Install and configure WooCommerce on your Hetzner web hosting

What is WooCommerce?

WooCommerce is a popular, free WordPress plugin that allows you to transform your website into a fully-fledged online store.
It offers features for product management, payments, shipping, and much more.
In conjunction with a Hetzner web hosting plan, you can run WooCommerce easily and efficiently.

Requirements

To install WooCommerce, you need:

• A web hosting plan L or higher (recommended: plan XL)
• An active WordPress installation
• A database that was already created during the WordPress installation
• PHP 8.1 or higher
• A secure HTTPS connection (SSL certificate) – you can activate this directly via Hetzner SSL

Step 1 – Logging in to Hetzner web hosting

1. Log in to the Hetzner Accounts interface.
2. Select the appropriate web hosting plan.
3. Open Websites & Domains and click on your domain where WordPress is installed.

Step 2 – Install WordPress (if you haven't already done so)

1. Open the WordPress item in the menu.
2. Select New Installation.
3. Fill in the required fields (domain, username, password, email).
4. Once you have completed this, you can log in to your WordPress dashboard at https://deinedomain.de/wp-admin.

Step 3 – Install WooCommerce

1. Log in to the WordPress admin area.
2. Go to Plugins > Install.
3. Enter WooCommerce in the search bar.
4. Click on Install Now and then on Activate.

Step 4 – WooCommerce setup wizard

After activation, the WooCommerce setup wizard will start automatically.

1. Enter your business address and currency.
2. Select which products you want to sell (physical, digital, or both).
3. Set up shipping options and taxes.
4. Select your payment methods (e.g., Stripe, PayPal, bank transfer).
5. Complete the setup and open the dashboard.

Step 5 – Select a theme

WooCommerce works with most WordPress themes.

Recommended themes include:

• Storefront (official WooCommerce theme)
• Astra
• OceanWP

Installation:

1. Go to Appearance > Themes > Add New.
2. Search for your desired theme and click Install.
3. Activate the theme.

Step 6 – Create products

1. Go to Products > Create.
2. Enter the title, description, price, and images.
3. Select product categories.
4. Save your product.

Step 7 – Activate SSL (recommended)

SSL encryption is essential for the secure operation of your online shop.

1. Open Domain Management in your Hetzner web hosting panel.
2. Select your domain.
3. Under SSL/TLS, activate the free Let’s Encrypt certificate.
4. Then check in the WordPress admin under Settings > General that the URLs begin with https://.

Step 8 – Performance and security

• Activate caching using a plugin such as WP Super Cache or LiteSpeed Cache.
• Create regular backups using the Hetzner backup system or a plugin such as UpdraftPlus.
• Keep WordPress, themes, and plugins up to date to avoid security vulnerabilities.

FAQ

Why is my WooCommerce store loading slowly?

Check whether caching is active and optimize images. If you have a high number of visitors, it may be worth upgrading to a higher web hosting plan or a managed server.

Can I use WooCommerce with Cloudflare?

Yes, Cloudflare works seamlessly with WooCommerce. Make sure that caching rules are configured correctly to avoid problems with the shopping cart.

How do I update WooCommerce?

You can safely update plugins under Dashboard > Updates. Make sure to back up your site first.

Where can I find more help with WooCommerce?

You can find the official documentation at https://woocommerce.com/documentation/.