How to Remove Publish Date from WooCommerce Products (Easy Guide for Beginners)
So, you’ve got your WooCommerce store up and running, and you’re ready to showcase your amazing products. But wait! You notice the product pages are displaying a publish date, and you’re thinking, “Hmm, I don’t really want that there.”
Don’t worry! You’re not alone. Many WooCommerce store owners prefer to hide the publish date for various reasons. Maybe the date is irrelevant to the product’s value, or perhaps you want to present a timeless feel to your offerings.
This guide will walk you through several easy methods to remove the publish date from your WooCommerce product pages, even if you’re a complete beginner. No coding wizardry required (unless you *want* to dive into that). We’ll cover the why’s and how’s, so you can choose the best option for your needs.
Why Remove the Publish Date?
Before we jump into the “how,” let’s understand *why* you might want to remove the date.
* Timelessness: Products like art prints, books, or handmade crafts aren’t tied to a specific date. Displaying a publish date can make them feel older than they are, potentially deterring customers. Imagine you’re selling a vintage-style poster – a recent publish date might undermine the vintage aesthetic.
* Product Updates: If you frequently update product descriptions, prices, or images, the original publish date becomes misleading. Customers might think they’re seeing old information.
* Focus on Value: Sometimes, the date just distracts from the product’s inherent value. You want customers to focus on the features, benefits, and overall appeal, not when it was initially added to your store.
* Consistent Branding: Removing the date can contribute to a cleaner, more consistent brand aesthetic across your entire website.
Methods to Remove the Publish Date
Here are a few ways you can remove the publish date from your WooCommerce products. We’ll start with the simplest methods and then move to a slightly more advanced (but still beginner-friendly) one.
#### 1. Theme Options (Check Your Theme Settings!)
The easiest method is often right under your nose! Many premium WooCommerce themes (and even some free ones) have built-in options to control the display of product metadata, including the publish date.
* How to Check: Navigate to your WordPress dashboard, then go to Appearance > Customize.
* Look for sections like “WooCommerce,” “Product Page,” “Single Product,” or similar.
* Explore the settings within those sections. You might find a checkbox or a toggle switch labeled “Show Product Date,” “Display Publish Date,” or something along those lines.
* If you find such an option, simply disable it and click “Publish” to save your changes.
Example: The popular “Astra” theme often has this option located under Appearance > Customize > WooCommerce > Product Single.
#### 2. Using a CSS Snippet (Easy and Quick)
If your theme doesn’t offer a direct option, CSS is your next best friend. We can hide the element that displays the date using a simple CSS rule.
* How to Add CSS: There are a few ways to add CSS in WordPress:
* Appearance > Customize > Additional CSS: This is the recommended method. It keeps your changes safe during theme updates.
* Child Theme’s `style.css` file: More advanced, but safer than directly editing your parent theme.
* The CSS Code: We need to identify the CSS class or ID that’s associated with the publish date on your product pages. This can vary depending on your theme. Right-click on the date on a product page and select “Inspect” (or “Inspect Element”). This opens your browser’s developer tools.
* Inspect Element Example: Look for a “ tag or a `
` tag that contains the date. The surrounding HTML should give you a clue about the CSS class or ID. Let’s say you find something like `
Published: October 27, 2023
`. In this case, you could target the `.posted_in` class or the `.entry-date` class.
* Apply the CSS: Add the following CSS to your chosen CSS location:
.posted_in { /* Adjust this selector based on your theme */
display: none;
}
/* OR */
.entry-date { /* Adjust this selector based on your theme */
display: none;
}
Explanation: `display: none;` hides the element from view.
* Clear Cache: After adding the CSS, clear your browser’s cache and any website caching plugins you’re using to ensure the changes are visible.
#### 3. Using a Code Snippet (PHP)
This method involves adding a small piece of PHP code to your theme’s `functions.php` file or, even better, using a code snippets plugin. Important: Directly editing your theme’s `functions.php` file is risky. If something goes wrong, your site could break. Always back up your website before making changes. Using a code snippets plugin is much safer.
