--- title: Getting Started with Custom Order Status for WooCommerce description: Install Additional Custom Order Status for WooCommerce from the WordPress dashboard or by FTP upload. url: "https://wpfactory.com/docs/install-custom-order-status/" updated: "2026-09-27" category: Getting Started tags: - Custom Order Status for WooCommerce --- # Getting Started with Custom Order Status for WooCommerce [Additional Custom Order Status for WooCommerce](https://wpfactory.com/item/order-status-for-woocommerce/) lets you add your own WooCommerce order statuses, style them and control how orders behave in each one. You create statuses at **WooCommerce > Order Status**, and global settings are at **WPFactory > Order Status** (also reachable at **WooCommerce > Settings > Order Status**). [![Additional Custom Order Status for WooCommerce](https://wpfactory.com/wp-content/uploads/Order-Status-for-WooCommerce-1024x333.webp)](https://wpfactory.com/item/order-status-for-woocommerce/) ## What it does WooCommerce ships with a fixed set of statuses such as Processing, On hold and Completed. Custom Order Status adds as many extra statuses as you need, for example "Under manufacture" or "Awaiting pickup", each with its own colors, bulk action, report inclusion, action buttons and order behavior. With Pro, a status can also send an email when an order reaches it. ## Install and activate 1. Free: install **Additional Custom Order Status for WooCommerce** from [WordPress.org](https://wordpress.org/plugins/order-status-for-woocommerce/) (or search for it at **Plugins > Add New**) and activate it. 2. Pro: download **Additional Custom Order Status for WooCommerce Pro** from your WPFactory account, upload the ZIP at **Plugins > Add New > Upload Plugin** and activate it. ![Installing the Custom Order Status plugin](https://wpfactory.com/wp-content/uploads/How-to-Customize-Your-Order-Status-for-WooCommerce-step1-1024x724.webp) For more detail, see [installing the Custom Order Status plugin](https://wpfactory.com/docs/install-custom-order-status/). ## First setup 1. Go to **WooCommerce > Order Status** and click **Add New**. 2. Enter a **Title**, for example "Under manufacture". The title cannot start with a number. 3. The **Status Slug** is generated from the title. It cannot be edited, so choose the title carefully. 4. In **Styling Options**, pick a **Text color** (default #000000) and **Background color** (default #999999) for the status label. 5. Check **General Options**: **Add to order bulk actions** and **Add to reports** are both Yes by default. 6. Click **Publish**. Open any order and the new status is available in the status dropdown. ![Add New Status button](https://wpfactory.com/wp-content/uploads/How-to-Customize-Your-Order-Status-for-WooCommerce-step4-1024x495.png) ![Status title, slug, and styling options](https://wpfactory.com/wp-content/uploads/How-to-Customize-Your-Order-Status-for-WooCommerce-step43-1024x495.png) See [creating custom order statuses](https://wpfactory.com/docs/create-custom-statuses/) and [styling custom order statuses](https://wpfactory.com/docs/style-options-woocommerce/) for more. ## Main features ### Action buttons (Free) In **Action Buttons Options**, set **Add to order list action buttons** or **Add to admin order preview action buttons** to Yes (both No by default) to get a one-click button for the status, with your own icon and colors. See [adding custom order status action buttons](https://wpfactory.com/docs/configure-order-status/). ### Order behavior (Free) **Order Options** decides whether an order in this status **Is order editable**, **Is order paid** or **Is order valid for payment**, whether to **Set order "date paid" on status update**, and whether to grant **Download permissions**. All are No by default. See [custom order status behavior settings](https://wpfactory.com/docs/configure-order-statuses/). ![General, action button, and order options](https://wpfactory.com/wp-content/uploads/How-to-Customize-Your-Order-Status-for-WooCommerce-Step5-1024x495.png) ### Status emails (Pro) In **Email Options**, set **Send email on status change** to Yes and fill in **Email address**, **Subject** and **Content**. The