WooCommerce Orders Stuck on "Processing"? Check Stripe Webhooks Before You Panic

TL;DR

If payments succeed but orders don't update (or refunds/renewals misbehave), webhooks are a prime suspect. WooCommerce documents both webhooks generally and Stripe-specific webhook setup for its extension.

The Mental Model

• WooCommerce → Stripe: API calls outbound ("charge this card")

• Stripe → WooCommerce: Webhooks inbound ("payment succeeded," "refund processed")

If inbound messages fail, WooCommerce can miss important events. The payment went through on Stripe's side, but your store never got the memo.

Quick Symptoms

• Orders paid but status doesn't change from "Processing"

• Refunds initiated but not reflected in WooCommerce

• Subscription renewals flaky or failing

• Missing "payment complete" confirmation emails

Step-by-Step Fix

Step 1: Confirm WooCommerce Webhooks Exist

Go to WooCommerce → Settings → Advanced → Webhooks. If this section is empty or disabled, that's likely your problem. WooCommerce uses webhooks as event triggers for orders, products, customers, and third-party integrations.

Step 2: Verify Stripe Extension Webhook Configuration

WooCommerce's Stripe extension has a dedicated guide on ensuring live/test webhooks are configured correctly. Check that:

• The webhook endpoint URL is correct and reachable

• The webhook signing secret matches what's in your Stripe dashboard

• The correct events are selected (payment_intent.succeeded, charge.refunded, etc.)

Step 3: Confirm You Didn't Mix Test vs Live

Classic mistake: you set up webhooks in test mode but are charging live (or vice versa). Test mode and live mode webhooks are separate in Stripe. Double-check you've configured both.

Step 4: Re-test End-to-End

• Place a test order

• Confirm status changes automatically

• Confirm confirmation email sends

• Check webhook delivery logs in Stripe dashboard (show success/failure)

Why This Is Worth Caring About

Webhooks aren't a "nice to have." WooCommerce explicitly frames webhooks as event triggers for orders, products, customers, and third-party integrations. If the event pipeline is broken, your store becomes unreliable — and customers lose trust fast.

FAQ

Are WooCommerce webhooks only for developers?

No. They're part of normal store operations for many extensions and integrations.

Where do I configure WooCommerce webhooks?

WooCommerce → Settings → Advanced → Webhooks.

Can I test webhooks without real payments?

Yes — use Stripe's test mode and the Stripe CLI to send test webhook events to your store.

Need help? Superpress specializes in WooCommerce maintenance — webhook configuration is one of the most common fixes we handle.