* Install a Code Snippets Plugin: There are many free code snippets plugins available in the WordPress plugin repository. A popular choice is “Code Snippets.” Install and activate it.
* Add the Snippet: Go to Snippets > Add New in your WordPress dashboard.
* The PHP Code: This code removes the WooCommerce product meta, which includes the publish date.
add_filter( 'woocommerce_post_class', 'remove_date_from_wc_product', 20, 2 );
function remove_date_from_wc_product( $classes, $product ) {
global $product;
remove_action( 'woocommerce_single_product_summary', 'woocommerce_template_single_meta', 40 );
return $classes;
}
Explanation:
* `add_filter()`: This function adds a filter to the `woocommerce_post_class` hook.
* `remove_date_from_wc_product()`: This is our custom function that will be executed when the hook is triggered.
* `remove_action( ‘woocommerce_single_product_summary’, ‘woocommerce_template_single_meta’, 40 )`: This line is the key. It *removes* the default WooCommerce function (`woocommerce_template_single_meta`) that displays the product meta, including the publish date. The `40` is the priority of the action; you need to use the same priority value to remove it successfully.
* Save and Activate the Snippet: Give your snippet a descriptive name, set the “Run snippet everywhere” option, and click “Save Changes and Activate.”
* Alternative Snippet to Remove only date:
If you want to remove only the date and keep other meta, you can use this another snippet
function remove_posted_on_meta() {
remove_action( 'woocommerce_single_product_summary', 'woocommerce_template_single_meta', 40 );
add_action( 'woocommerce_single_product_summary', 'custom_woocommerce_template_single_meta', 40 );
}
add_action( 'woocommerce_before_single_product', 'remove_posted_on_meta' );
function custom_woocommerce_template_single_meta() {
global $product;
?>
<?php
}
Note: Use this last code, if you use the first one and you want other product meta like category or SKU.
* Clear Cache: Again, clear your website cache and browser cache.
#### 4. Editing Template Files (Advanced – Use with Caution)
This method is the most advanced and should only be attempted if you’re comfortable working with PHP and HTML code. It involves directly editing your theme’s WooCommerce template files.
* Important: Never edit the template files directly in the `woocommerce` plugin folder. Any changes you make there will be overwritten when the plugin is updated. Instead, you need to create a child theme and copy the template file you want to modify into your child theme’s `woocommerce` folder.
* Find the Template File: The template file responsible for displaying the product meta is typically located in `woocommerce/templates/single-product/meta.php`. However, your theme may have overridden this file. Check your theme’s `woocommerce` folder first.
* Copy to Child Theme: If the file exists in your theme, copy it to `your-child-theme/woocommerce/single-product/meta.php`. If not, copy it from the `woocommerce` plugin folder.
* Edit the File: Open the `meta.php` file in your child theme’s folder and look for the code that displays the publish date. It might look something like:
get_id(), 'product_cat', '', ', ', '' ) . $tag_count . $tag_list; ?>
* Remove the Date Code: You can either comment out this entire line or delete it.
* Save the File: Save the `meta.php` file.
* Clear Cache: Clear your website cache and browser cache.
Testing and Troubleshooting
After implementing any of these methods, it’s crucial to test your product pages to ensure the publish date is gone. If you’re still seeing the date, consider the following:
* Incorrect CSS Selector: If using CSS, double-check that you’re using the correct CSS class or ID for the date element. Use the browser’s developer tools to inspect the element again.
* Caching Issues: Caching plugins can sometimes prevent changes from appearing immediately. Clear your website cache and browser cache.
* Theme Conflicts: Another plugin or your theme itself might be overriding the changes you’ve made. Try temporarily disabling other plugins to see if that resolves the issue.
* Incorrect Code Snippet: Double-check the code snippet for any typos or errors. Ensure the snippet is activated.
Conclusion
Removing the publish date from your WooCommerce products is a simple yet effective way to improve your store’s presentation and focus on the value of your offerings. Choose the method that best suits your technical skills and your theme’s features. With a little bit of effort, you can achieve a cleaner, more professional-looking product page. Good luck!
