WooCommerce Order Status Control 1.16.1

WooCommerce Order Status Control is a lightweight, high-utility plugin designed to solve one of the most common workflow "bottlenecks" in WooCommerce: the manual transition of orders from Processing to Completed.

By default, WooCommerce only auto-completes orders if the product is both Virtual and Downloadable. If you sell physical goods or services, every order stops at "Processing," forcing you to click "Complete" manually for every sale. This plugin automates that step.

🚀 Key Functionalities (2026 Standards)

In 2026, where "instant fulfillment" is the standard for digital services, this plugin is essential for high-volume stores.

1. The "Skip Processing" Feature

The primary value of this plugin is the ability to bypass the manual fulfillment step. You can configure it to automatically move orders to Completed immediately after a successful payment.

All Orders: Regardless of whether the item is physical or digital, once the payment clears, the order is marked finished.

Virtual Only: Auto-completes "Virtual" products even if they are NOT "Downloadable" (which WooCommerce core won't do).

2. Intelligent Payment Sync

The plugin is "payment-aware." It won't trigger an auto-completion until it receives a success signal from your payment gateway (like Stripe, PayPal, or Square).

Failed/Pending Payments: If a payment fails or is on hold (e.g., Check or Bank Transfer), the plugin will not auto-complete the order, protecting you from giving away products for free.

3. Streamlined Email Workflow

When the status moves to "Completed," WooCommerce's native "Order Complete" email is automatically triggered. This means customers get their receipts and access links instantly without you lifting a finger.

🛠 Setup & Configuration

Once installed, the settings are integrated directly into your general WooCommerce settings:

Go to WooCommerce > Settings > General.

Locate the Orders to Auto-Complete dropdown.

Select your preferred mode:

None: Default behavior.

All Orders: Best for service-based or automated dropshipping sites.

Virtual Orders: Best for consulting or membership sites.

Virtual & Downloadable: Standard WooCommerce behavior.

⚖️ Comparison: Status Control vs. Status Manager

Many users confuse these two plugins. Here is the difference:

Feature

Order Status Control

Order Status Manager

Primary Goal

Automation (Auto-Complete)

Customization (Add New Statuses)

New Statuses

No (Uses core statuses)

Yes (e.g., "In Printing", "Shipped")

Logic

Simple (Auto-complete all/none)

Complex (Custom flows and icons)

Best For

Saving time on admin tasks.

Complex fulfillment/manufacturing flows.

💰 Pricing & Availability (2026)

Official Version (SkyVerge/WooCommerce): Usually priced at $29–$49/year. It is often included for free in "Managed WooCommerce" hosting plans from GoDaddy or Bluehost.

Free Alternatives: There are "Lite" versions on WordPress.org (like Order Status Control for WooCommerce by BrightVessel) that offer basic auto-completion for free.

Would you like me to help you set up a custom code snippet to auto-complete only specific product categories, or would you like to see a list of free alternatives available in 2026?