LaunchList
← Organize your products

Step 3 of 5

Combine simple products into a variable product

Turn a set of separate color or size listings into one product with variations.

Time
5–10 minutes per group
Cost
Free

Combine simple products into a variable product: step-by-step guide

Screenshots use a made-up example business. Official sites change, so yours may look slightly different.

  1. Variation Converter Combine tab filtered to the Ready view, with the Ready link and the Ready status of the listed groups highlighted
    1. Start with the Ready view. These groups have no warnings, so they are the quickest to combine. Work through Needs review after.
  2. Classic Crew Tee group opened for review, with the Black label and the Create variable product button highlighted
    2. Open a group to review it. Check the label for each product, untick any that don't belong, then click Create variable product.
  3. Variation Converter after creating the Classic Crew Tee variable product, with the success message highlighted
    3. The four tees are now one variable product with a Color option. The originals are hidden, not deleted, and Undo conversion puts them back.
  4. Classic Crew Tee product page in the shop with the Color menu highlighted
    4. In your shop, shoppers now see one Classic Crew Tee and pick a color from the menu.

Screenshots captured 2026-10-24. See something different? Report a problem

Review the suggested groups

The Combine tab lists groups of simple products that look like one product in several variants. A group is suggested when the SKUs share a family (TEE100-BLA, TEE100-NAV) and the names start the same way. The Status column shows Ready, or what is worth a second look, such as "Prices differ" or "Categories differ". The Needs review view lists only those.

Start with the Ready groups

If this is your first time, click Ready above the list. It shows only the groups with no warnings, so their prices, categories and labels already line up. Combine those first, one at a time or all together with Bulk actions, then work through Needs review. If Ready shows no groups, go straight to Needs review.

Check the group

Click Review to open a group. For each product you see the label the plugin read from its name ("Black", "Red") and the attribute it guessed (Color, Size, Flavor, Scent or Volume).

  • Untick any product that isn't part of this product. When a group mixes SKU families, Select by SKU ticks only the products in one family.
  • Edit the new product name, the attribute and any label that reads wrong.
  • Drag the rows into the order shoppers should see. The first product gives the new product its image and description.

Create it

Click Create variable product. Each original becomes a variation with its own SKU, prices, stock, weight, dimensions and image. The originals are hidden from your shop and search, not deleted, so their orders, reviews and links stay as they were.

If a group isn't really one product, use Skip, not variants and later scans leave it out.

Many groups at once

To combine several groups, tick them in the list and choose Create variable products from Bulk actions. You can also select products in Products > All Products and use the Combine into variable product bulk action.

Your checklist