Variations

Pre-order settings work for variable products too, in two ways.

The whole product

Set Pre-orders to Not released yet on the product's own Pre-order tab. Every variation then takes pre-orders, with the product's release date and message.

One variation on its own

Each variation's panel on the Variations tab has its own Pre-order fields, below its stock settings:

• Pre-orders: Same as the product (the default), Off for this variation, or Not released yet for just this variation.
• Release date: empty uses the product's date.
• Message: empty uses the product's.

Save them with Save changes, like the rest of the variation.

So a tee that's in stock in two colours can take pre-orders for a new colour that launches next month: leave the product's Pre-orders on Off, and set the new colour's variation to Not released yet with its own date.

Releasing variations

A variation with its own mode or release date is released on its own: it has its own row on WooCommerce → Pre-orders, with its own Release now, and releasing the product leaves it waiting. Other variations are released with their product.

When a variation's own launch is released, it switches itself to Off for this variation and sells normally, whatever its product does.