How to Remove “Related Products” from Your WooCommerce Site (Easy Guide for Beginners)
So, you’ve got a WooCommerce store humming along, but you’re not thrilled with the “Related Products” section showing up on your product pages. Maybe it’s distracting customers, or perhaps you want to curate a more specific upsell experience. Whatever the reason, removing them is a straightforward process. This guide will walk you through the easiest methods, step-by-step, even if you’re a complete beginner to WordPress and WooCommerce.
Why Remove Related Products Anyway?
Before we dive in, let’s understand why some store owners choose to remove related products:
* Focus on the Primary Product: Imagine you’re selling a high-end DSLR camera. The “Related Products” section might show cheaper lenses or accessories, potentially distracting customers from Discover insights on How To Add Google Analytics To Woocommerce purchasing the camera itself. You might prefer they focus on *that specific product* first.
* Curate a Specific Upsell: Instead of relying on WooCommerce’s algorithm, you might want to hand-pick which products are displayed as upsells or cross-sells. This allows you to create more targeted recommendations, like showing a compatible memory card and camera bag alongside the DSLR, rather than a random t-shirt.
* Cluttered Design: Sometimes, the related products section can make your product page look visually cluttered, especially if you have lots of products. A cleaner design can improve the user experience and conversion rate. Think about the minimalist approach of Apple’s Check out this post: How To Set Auto Sku Copy In Op Barcode Woocommerce website; less clutter can mean more focus.
* Algorithm Isn’t Perfect: The WooCommerce algorithm, while good, isn’t always perfect. It might suggest irrelevant products, leading to a less-than-ideal customer experience.
Method 1: Using a Theme Customization (Recommended for Most Users)
This is the easiest and most beginner-friendly method if your theme has built-in options.
1. Access the Theme Customizer: In your WordPress dashboard, go to Appearance > Customize.
2. Look for WooCommerce Settings: Within the customizer, you’ll need to find WooCommerce-specific settings. The exact location varies depending on your theme. Look for sections like “WooCommerce,” “Product Page,” or something similar.
3. Find the Related Products Option: Within the WooCommerce settings, you should find an option to disable or hide the related products. It might be a simple checkbox labeled “Hide Related Products” or a more advanced setting.
4. Example: Some themes, like the popular Astra theme, offer a WooCommerce section within the Customizer where you can easily toggle the visibility of related products.
5. Save and Publish: Once you’ve found the option, disable it and click the “Publish” button to save your changes.
Why this is great for beginners: This method is typically the simplest because it doesn’t require any coding or technical knowledge. It leverages the features already built into your WordPress theme.
Method 2: Using a Code Snippet (For Slightly More Technical Users)
If your theme doesn’t offer a direct option to disable related products, you can use a code snippet. Don’t worry, it’s not as scary as it sounds!
1. Access Your Theme’s `functions.php` File (Caution!) The safest way to add code is to use a child theme. If you aren’t using a child theme, adding code directly to your theme’s `functions.php` file will lose it if the theme gets updated. This is a potential risk! Child themes are beyond the scope of this guide, but highly recommended for customisation.
* If you’re comfortable and have a child theme: You can edit the `functions.php` file directly. You can find it by going to Appearance > Theme File Editor (or Theme Editor). Select your child theme from the dropdown in the top right.
* Alternatively (and recommended for beginners): Use a code snippet plugin like “Code Snippets”. This is a much safer and easier Explore this article on Woocommerce How To Manually Send Order Complete Email way to add code without directly editing your theme files. Install and activate the plugin through Plugins > Add New. Search for “Code Snippets” and install the one by Code Snippets Pro.
2. Add the Following Code: Insert the following PHP code into your `functions.php` file (or add a new snippet in your code snippet plugin):
3. Save Changes: If using the Theme File Editor, click “Update File.” If using Code Snippets, click “Save Changes and Activate.”
Explanation:
* `remove_action()`: This function removes a specific action from WordPress.
* `woocommerce_after_single_product_summary`: This is the action hook where WooCommerce displays the related products.
* `woocommerce_output_related_products`: This is the function that outputs the related products.
* `20`: This is the priority of the function being removed.
Why this works: Learn more about How To Assign A Prices In Woocommerce This code effectively tells WooCommerce to stop running the function that displays related products on the product page.
Method 3: Using a Plugin
If you prefer not to mess with code, you can use a plugin designed to control WooCommerce features.
1. Install and Activate a Plugin: In your WordPress dashboard, go to Plugins > Add New. Search for plugins like “WooCommerce Disable Related Products” or “WooCommerce Product Page Customizer.”
2. Configure the Plugin: Once activated, the plugin will typically add a settings page in your WordPress dashboard. Navigate to that page and look for the option to disable related products.
3. Save Changes: Save your settings.
Example Plugins:
* YITH WooCommerce Product Add-Ons: While primarily for add-ons, many advanced WooCommerce plugins also provide customization options for related products.
* Custom Product Tabs for WooCommerce: Some tab management plugins include options to manage related products display.
Important Considerations When Choosing a Plugin:
* Reviews and Ratings: Check the plugin’s reviews and ratings before installing it.
* Last Updated: Make sure the plugin is regularly updated to ensure compatibility with the Learn more about How To Add Variations In Woocommerce latest version of WooCommerce and WordPress.
* Support: See if the plugin developer offers good support in case you run into any issues.
* Overhead: Be cautious about installing too many plugins. Each plugin adds a slight overhead to your site’s performance.
Important Considerations:
* Caching: After making any changes, be sure to clear your website’s cache (if you’re using a caching plugin) and your browser cache to see the updated product pages. Sometimes the old version is stored.
* Mobile Responsiveness: Test your product pages on different devices (desktop, mobile, tablet) after removing the related products to ensure the layout still looks good.
* A/B Testing: Consider A/B testing the removal of related products to see if it actually improves your conversion rate. You might be surprised! Maybe they do help some people find other things to buy. Tools like Google Optimize can assist with this.
Conclusion
Removing related products from your WooCommerce site is a simple process with several methods available. Start with the easiest option (theme customization) and only move to more technical solutions if necessary. Remember to test your changes and monitor your conversion rates to ensure you’re making the right decision for your business. Good luck!
