export products by calling specific API endpoints. This is convenient for businesses and developers who require automated exportation of products or to integrate with other systems.
   
2. Steps to Export using API:
   

1. 1. Create API access by configuring a token in System > Integrations.
   2. Retrieve product information using the /V1/products API endpoint.
   3. Process the data in your desired format (CSV, XML, etc.).

2. Using Extensions or Modules

1. Several Magento 2 extensions are designed to automate the export of products.
2. These add-ons offer advanced features like filtering, scheduling, multi-store exports, and better management of large catalogs.

3. Using MySQL Queries for Custom Export

1. People with database management experience can create their own SQL queries to get you exactly what you need. This gives you the control to choose which product features to return and how to format the data.
   
2. Note: This method requires solid knowledge of SQL and Magento’s database structure.

FAQs

1. Can I schedule the export of my products in Magento 2?

No, there is no native scheduling for exports in Magento 2. However, third-party extensions like Better Import & Export can be employed to schedule exports.

2. What if my exported file is too large?

If your export file is too large, export it in smaller parts by filtering your data (by attribute or category) or increasing your server's PHP memory limit to handle larger files.

3. Can I export product images with the product data?

Product images are not exported by default in Magento 2. However, it is possible to export image URLs. If you need actual images, you can use third-party extensions like Product Import Export or Store Manager for Magento.

4. How do I export custom product attributes?

Custom product attributes in Magento are not exported by default. They can be exported by changing the export process or through extensions that support custom attributes.

5. Can I export configurable products with their associated simple products?

Yes, it is possible to export configurable products in Magento 2 that have unlinked associated simple products. Use a module or customized script to add the association.

6. How do I export product stock levels?

The default export includes inventory levels. Make sure the "Quantity" and "Stock Status" fields are ticked to get inventory information.

7. Can I export only specific product types, like simple or grouped products?

Yes, you can filter the export to select specific types of products such as simple, configurable, grouped, or bundled products depending on your requirements.

Conclusion

Exporting all products of your Magento 2 store is a very useful activity that can be employed for backup of your data, for migration to a different system, or for reviewing your data. While default export is useful for smaller to medium-sized stores, several advanced options and add-ons can be employed for larger stores or complicated product information. By employing the steps outlined above and with Store Manager or Magento’s API tools, you can export your whole product information with ease and bypass default Magento export limitations.

Let us know in the comments below if you have any tips or questions about exporting products in Magento 2!