Troubleshooting Guide: Fixing Frequent Disconnections in Google for WooCommerce

Many users of the Google for WooCommerce plugin report a frustrating issue: the connection to their Google account seems unstable, disconnecting after a few hours or requiring re-authentication on every login. This guide will help you understand why this happens and walk you through the most common solutions.

Why Does the Plugin Keep Disconnecting?

Based on community reports, the core issue often relates to how connection state and tokens are managed. The plugin relies on specific data being consistently available. When this data is corrupted, invalidated, or cannot be properly saved, the plugin perceives the connection as broken and prompts for a reconnection. Common triggers include:

• Conflicting Caching: Aggressive object or page caching can clear the session data the plugin uses to stay connected.
• Third-Party Plugin Interference: Other plugins, especially those modifying WooCommerce cart/button behavior or security plugins, can inadvertently break the connection process.
• Session or Transient Issues: Problems with the WordPress database table that stores temporary session data can cause credentials to be lost.
• Underlying Code Discrepancies: As seen in one thread, sometimes a mismatch in event naming (like add_to_cart vs. add-to-cart) within the code can cause errors that lead to instability.

Step-by-Step Troubleshooting

Step 1: Conduct a Conflict Test

This is the most critical step to rule out interference from other plugins or your theme.

1. Switch your theme to a default WordPress theme like Twenty Twenty-Four.
2. Deactivate all plugins except for WooCommerce and Google for WooCommerce.
3. Reconnect your Google account and see if the connection remains stable over several hours.
4. If the issue is resolved, reactivate your plugins and theme one by one, checking the connection after each, to identify the culprit.

Step 2: Review Your Caching Configuration

Caching is a common cause. You must configure your caching plugin or server-level cache to exclude sensitive pages from being cached.

• Exclude Admin Pages: Ensure that any page containing /wp-admin/ is never cached.
• Exclude Session-Specific Pages: If possible, also exclude the WooCommerce cart, checkout, and my-account pages.
• Consult your caching plugin's documentation for instructions on setting exclusions.

Step 3: Clear Existing Connection and Reconnect

A clean reconnection can often resolve corrupted token issues.

1. Go to WooCommerce > Status > Tools.
2. Find the tool named Clear Google for WooCommerce data or similar and run it. This will safely disconnect the plugin.
3. Go back to the Google for WooCommerce setup page (Marketing > Google) and go through the connection process again from scratch.

Step 4: Check for JavaScript Errors

As hinted at in one of the sample threads, JavaScript errors can prevent the plugin from functioning correctly.

1. While on your site's dashboard, open your browser's developer tools (usually F12).
2. Go to the "Console" tab.
3. Reproduce the issue by navigating to the Google dashboard.
4. If you see any red error messages, they can provide a vital clue. You may need to investigate conflicts with other plugins that modify JavaScript behavior.

If the Problem Persists

If you've tried all the steps above and the disconnections continue, the next best step is to gather detailed information for further investigation. This includes:

• System Status Report: Navigate to WooCommerce > Status, click "Get system report", and then "Copy for support". This provides a full overview of your site's environment.
• Plugin Logs: Enable logging for Google for WooCommerce under WooCommerce > Status > Logs. Select the appropriate log file from the dropdown to see if any errors are recorded at the time of disconnection.

By methodically working through these steps, you can identify and resolve the underlying cause of the frequent disconnections in Google for WooCommerce.