How to Setup WooCommerce Test Mode: An Easy Guide 

Launching an online store is exciting, but making sure your payment process runs smoothly is key to keeping customers happy. That’s where WooCommerce Test Mode steps in—it’s like a sandbox where you can safely check everything without worrying about real transactions. But how to setup WooCommerce test mode?

With test mode, you can browse your store, add products to your cart, and see how things look to a shopper. But here’s the tricky part: testing checkout and payment processing can get expensive if you’re doing it with actual payments, as each transaction incurs fees. WooCommerce development services can help here, but knowing the basics is crucial. 

This is why, in this guide, we’ll walk you through setting up test mode and show you exactly how to test your WooCommerce checkout process—no fees, just peace of mind. 

What Is WooCommerce Test Mode?

So, when you set up an online store, ensuring a smooth checkout is one of the most important tasks. That’s where WooCommerce Test Mode comes in—a handy feature for testing your store’s payment process without real transactions.

WooCommerce Test Mode acts as a sandbox, letting you trial the entire purchase experience, from cart to checkout, in a safe, simulated environment. Orders processed in this mode look like real ones but don’t impact your inventory or financial records.

Setting up WooCommerce Test Mode is simple, especially with plugins like the WebToffee Stripe Gateway. From there, you can test products, payment gateways, and even email notifications—all within WooCommerce. 

Ultimately, WooCommerce Test Mode helps ensure your store is ready to deliver a smooth, reliable payment experience, building trust with every checkout.

Also know: How to Accept Crypto Payments with WooCommerce in WooCommerce

How to Set Up WooCommerce Test Mode?

Setting up WooCommerce Test Mode is essential if you want to test your checkout and payment process without running actual transactions. It creates a safe environment to ensure your checkout flow is working smoothly before going live. 

Here’s a step-by-step guide to walk you through the process:

Step 1: Activate Maintenance Mode to Safeguard Live Sales

If your website is live, it’s a good idea to put it in maintenance mode or use a staging environment while testing. This keeps visitors from accidentally interacting with your test transactions, ensuring they have a consistent experience on your live site.

• Install a Maintenance Mode Plugin
• In your WP Admin dashboard, go to Plugins >> Add New and search for “WP Maintenance Mode and Coming Soon.” Click Install and then Activate to enable it.
• Customize Maintenance Mode Settings
• After activation, go to Settings >> WP Maintenance Mode to set up the page visitors will see. Toggle the Activated option to turn on maintenance mode, and consider enabling Bypass for Search Bots so search engines can still index your site. Once you’ve customized the message and settings, click Save.

Your website will now display a maintenance message to visitors, letting them know that it’s temporarily unavailable while you work behind the scenes.

Further reading: WooCommerce Maintenance Guide: Everything You Need

Step 2: Set Up PayPal Sandbox for Safe Payment Testing

If you’re using PayPal to process payments, WooCommerce Test Mode allows you to simulate transactions without using real payment information.

This requires a PayPal developer account, which is free and allows you to create sandbox accounts to test both customer and business interactions. 

• Create a PayPal Developer Account
• Go to the PayPal developer page and either log in or create an account. If setting up a new account, follow the prompts to complete registration by choosing your country and entering your email and password.
• Access Sandbox Accounts
• Once logged in, navigate to Sandbox >> Accounts in your developer dashboard. PayPal usually provides a default business and personal account for testing, but you may need to create a new business account to access API credentials.
• Generate API Credentials
• Select the new business account and click View/Edit Account to access API Credentials. These credentials are necessary to connect your WooCommerce store to PayPal’s sandbox mode, enabling test transactions.

Know about: Best WordPress PayPal Plugins

Step 3: Connect WooCommerce to PayPal Sandbox Mode

Now that you have your API credentials, you can link WooCommerce with PayPal’s sandbox mode. This will allow you to simulate the full checkout process, including the final payment step, without actual charges.

