Configuration

All of Returns’ settings live in one place: WooCommerce → Returns in wp-admin. There are only three settings, each with inline help, and sensible defaults mean most shops can leave them as-is.

Eligible order statuses

Choose which WooCommerce order statuses a customer can open a return on. Only orders in one of the selected statuses show the Request a return action in My Account.

The default is Completed and Processing — the two statuses that normally mean the customer has the goods. You might add On hold if you ship before payment clears, or restrict to Completed only if you never want a return raised before fulfilment is finished.

Statuses you do not select simply never offer the return action, so a customer cannot open a return on, for example, a Cancelled or Refunded order.

Return window (days)

The number of days after the order date during which a return can still be opened. Once an eligible order is older than the window, the Request a return action is hidden and the customer sees a notice instead.

• Set a value such as 14 or 30 to match your store policy.
• Set it to 0 to remove the time limit entirely — eligible orders can be returned at any time.

The window is measured from the order, so it is consistent regardless of when the customer logs in to start the request.

Notification recipient

The email address that receives a message every time a return request is submitted. It defaults to your site admin email (the WordPress Administration Email Address).

Point this at whoever processes returns — a shared returns@ inbox, a helpdesk address or a specific staff member. Every new request triggers one email so nothing is missed, and the same request is also saved as a private record in wp-admin.

What is not configured here

Returns records requests and tracks their status; it does not move money. There is no refund setting because refunds are processed in the standard WooCommerce order screen. The return record simply keeps the request and the status you set in one place.

Defaults at a glance

Setting	Default
Eligible order statuses	Completed, Processing
Return window	A fixed number of days (set 0 for unlimited)
Notification recipient	Site admin email

After changing any setting, open My Account → Orders as a test customer to confirm the return action appears (or is correctly hidden) for the orders you expect.