Docs Advanced Shipment Tracking Pro (AST PRO) How to Get your PayPal API Client ID and Secret

How to Get your PayPal API Client ID and Secret

To connect AST PRO to PayPal and sync shipment tracking, you need a Client ID and Secret from a PayPal REST app. Follow the steps below, then paste both values into WooCommerce → Shipment Tracking → Settings → PayPal Tracking.

Steps

  1. 1Go to developer.paypal.com and sign in with your PayPal Business account credentials.
  2. 2In the top bar, use the Sandbox / Live toggle to select the environment you want credentials for. Use Sandbox for testing, Live for production.
  3. 3Go to Apps & Credentials. Under REST API apps, click Create App.
  4. 4Give the app a name (for example, WooCommerce Tracking) and click Create App.
  5. 5Critical: On the app’s detail screen, scroll to the App Feature Options (or App Settings) section and enable Transaction Search (also listed as Shipment Tracking in some accounts). Without this feature enabled, PayPal rejects all tracking submissions from AST PRO even if credentials are correct.
  6. 6Copy the Client ID shown at the top of the page. Click Show next to the Secret field to reveal and copy the Secret.
  7. 7Paste both values into the PayPal API Client ID and PayPal API Client Secret fields in PayPal Tracking settings.
PayPal Developer Apps and Credentials screen showing the REST API apps section with Create App button
PayPal Create App form showing name field and Sandbox/Live environment selector
PayPal app detail screen showing Client ID and Secret fields with the Show button

Sandbox vs live credentials

EnvironmentUseAST PRO setting
SandboxTesting — no real PayPal transactionsEnable PayPal Sandbox toggle in AST PRO and paste sandbox credentials
LiveProductionLeave PayPal Sandbox toggle off and paste live credentials
Sandbox and live credentials are different. Using sandbox credentials with the sandbox toggle off (or vice versa) causes every sync to fail with an authentication error.

Troubleshooting

  • Authentication error / invalid credentials — confirm you are using sandbox credentials with the sandbox toggle on, or live credentials with it off. Re-copy the credentials directly from the PayPal Developer Portal — do not retype them.
  • Tracking rejected despite correct credentials — the most common cause is the Transaction Search / Shipment Tracking feature not being enabled on the app (Step 5 above). Go back to the app’s detail screen and enable it.
  • Where to see sync errors — go to How to View the PayPal Tracking Error Logs for step-by-step instructions.