This guide will help you set up Advanced Returns and Refunds for WooCommerce, from installation to your first successful test return.
Follow the steps below to install and activate the plugin, configure required WooCommerce settings, and verify that returns and refunds are processed correctly in both WooCommerce and with your payment provider.

Getting started with Advanced Returns and Refunds

Step 1 – Check requirements

Before installing Advanced Returns and Refunds, make sure your store meets the following requirements:

• WordPress 5.0 or higher
• WooCommerce 5.0 or higher
• PHP 7.2 or higher

Step 2 – Install the plugin

1. In your WordPress admin, go to Plugins → Add New → Upload Plugin.
2. Upload the advanced-returns-and-refunds.zip file you received from Krokedil.
3. Click Install Now, then Activate.

After activation, a new Returns tab appears under WooCommerce → Settings.

Step 3 – Activate the plugin license

Open WooCommerce → Settings → Returns and paste your license key into the License key field. The license key is required for plugin updates.

There are many settings available in the plugin – such as excluding products from the return flow, customisable titles and texts, and options for return shipping. For now, we’re keeping the default settings and just making sure the flow works end to end.

Step 4 – Set up a return page

The plugin includes a shortcode that renders a return form for guest customers (and anyone not currently logged in). To set it up:

1. Create a new WordPress page (for example Return your order).
2. Add the shortcode: [arar_order]
3. Publish the page

Note: Logged-in customers can also access the return form directly from their My Account order view – no additional page is needed for them.

Step 5 – Place a test order

Place an order in your store. We recommend doing this in a staging environment and/or using your payment provider’s test credentials.

To verify that refunds work correctly, the order should be paid – either for real or with your payment provider in test mode. Make sure the order status is Completed before moving on, as that is required for the return flow to be available.

Step 6 – Start a return as a customer

1. Go to your return page (or to the order view under My Account if you’re logged in).
2. Enter the order number and email address used when placing the order.
3. Click Start a return and follow the steps – you can choose between a regular return (refund) or an exchange.

Step 7 – Process the return as a merchant

Once the customer submits a return, a linked return order is created and the original order moves to Return pending status.

To finalise it:

1. Open the return order (from the parent order’s Returns metabox, or from the Returns list in WooCommerce).
2. Review and adjust quantities or amounts if needed.
3. Click WooCommerce’s standard Refund button to issue the refund.
4. Optionally tick Restock refunded items to return the items to stock.
5. Mark the return order as Completed.

What to expect when it all works

When the return is completed, you should see the following:

• A refund is registered on the parent order for the refunded amount.
• The Returned column on the parent order updates to reflect how many of each line item have been returned.
• The parent order’s status changes according to your Completed return order status setting – or stays unchanged if set to Do not change order status.
• The customer receives a confirmation email, and you receive an admin notification.

If you chose to test an exchange rather than a plain refund, a free-shipping coupon is generated and made available to the customer (provided Activate Free shipping coupon is enabled in settings).

Step 8 – Verify the refund with your payment provider

f your payment provider has a merchant portal, log in and confirm that the refund has been registered there as well.

A refund created in WooCommerce does not always guarantee that it was successfully processed by the payment provider. What to look for varies by provider, but generally:

• The refunded amount should match what was registered in WooCommerce.
• The order or transaction status should reflect that a refund has been issued.

If the refund is missing or the amount doesn’t match, the issue is likely in the payment gateway integration rather than in Advanced Returns and Refunds. Refer to your payment provider’s documentation or contact their support.