What a guest order link is and why WooCommerce creates one
When someone buys from your WooCommerce store without creating an account, WooCommerce generates a unique link that lets them check their order status, read invoices, and see shipping updates without logging in. This link is sent to their email address automatically after purchase. The link contains a token — a long string of characters — that proves they own that specific order.
The guest order link is useful because it removes friction: a customer doesn't have to remember a password or create an account just to track a single purchase. For store owners, it means fewer support emails asking "where's my order?" because customers can check themselves.
The downside is that the link works for anyone who has it. If a customer forwards the email to someone else, that person can see the order details. This is why the link should be treated like a password — not posted publicly or shared in ways you don't intend.
Key Takeaways
- WooCommerce sends a guest order link in the order confirmation email, and that link is the main way a guest customer accesses their order without logging in.
- The link appears in the "View Order" button in the email and also in the order details section of the email body.
- If a customer loses the email, you can retrieve the link from the WooCommerce admin by finding the order and copying the order details page URL.
- The guest order link expires or becomes invalid only if the store owner deletes the order or changes the site URL, so it typically remains usable indefinitely.
- You can customize what information appears on the guest order page by editing your theme's order template or using a plugin.
Where the guest order link appears in the confirmation email
After a guest completes a purchase, WooCommerce sends an order confirmation email. This email contains the guest order link in two places. The first is a button labeled "View Order" — clicking that button takes the customer directly to their order page. The second is in the email text itself, usually near the top or bottom, as a clickable link that says something like "view your order" or shows the order number as a link.
The exact wording and placement depend on your email template. By default, WooCommerce uses a template called "Customer Invoice" or "Customer Completed Order" depending on your settings. If you have customized your emails through a plugin or theme, the button text and position may differ, but the link itself will be present.
If a customer cannot find the link in their email, ask them to check their spam or promotions folder — confirmation emails often land there. If they still cannot find it, you can send the link manually from your store admin.
How to retrieve a guest order link from your WooCommerce admin
If a customer has lost their confirmation email or needs the link resent, you can find it in your WooCommerce admin dashboard. Log in to your WordPress admin, go to WooCommerce in the left menu, then click Orders. Find the customer's order in the list by searching for their name, email, or order number.
Click on the order to open its details page. At the top of the order, you will see the order number and status. Look for a button or link labeled View Order or Guest Order Link — the exact label varies by WooCommerce version and plugins. Copy the URL from your browser's address bar, or right-click the button and select "Copy Link Address." This is the guest order link.
You can then send this link to the customer via email, chat, or however you normally communicate. The link will take them directly to their order page where they can see items, totals, shipping address, and tracking information.
What information a guest can see on their order page
When a guest clicks their order link, they land on a page showing their order details. By default, this includes the order number, order date, order status (pending, processing, shipped, delivered, etc.), the items they purchased with quantities and prices, the order total, the billing address, and the shipping address.
If you have set up order tracking or integrated a shipping plugin like ShipStation or Trackful, the guest will also see tracking numbers and a link to track their shipment with the carrier. Some stores add additional information like estimated delivery dates or notes from the store owner.
The guest order page does not show payment method details (like the last four digits of a credit card) or internal notes you have left for your team. This is intentional — it keeps sensitive information private.
Customizing what appears on the guest order page
If you want to change what information shows on the guest order page — for example, to add a message, hide certain fields, or add a button to request a return — you have two main routes: edit your theme files or use a plugin.
The easiest route for most store owners is a plugin. Search your WordPress plugin library for "WooCommerce order page" or "order template" to find plugins that let you customize the guest order display without touching code. Many of these plugins have a visual editor where you can drag fields around or add custom text.
If you are comfortable editing code, the guest order page is controlled by your theme's woocommerce/myaccount/view-order.php file. You can copy this file into your theme's folder and edit it to change the layout or add custom content. If you do this, test the page in a private browser window to make sure your changes work for both logged-in customers and guests.
Why a guest order link might stop working
A guest order link usually remains valid indefinitely — WooCommerce does not expire these links by default. However, a few things can break the link. If you delete the order from your admin, the link will no longer work because there is no order to display. If you change your site's URL (for example, from mystore.com to www.mystore.com or to a new domain), old links may not work because the domain in the URL no longer matches.
If you move your store to a new hosting provider or restore from a backup, the order data might not transfer correctly, which would also break the link. Before making any of these changes, test a guest order link to make sure it still works after the change is complete.
If a customer reports that their link is broken, ask them to try it in a private or incognito browser window first — sometimes browser cache or cookies cause issues. If it still does not work, retrieve the link fresh from your admin and send them the new one.
Security considerations for guest order links
Because the guest order link contains a token that identifies the order, treat it like a password. The link itself does not require a login, so anyone with the link can see that order's details. This is fine if the customer is the only one with the email, but if they forward the email to a friend or post the link online, that person will have access.
WooCommerce does not log who views a guest order page, so you cannot tell if the right person clicked the link. If you need to restrict access further — for example, to require a password or email verification — you can use a plugin like "WooCommerce Guest Order Review" or similar tools that add an extra layer of authentication.
For high-value orders or sensitive products, consider sending the link in a separate email from the order confirmation, or ask the customer to set a password when they first view their order. This reduces the risk that the link ends up in a shared inbox or forwarded conversation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a guest customer create an account using their order link?
Not directly from the order page. However, most WooCommerce stores have a "Create Account" link in the header or footer of the site. A guest can click that, enter the email address associated with their order, and create a password. After that, they can log in and see all their orders in their account dashboard.
What happens if I change my store's domain name?
Old guest order links will break because the domain in the URL no longer matches your store's address. You can set up a redirect from the old domain to the new one, which may preserve the links. If you cannot redirect, you will need to resend new links to customers who ask for them.
Can I disable guest checkout and force customers to create accounts?
Yes. In your WooCommerce settings, go to Settings > Accounts & Privacy and uncheck "Allow customers to place orders without an account." This forces all customers to create an account at checkout. However, this often increases cart abandonment because some customers do not want to create an account for a one-time purchase.
How do I resend the order confirmation email with the guest link?
Open the order in your WooCommerce admin, scroll to the bottom, and look for an "Emails" section or a button that says "Resend Order Confirmation" or "Send Customer Invoice." Click it, and WooCommerce will resend the email with the guest order link to the customer's email address.
Can I add a password requirement to the guest order page?
Not with WooCommerce's default settings, but you can use a plugin to add this feature. Search for "WooCommerce order password" or "guest order protection" in your plugin library. These plugins let you require a password or email verification before showing order details to guests.