How to Configure Stripe in WooCommerce Step by Step

Introduction

Stripe is one of the most widely used payment gateways for accepting card payments in online stores. It’s compatible with WooCommerce through an official plugin and lets you accept credit and debit cards quickly and securely.

In this article you’ll see how to install and configure Stripe in your WooCommerce store, from creating the account to your first test sale. It’s designed so you can follow it without technical knowledge.

What you need before you start

Before configuring Stripe, make sure you have:

1. A WooCommerce store installed and working.
2. An active SSL certificate. Stripe only works over HTTPS, so your site must load with https://.
3. A Stripe account. You can create one for free on the Stripe website.

[Imagen sugerida: screenshot of the Stripe sign-up page]

The SSL certificate is mandatory for any payment gateway. At miHosting all plans include free SSL with Let’s Encrypt and automatic renewal.

Step 1: Create a Stripe account

1. Go to the Stripe website and click Start now.
2. Fill in the registration details: email, password and country.
3. Complete your business information: name, address, bank account where you want to receive payments.
4. Stripe will ask you to verify your identity with a document. This step is mandatory before you can charge for real.

Once your account is verified, you can access the Stripe dashboard where the API keys are located.

Step 2: Get your Stripe API keys

API keys are what connect your WooCommerce store to your Stripe account.

1. Log in to the Stripe dashboard.
2. Find the Developers → API keys section.
3. You’ll see two important keys:
   • Publishable key (pk_...): used by the website on the front end.
   • Secret key (sk_...): used by the server and must remain private.

[Imagen sugerida: screenshot of the API keys section in the Stripe dashboard]

First use the test keys (pk_test_... and sk_test_...). When everything works, replace them with the production keys (pk_live_... and sk_live_...).

Step 3: Install the Stripe plugin in WooCommerce

1. Log in to the WordPress admin panel (yourdomain.com/wp-admin).
2. Go to Plugins → Add New.
3. Search for WooCommerce Stripe Gateway.
4. Click Install Now and then Activate.

This is the official Stripe plugin for WooCommerce. Avoid using unknown third-party plugins, as they may not be secure.

Step 4: Configure the Stripe plugin

1. Go to WooCommerce → Settings → Payments.
2. Find Stripe in the payment methods list.
3. Click Manage or the Stripe title.
4. Check the Enable Stripe option.
5. Paste your API keys:
   • Publishable key in the corresponding field.
   • Secret key in the corresponding field.
6. Enable test mode while configuring.

[Imagen sugerida: screenshot of the Stripe plugin configuration screen in WooCommerce]

Recommended options

• Automatic payment capture: recommended for most stores.
• Debug log: useful when troubleshooting, but disable it in production.
• Payment options: enable credit card. You can add more methods (Apple Pay, Google Pay, SEPA, etc.) depending on your country.

7. Click Save changes.

Step 5: Test a purchase in sandbox mode

Before activating Stripe in production, run a test purchase:

1. Make sure test mode is active.

2. Enter your store as a customer.

3. Add a product to the cart and complete the checkout.

4. Use Stripe’s test card details, for example:

   Number: 4242 4242 4242 4242
   Expiry: any future date
   CVC: any 3-digit number

5. Verify that:

   • The payment processes correctly.
   • The order appears under WooCommerce → Orders.
   • The payment appears in the Stripe dashboard as “succeeded”.

[Imagen sugerida: screenshot of the Stripe dashboard showing a test payment]

Step 6: Activate Stripe in production

When the test works, move to production:

1. Go back to WooCommerce → Settings → Payments → Stripe.
2. Replace the test keys with production keys.
3. Disable test mode.
4. Save the changes.
5. Run a real purchase with a minimal amount to confirm everything works.

Remember to check that funds reach your bank account. Stripe usually takes between 2 and 7 business days to settle payments, depending on your country.

Useful tips

• Enable Apple Pay and Google Pay. They increase mobile conversion because the customer pays without typing their card.
• Configure taxes correctly. Stripe doesn’t calculate taxes for you. WooCommerce has a tax section under Settings → Tax.
• Keep the plugin updated. Stripe plugin updates fix bugs and add compatibility with new WooCommerce versions.
• Never share your secret key. If you accidentally leak it, generate a new one from the Stripe dashboard.
• Back up before updating. A WooCommerce or plugin update can affect the payment gateway.

Common problems

Stripe doesn’t appear as a payment method at checkout

Check that you’ve activated the plugin and that the method is marked as active under WooCommerce → Settings → Payments.

Payment fails with an SSL error

Stripe requires HTTPS. Verify that your SSL certificate is installed and that the site loads with https:// without mixed content (resources loading over HTTP).

”Invalid API Key” error appears

It means the keys are copied incorrectly or you’re mixing test keys with production keys. Make sure you use the correct pair.

Payments reach Stripe but not my bank account

This is usually a Stripe settlement issue, not a WooCommerce one. Check your Stripe dashboard → Payments to see the payout status.

The customer sees the payment declined

This may be due to insufficient funds, an expired card, or Stripe’s anti-fraud rules. Check the decline reason in the Stripe dashboard → Payments.

Frequently asked questions

Does Stripe have any setup cost?

No. Creating the account and using the plugin is free. Stripe charges a commission on each processed transaction.

How long does Stripe take to settle payments?

Usually between 2 and 7 business days, depending on the country. You can see the exact schedule in your Stripe dashboard.

Do I need a bank virtual POS to use Stripe?

No. Stripe acts as a payment gateway and doesn’t require you to contract an additional POS with your bank.

Can I issue refunds from WooCommerce?

Yes. If you refund an order from WooCommerce, the Stripe plugin processes the refund automatically on the customer’s card.

Is Stripe available in my country?

Stripe operates in many countries, but not all. Check availability on the official Stripe website before starting.

Configure Stripe and start charging

Configuring Stripe in WooCommerce is a straightforward process if you follow the steps in order: create the account, get the API keys, install the official plugin, test a purchase in sandbox mode, and when everything works, activate production.

If you need help with SSL, PHP version, or any hosting setting during the process, open a support ticket from your client panel and our technical team will help. If you don’t yet have suitable hosting for your WooCommerce store, at miHosting you have optimized plans with free SSL, LiteSpeed cache and support from real technicians.