# How to Change Your Order Name in WooCommerce: A Beginner’s Guide
Changing the order name in WooCommerce might seem like a small detail, but it can significantly improve your order management and customer experience. Imagine trying to find order #7492 among hundreds of others – not ideal! A descriptive order name makes everything much easier. This guide will show you how, even if you’re new to WooCommerce.
Why Change Your WooCommerce Order Name?
Before diving into the “how,” let’s understand the “why.” Default WooCommerce order names are usually numerical IDs (e.g., #12345). These are not very helpful when dealing with multiple orders. A descriptive name improves:
- Order identification: Quickly find specific orders based on content rather than just a number. For example, “John Doe’s Birthday Order” is much clearer than #9876.
- Order organization: Easily categorize and sort orders based on customer name, product, or date.
- Customer service: Faster order lookup and resolution for customer inquiries.
Methods to Change WooCommerce Order Names
There are two main approaches to changing WooCommerce order names: using plugins and using custom code. Let’s explore both.
Method 1: Using a WooCommerce Plugin
This is the easiest and recommended method, especially for beginners. Several plugins allow you to add custom order notes or fields, effectively renaming your orders. Here’s a general process (specific steps might vary depending on the plugin):
1. Install a plugin: Search for “WooCommerce order notes” or “WooCommerce custom fields” in your WooCommerce plugin directory. Many free and paid options are available. Popular choices often include features beyond simple renaming.
2. Activate the plugin: Once installed, activate the plugin from your WordPress dashboard.
3. Configure the plugin: Follow the plugin’s instructions to set up custom fields. You might be able to add a field specifically for “Order Name.”
4. Add the order name: When creating or editing an order, you’ll now see the custom field where you can enter a descriptive name.
Example: Let’s say you use a plugin that adds a “Customer Reference” field. For an order from “Jane Smith” for a “Wedding Dress,” you’d enter “Jane Smith – Wedding Dress” in the “Customer Reference” field. This becomes your effective “order name.”
Method 2: Using Custom Code (Advanced Users)
This method Discover insights on How To Change Sender Name In Outgoing Woocommerce Email requires some familiarity with PHP and WordPress. Proceed with caution, as incorrect code Read more about How To Custom Order Products In Woocommerce can break your website. Always back up your website before implementing custom code.
This code snippet adds a custom field to the order edit screen. You would need to place this code within your theme’s `functions.php` file or a custom plugin:
add_action( 'add_meta_boxes', 'add_custom_order_name_field' ); function add_custom_order_name_field() { add_meta_box( 'custom_order_name', 'Order Name', 'custom_order_name_callback', 'shop_order', 'side', 'high' ); }
function custom_order_name_callback( $post ) {
wp_nonce_field( basename( __FILE__ ), ‘custom_order_name_nonce’ );
$order_name = get_post_meta( $post->ID, ‘order_name’, true );
?>
<input type="text" id="order_name" name="order_name" value="” />
<?php
}
add_action( ‘save_post’, ‘save_custom_order_name_field’, 10, 2 );
function save_custom_order_name_field( $post_id, $post ) {
if ( ! isset( $_POST[‘custom_order_name_nonce’] ) || ! wp_verify_nonce( $_POST[‘custom_order_name_nonce’], basename( __FILE__ ) ) ) {
return;
}
if ( defined( ‘DOING_AUTOSAVE’ ) && DOING_AUTOSAVE ) {
return;
}
if ( ! current_user_can( ‘edit_post’, $post_id ) ) {
return;
}
if ( isset( $_POST[‘order_name’] ) ) {
update_post_meta( $post_id, ‘order_name’, sanitize_text_field( $_POST[‘order_name’] ) );
}
}
Remember: This is a simplified example. You’ll need to adjust it according to your specific needs and potentially add functionality to display the custom order name within your order details pages.
Conclusion
Choosing the right method depends on your technical skills and comfort level. For most users, installing a plugin is the simplest and safest way to change your WooCommerce order names, improving order management and boosting your overall efficiency. Remember to always back up your website before making any significant changes.
