How To Change Default Woocommerce Order Status

# How to Change Default WooCommerce Order Status: A Beginner’s Guide

WooCommerce, while incredibly user-friendly, sometimes needs a little tweaking to perfectly match your business needs. One common adjustment is changing the default order statuses. This article will guide you through the process, explaining why you might want to do this and how to accomplish it, whether you’re comfortable with code or prefer a plugin.

Why Change Default WooCommerce Order Statuses?

WooCommerce comes with a set of default order statuses: Processing, Completed, On-hold, Cancelled, and Refunded. These are great for many businesses, but what if your workflow requires more granularity?

Let’s look at a few real-life scenarios:

• Custom Production Process: You might manufacture goods and need statuses like “Awaiting Materials,” “In Production,” and “Quality Control” to track your orders accurately. The standard statuses simply don’t offer this level of detail.
• Improved Customer Communication: You could add a “Shipped” status to automatically send a shipping notification email, enhancing customer experience and reducing inquiries.
• Streamlined Internal Processes: Creating a “Pending Review” status could help your team manage orders that require additional approval before processing, ensuring accuracy and minimizing errors.

In short, customizing your order statuses improves efficiency, transparency, and customer satisfaction.

Method 1: Using a Plugin (The Easy Way)

For those less comfortable with code, a plugin is the easiest solution. Many plugins offer advanced order status management. Popular choices include:

• WooCommerce Order Status Manager: This plugin allows you to add, rename, and reorder statuses easily through a user-friendly interface. No coding required!
• Custom Order Status for WooCommerce: Similar to the above, this plugin provides a straightforward way to manage your order statuses without any technical expertise.

How to Use a Plugin (General Steps):

1. Install and Activate: Install the chosen plugin from your WordPress dashboard (Plugins > Add New).

2. Configure Settings: Access the plugin’s settings page (usually found under WooCommerce).

3. Add New Statuses: Add your desired statuses, specifying their labels and potentially their actions (e.g., email notifications).

4. Reorder Statuses (If Necessary): Change the order in which statuses appear in your WooCommerce admin.

Method 2: Using Code (For the Technically Inclined)

If you’re familiar with PHP and comfortable editing your WooCommerce files, you can directly modify the order statuses. However, proceed with caution! Always back up your files before making any changes. Incorrectly modifying core files can break your website.

This method involves adding custom statuses using the `wc_add_order_status()` function. Here’s an example:

add_action( 'init', 'add_custom_order_status' );
function add_custom_order_status() {
// Add a new status called "Awaiting Materials"
wc_add_order_status( 'awaiting-materials', __( 'Awaiting Materials', 'woocommerce' ) );
}

This code snippet adds a new status called “Awaiting Materials”. You can replace `’awaiting-materials’` and `’Awaiting Materials’` with your desired slug and label respectively. Remember to replace `’woocommerce’` with the text domain of your theme if it’s not WooCommerce’s default.

Adding Actions to Your Custom Status

Adding a status is only half the battle. You likely want to trigger actions based on this new status (e.g., send an email). This requires more advanced coding, involving hooks and filters within WooCommerce. It’s beyond the scope of this beginner’s guide, but plenty of resources are available online for more advanced customization.

Conclusion

Changing your default WooCommerce order statuses can significantly improve your workflow and customer experience. Whether you choose the plugin route or delve into code, remember to back up your website before making any changes. Start with the plugin method if you’re unsure, and gradually explore code customization as your confidence grows. Remember to always prioritize a smooth customer experience and efficient internal processes.