---
title: "Shopware 6 import/export not working: causes and solutions"
description: "Shopware 6 import or export not working? The most common causes from special characters and separators to missing categories, and how the PIM shows errors before the import and undoes them."
url: https://pim-shopware.de/en/shopware-import-export-problems.html
language: en
---
# Shopware 6 import/export not working: causes and solutions
The import hangs, special characters are broken, prices suddenly read 1,990 instead of 19.90 euros: most problems with import and export in Shopware 6 have a few recurring causes. Here are the most common ones and how to avoid them.
5 min read For Shopware 6.6 and 6.7
- Preview before import: new, changed and skipped rows, warnings and errors before anything is written.
- Strict mode: if an error occurs, all changes already imported are reset automatically.
- Runs in the admin: the import works in batches with a progress display, without its own background queue.
- Undo:"Undo last import" restores the values from before.

## The most common causes
| Problem | Cause | Solution |
| Import stays "pending" | The Shopware import works via the message queue, without a running worker nothing happens | Check worker or scheduled tasks on the server, or import in the PIM, which works directly in the admin |
| Broken special characters | File not saved as UTF-8 | Save as UTF-8. The PIM export writes UTF-8 with BOM so Excel shows characters correctly |
| Wrong prices, such as 1990 instead of 19.90 | Comma and dot swapped as decimal separator | In the PIM the import detects comma or dot per column |
| Everything in one column | Wrong separator | Choose semicolon, comma or tab and save it in the profile |
| Products created twice | Matching on a column that does not fit | Match by product number, EAN, manufacturer number or ID, mode "Update only" |
| Category not found | Categories and units must exist | Create the category first, the error shows in the preview |
| Export aborts or is empty | Too many products at once or a filter without hits | Set the maximum per export in the PIM (default 5,000) and check the filter |
After a Shopware update, clearing the cache and running the indexing again often helps already.

## Prevent instead of repair
- Start with an export: the export file has exactly the columns and format the import expects.
- Save a profile: set mapping, separator and mode once.
- Read the preview: take warnings about duplicate product numbers or rows without a number seriously.
- A small run first: test 10 rows, then the whole file.

## Checklist before every import
- File saved as UTF-8?
- Separator in the profile matches the file?
- Matching column unique, such as product number without duplicates?
- Categories and units present in Shopware?
- Mode chosen on purpose:"Update only" for maintenance,"Update + new" for new products?
- Preview read, warnings resolved?
- Ten rows imported first and checked in the shop?

## Frequently asked questions

**Why does my Shopware import hang?**
The built-in import works via the message queue. If no worker runs on the server, it stops. The PIM import works directly in the admin in batches.

**Why are special characters broken after the import?**
The file was not saved as UTF-8. Save it as UTF-8. The PIM export writes UTF-8 with BOM.

**Can I undo a faulty import?**
In the PIM, yes:"Undo last import" in the change log, with strict mode even automatically on the first error.

**Which file formats does the PIM import read?**
CSV, TSV, XML, DATANORM and Excel (.xlsx and.xls), by upload or from a URL.

**Why are categories not assigned?**
Categories must already exist in Shopware. If one is missing, the preview shows it as an error. Create it first, for example via category import.

**What does strict mode do?**
If an error occurs during the import, it automatically resets all changes already imported in this run.

## Further reading
- Import Shopware products: CSV, Excel and mapping
- Export Shopware products: profiles and columns
- Replacement for Import/Export Advanced: for Shopware 5 switchers
- CSV import and export: guide: all settings