• Navigate to WooCommerce Payments Settings
• In your WP Admin, go to WooCommerce >> Settings >> Payments and click Manage next to PayPal Standard (if you don’t see this, you may need to install the PayPal Payments extension).
• Enable Sandbox Mode and Enter API Credentials
• Check the Enable PayPal Sandbox box to activate test mode. Then, paste your sandbox API credentials from PayPal, including the API username, password, and signature. Click Save Changes to confirm.

Your WooCommerce store is now connected to PayPal’s sandbox environment, allowing you to run test transactions as if they were real.

Know: Shopify or WordPress: Which Platform to Choose for Your Online eCommerce Website?

Step 4: Test the Checkout Process to Ensure a Smooth Flow

With everything in place, you can now run through a test purchase to ensure everything works as expected, from adding items to the cart to completing checkout.

• Add Products to Your Cart and Proceed to Checkout
• Visit your store, add items to your cart, and proceed to the checkout page. When selecting a payment method, choose PayPal. You should see a “Sandbox” notification, which confirms you’re in test mode.
• Use Your Sandbox Account to Complete Payment
• When prompted to log in to PayPal, use the sandbox account credentials (username and password) for your test account. This will take you to a simulated payment page where you can choose a payment method, such as a test credit card or PayPal balance. Complete the process by selecting Pay Now.

Running these tests helps you identify any potential issues in your payment process, such as checkout errors or missing payment confirmations, allowing you to resolve them before going live.

Know: How to Fix WooCommerce Products Not Showing on Shop Page

Step 5: Exit Test Mode and Start Accepting Live Payments

Once testing is complete, it’s time to disconnect from sandbox mode and prepare for real transactions.

• Disable PayPal Sandbox in WooCommerce
• Go back to WooCommerce >> Settings >> Payments and select Manage next to PayPal Standard. Uncheck the Enable PayPal Sandbox option and click Save Changes. This will switch WooCommerce back to live mode, and it will be ready to process actual payments.
• Turn Off Maintenance Mode
• To make your website live again, go to Settings >> WP Maintenance Mode and deactivate the mode by toggling off the Activated option. Save your changes, and visitors will once again see your live site.

Also Read: Tips for Google Shopping Feed Optimization in WooCommerce

How to Test Payments in WooCommerce Test Mode

So, now that you set up WooCommerce test mode, what about testing it?

 Yes, testing payments in WooCommerce Test Mode is a must before your store goes live. It ensures that the checkout and payment processes are working smoothly so your customers have a seamless experience. Here’s a step-by-step guide to testing payments:

Use Test Credit Card Details

To test transactions, you’ll need to use the test credit card numbers provided by your payment gateway. For example, Stripe offers test card numbers that let you simulate different payment scenarios without using real money.

• Visa (Test Card): 4242 4242 4242 4242
• MasterCard, American Express, etc.: Each provider has its own test card numbers available.

On the checkout page, enter these test card numbers along with any future expiry date and a random CVC code. American Express requires a four-digit CVC. This process simulates a real purchase, helping you confirm the transaction flow and checkout experience.

Learn: How to Integrate ‘Buy Now Pay Later’ Service in WooCommerce?

Test Order Processing

After entering your test card details, proceed to place the order and watch how WooCommerce processes it. The steps are simple:

• Go to your shop, add an item to your cart, and proceed to checkout.
• Enter the test credit card information as if it were a real purchase.
• Complete the purchase and review the order on both the confirmation page and in the WooCommerce dashboard.

Orders made in test mode are flagged with a special notice, making it easy to distinguish between real and test transactions on the ‘edit order’ page.

Confirm If Everything Works

By following these steps, you can confidently test your WooCommerce checkout, knowing that when your store goes live, your customers will experience a smooth and secure payment process.

Further reading: The Ultimate Guide to Creating a Headless WooCommerce Store

Conclusion

In short, setting up WooCommerce Test Mode is a must for a smooth checkout experience before launching your store. By using maintenance mode and connecting to sandbox options like PayPal or Stripe, you can safely test payments without handling real transactions. This way, you can catch any issues early, ensuring your customers enjoy a seamless checkout.

WooCommerce Test Mode doesn’t just prevent disruptions—it builds trust. A secure, well-tested payment process lays the groundwork for a successful online store and keeps customers coming back.