# How to Hide Products in WooCommerce: A Beginner’s Guide
So you’ve got a WooCommerce store humming along, but need to temporarily or permanently remove some products from view? Maybe you’re out of stock, discontinuing an item, or running a special promotion where only *selected* products are visible. Whatever the reason, hiding products in WooCommerce is easier than you think. This guide will show you how, covering several methods catering to different needs and skill levels.
Why Hide Products, Not Delete Them?
Before diving into the “how,” let’s quickly cover *why* you’d hide a product instead of deleting it entirely. Deleting a product removes it permanently from your database, including order history and any associated data. Hiding it keeps this information intact, offering several advantages:
- Inventory management: If you’re temporarily out of stock, hiding the product prevents customer confusion and frustration. You can easily re-enable it when new stock arrives. Imagine a popular seasonal item – you wouldn’t want to delete it after summer, only to recreate it next year!
- Future promotions: A hidden product can be quickly re-introduced for a flash sale or special promotion without requiring manual re-creation.
- Data preservation: Maintaining a record of past products provides valuable data for analysis and future inventory planning. Knowing what sold well and what didn’t is crucial for business success.
- Go to Products > All Products in your WordPress admin dashboard.
- Select the product you want to hide.
- Edit the product.
- In the Inventory tab, uncheck the “Enable this product” checkbox.
- Save changes.
- Create a new hidden category (e.g., “Hidden Products”).
- Assign the product you want to hide to this category.
- Go to Products > Product categories and uncheck the “Display in menu” option for your “Hidden Products” category.
Methods to Hide Products in WooCommerce
There are several ways to hide products in WooCommerce, ranging from simple clicks in the dashboard to using code snippets for more advanced control.
1. Using WooCommerce’s Built-in Inventory Management
This is the simplest method for temporarily hiding out-of-stock items.
This will effectively remove the product from your shop’s public-facing pages. Customers will not be able to find it unless they have the direct link. It’s a quick and effective solution for managing inventory and temporary product removal.
2. Utilizing Product Categories and Visibility
Another straightforward way is to manage product visibility via categories.
This method keeps the product in your database but removes it from your shop’s navigation and general product listings.
3. Employing WooCommerce Plugins
Several plugins offer more sophisticated product hiding capabilities. Research plugins like “Product Visibility” or “Advanced Custom Fields” to add more control over your product display based on various factors like user roles, dates, or custom fields.
4. Advanced: Using a Code Snippet (For Developers)
For those comfortable with code, you can use a custom code snippet to add more granular control. This method requires adding a code snippet to your theme’s `functions.php` file or a custom plugin. Proceed with caution and always back up your website before adding code. Here’s an example that hides a product based on its ID:
function hide_product_by_id( $query ) {
if ( is_shop() || is_product_category() || is_product_tag() ) {
$query->set( 'post__not_in', array( 123 ) ); // Replace 123 with the ID of the product you want to hide
}
return $query;
}
add_action( 'pre_get_posts', 'hide_product_by_id' );
This snippet hides product with ID 123. Remember to replace `123` with your actual product ID. This is a more advanced technique, requiring understanding of PHP and WordPress’s query loop.
Conclusion: Choosing the Right Method
The best method for hiding products in WooCommerce depends on your needs and technical skills. Start with the simple built-in options and then explore plugins or code snippets for more advanced control. Remember to always back up your website before making any code changes. By strategically managing your product visibility, you’ll optimize your store’s presentation and improve the overall customer experience.