address field accepts `%customer%` and `%admin%`. See [sending emails on custom order status change](https://wpfactory.com/docs/proactive-email-setup/) and the [email placeholders reference](https://wpfactory.com/docs/woocommerce-order-status-email-placeholders/). ![Email options for a custom status](https://wpfactory.com/wp-content/uploads/How-to-Customize-Your-Order-Status-for-WooCommerce-step52-1024x495.png) ### Sorting (Free) At **WPFactory > Order Status**, the **Sorting** section sets the order of statuses in the admin order edit dropdown, the order list and preview action buttons, and bulk actions. Each can be **Default**, **By title (ascending)** or **Custom**. See [how to sort order statuses](https://wpfactory.com/docs/woocommerce-order-status-sorting/). ![Sorting options for order statuses](https://wpfactory.com/wp-content/uploads/How-to-Customize-Your-Order-Status-for-WooCommerce-Step3-1024x495.png) ### Processing and Complete buttons (Free) The **General** section can override which statuses show WooCommerce's own Processing and Complete buttons in the order list. By default, Processing appears for pending and on-hold orders, and Complete for pending, processing and on-hold orders. See [showing Processing and Complete buttons on more orders](https://wpfactory.com/docs/woocommerce-processing-complete-action-buttons/). ![Custom Order Status settings page](https://wpfactory.com/wp-content/uploads/How-to-Customize-Your-Order-Status-for-WooCommerce-step2-1024x495.png) ### Restyle default statuses and delete safely (Free) You can restyle a built-in WooCommerce status, and when you delete a custom status you can move its orders to a fallback status. See [how to restyle a default order status](https://wpfactory.com/docs/woocommerce-override-default-order-status/) and [deleting a custom order status safely](https://wpfactory.com/docs/woocommerce-delete-order-status-fallback/). ## Free vs Pro | Feature | Free | Pro | | --- | --- | --- | | Unlimited custom statuses with styling | Yes | Yes | | Bulk actions, reports, action buttons | Yes | Yes | | Order Options (editable, paid, date paid, download permissions) | Yes | Yes | | Sorting, Processing and Complete button overrides | Yes | Yes | | Send email on status change | No | Yes | For a longer comparison, see [Custom Order Status: Free vs Pro](https://wpfactory.com/docs/difference-between-pro-and-free-version/). ## FAQ ### Where do I create a new status? At **WooCommerce > Order Status**. The **WPFactory > Order Status** page holds only the global General and Sorting settings, with a link back to the status list. ### Can I change a status slug later? No. The slug is created from the title and cannot be edited. To use a different slug, create a new status and move your orders to it. ### Why is my title rejected? Status titles cannot start with a number. Put a word first, for example "Stage 2" instead of "2nd stage". ### Is there a limit on how many statuses I can add? No. The free version has no status limit. ### Why is the Email Options box disabled? Status emails are the Pro feature. In the free version **Send email on status change** stays disabled. ### Ready to set this up? Status emails are a Pro feature of [Custom Order Status](https://wpfactory.com/item/order-status-for-woocommerce/). Everything else in this guide is free. [Get Custom Order Status Pro](https://wpfactory.com/item/order-status-for-woocommerce/). Need a hand? Our team answers every ticket on the [Custom Order Status support forum](https://wpfactory.com/support/item/order-status-for-woocommerce/). Related articles - [Configuring Custom Order Status Emails](https://wpfactory.com/docs/email-and-sms-configures/) - [The Order Meta Shortcode for Status Emails](https://wpfactory.com/docs/woocommerce-order-status-order-meta-shortcode/) - [Troubleshooting Custom Order Statuses](https://wpfactory.com/docs/general-issues/) - [General and Order Options for Custom Statuses](https://wpfactory.com/docs/custom-order-status-general-payments/)   [![Custom Order Status for WooCommerce](https://wpfactory.com/wp-content/uploads/Order-Status-for-WooCommerce.webp)](https://wpfactory.com/item/order-status-for-woocommerce/)