---
title: How to Restyle a Default WooCommerce Order Status
description: "Recolor and adjust built-in WooCommerce order statuses with an override, and what an override can change."
url: "https://wpfactory.com/docs/woocommerce-override-default-order-status/"
updated: "2026-09-27"
category: How to
---

# How to Restyle a Default WooCommerce Order Status

To restyle a default WooCommerce order status with Additional Custom Order Status for WooCommerce, go to WooCommerce > Order Status, click Add New Status, and set a title whose slug matches the default status, for example "Processing". Publish it, then set the text and background color in Styling Options. This override is free.

### How the override works

When you create a status whose slug matches one of the default WooCommerce slugs, Custom Order Status recognizes it as an override rather than a brand new status. The default statuses you can override are:

`pending`, `processing`, `on-hold`, `completed`, `cancelled`, `refunded`, `failed`.

On an override, the status edit screen shows a note: "You are overriding the default ... WooCommerce status."

### Steps

1. Go to **WooCommerce > Order Status** and click **Add New Status**.
2. Set the **Title** so that its generated slug matches the default status you want to override. For example, a title of "Processing" produces the slug `processing`.
3. Publish the status, then set its **Styling Options** (text and background color).

### What an override can and cannot change

For an override, Custom Order Status intentionally hides the options that WooCommerce already controls for its own statuses. On an override you will not see:

- **Add to reports**, the **Action Buttons Options** box, **Is order paid**, **Is order valid for payment**, **Set order "date paid"**, and **Download permissions**.

You can still set styling and, in Pro, the **Email Options** box, where the send option is relabeled "Send an additional email on status change" so it adds to, rather than replaces, the standard WooCommerce email.

**Note:** use overrides mainly to recolor default statuses or, in Pro, to send an extra email on a default status change. Order behavior for default statuses stays under WooCommerce control.

### Get more from your statuses

Overriding default statuses is free. [Additional Custom Order Status for WooCommerce](https://wpfactory.com/item/order-status-for-woocommerce/) Pro adds automated emails on status change. [See what Pro unlocks](https://wpfactory.com/item/order-status-for-woocommerce/).

Related articles

- [Deleting a Custom Order Status Safely](https://wpfactory.com/docs/woocommerce-delete-order-status-fallback/)
- [Send WooCommerce Emails on Custom Order Status Change](https://wpfactory.com/docs/proactive-email-setup/)
- [WooCommerce Custom Order Status Behavior Settings](https://wpfactory.com/docs/configure-order-statuses/)
- [Add Custom Order Status Action Buttons in WooCommerce](https://wpfactory.com/docs/configure-order-status/)
- [The Order Meta Shortcode for Status Emails](https://wpfactory.com/docs/woocommerce-order-status-order-meta-shortcode/)