Is AST PRO compatible with WooCommerce HPOS?
Yes. AST PRO is fully compatible with WooCommerce High-Performance Order Storage (HPOS). All tracking features — the Fulfillment Dashboard, CSV Import, REST API, PayPal and Stripe sync, and all integrations — work on both the legacy post-based order table and the new HPOS order table.
Do I need the free Advanced Shipment Tracking plugin installed?
No. AST PRO is a standalone plugin. When you activate AST PRO, it automatically deactivates the free plugin if it is present — you do not need both active at the same time. All settings and existing tracking data from the free plugin are preserved on upgrade.
What does AST PRO add over the free plugin?
AST PRO adds: PayPal and Stripe tracking sync, item-level (Tracking Per Item) tracking, custom order statuses, CSV bulk import, automated FTP/SFTP CSV import, Bulk Paste, branded email templates with a visual customizer, the Fulfillment Dashboard, the REST API, the AI Assistant (MCP), and priority support. The free plugin covers basic tracking entry and standard email display only.
Where will my customer see the tracking info?
Tracking info appears in two places: (1) inside the WooCommerce order status email for whichever email types you configure in General Settings → Order Emails Display, and (2) on the customer’s My Account → Orders page next to the relevant order. You can configure which emails include tracking and customise the widget appearance under Customize Email Notifications & Tracking Widget.
Why isn’t the tracking showing in customer emails?
The most common cause is the email type not being selected under General Settings → Order Emails Display. Add the relevant status (Completed, Shipped, Partially Shipped) and save. If tracking still doesn’t appear, check whether you are using a third-party email customizer plugin — see the Email Customizer compatibility notes.
Can I add a carrier that is not in your list?
Yes. Go to Shipping Carriers → Add Custom Carrier and enter the carrier name and your own tracking URL using the %number% placeholder (e.g. https://track.mycarrier.com?tn=%number%). See Add Custom Shipping Carrier for full instructions. Note that custom carriers do not receive automatic real-time status updates from TrackShip.
Why isn’t my carrier being auto-detected?
Auto-detection matches the carrier name sent by your shipping system against enabled carriers in AST PRO. If the name doesn’t match exactly (including case), no carrier is assigned. Set up a carrier API alias to map whatever name your system sends to the correct AST PRO carrier entry. If your carrier is not in the list at all, sync the carrier list first to pull the latest additions from TrackShip.
Can I import tracking numbers in bulk?
Yes — three ways: (1) CSV Import — upload a formatted .csv file; (2) Bulk Paste — paste CSV rows directly from a spreadsheet without a file; (3) REST API — send tracking programmatically from your shipping software or ERP. For scheduled automatic imports, use Automated CSV Import via FTP/SFTP.
Can I add more than one tracking number to a single order?
Yes. You can add multiple tracking numbers to a single order, each with its own carrier and shipped date. For orders that ship in separate packages, enable Tracking Per Item in General Settings to assign each tracking number to specific items and quantities. The order status is set to Partially Shipped until all items have tracking, then to Shipped.
Can I use custom order numbers in CSV imports?
Yes. AST PRO is compatible with custom order number plugins including WooCommerce Sequential Order Numbers Pro by SkyVerge and WebToffee Sequential Order Numbers PRO. Use the display order number in the order_id column of your CSV — AST PRO maps it to the correct internal order. With HPOS enabled, use the HPOS order ID.
Can guests view their tracking info on my website?
Yes — via the email tracking widget (which works for all customers including guests) and via the WooCommerce order tracking shortcode [woocommerce_order_tracking], which lets a visitor look up their order status by entering their order number and billing email on any page. The AST PRO tracking widget is included in the results returned by that shortcode.
Can I design how the tracking widget looks in WooCommerce emails?
Yes. AST PRO includes a visual Email Customizer where you can set the widget colors, button style, header text, and which tracking fields are shown — per order status. Changes are previewed live before saving.
Can I send automatic shipment status updates to customers?
Yes, via the TrackShip integration. TrackShip monitors carrier events in real time and pushes status updates — picked up, out for delivery, delivered — back to your WooCommerce store, updating the order status and triggering customer notifications automatically. See TrackShip for WooCommerce for setup instructions.
Can I use the REST API to add tracking to orders?
Yes. AST PRO exposes a REST API at /wp-json/wc-shipment-tracking/v3/orders/{order_id}/shipment-trackings/ that supports add, retrieve, and delete tracking operations, as well as bulk updates across multiple orders in a single request. Authentication uses standard WooCommerce Consumer Key and Secret. See the full Shipment Tracking REST API reference.
What happens to tracking data if I deactivate AST PRO?
Deactivating AST PRO does not delete tracking data. All tracking numbers and carrier information remain stored in the database as WooCommerce order meta. If you re-activate AST PRO later, all tracking data is immediately accessible again. Uninstalling (deleting) the plugin does not automatically purge tracking data either — it remains as order meta.
What happens to my licence at renewal? Will the price go up?
No. AST PRO licences renew at the same price you originally paid — the renewal price is never raised. Licences are annual. If your licence lapses, plugin updates and priority support stop, but the plugin continues to function and tracking data is not affected.