WooCommerce: Goodbye “Built with Storefront” – A Beginner’s Guide
So, you’ve got a WooCommerce store rocking the Storefront theme. That’s fantastic! Storefront is a great starting point – clean, responsive, and free. But you might notice something at the bottom: the “Built with Storefront & WooCommerce” credit. And you want it gone, right? You want *your* brand, not a theme advertisement.
Don’t worry, you’re not alone! Removing this is a very common request. This guide will walk you through a few easy ways to do just that, even if you’re completely new to WordPress and WooCommerce. We’ll focus on beginner-friendly methods that won’t break your site.
Why Remove “Built with Storefront”?
Think of it Learn more about How To Create Buy Buttons Woocommerce this way: Imagine opening a fancy restaurant and the napkins all said “Made by PaperCo.” It’s subtle advertising for someone else on *your* property. While Storefront is a fantastic theme, Explore this article on How To Add Social Login In Woocommerce you want to build *your* brand, not promote theirs. Here’s why removing the credit is a good idea:
- Professionalism: It makes your site look more polished and professional. It shows you’ve taken the time to customize your store.
- Branding: It reinforces *your* brand identity. Every visual element should support *your* message, not someone else’s.
- Cleanliness: A cleaner footer can simply improve the overall aesthetic appeal of your website.
Method 1: Using the Theme Customizer (Easiest for Beginners)
The easiest and most beginner-friendly way to remove the “Built with Storefront” credit is often through the theme customizer. However, this method *only works if the Storefront theme has the option built-in* (which isn’t always the case in older versions). Still, it’s worth checking!
Here’s how:
1. Log into your WordPress dashboard. (Typically, `yourdomain.com/wp-admin`)
2. Go to Appearance > Customize.
3. Look for a “Footer” or “Copyright” section. (The exact name varies depending on the Storefront version)
4. See if there’s an option to disable the footer credit or replace it with your own text. If you’re lucky, you’ll find a simple checkbox or text area.
5. If you find the option, disable the credit or replace it with your own text. For example, you could write “Copyright 2023 [Your Store Name]” or simply leave the field blank to remove it entirely.
6. Click “Publish” to save your changes.
Real-Life Example: Imagine you’re selling handmade jewelry. Instead of “Built with Storefront & WooCommerce,” your footer could say “© 2023 Sparkling Gems – Handcrafted with Love.” It reinforces your brand message!
Why this works: The Theme Customizer is designed to be a safe way to make changes to your site without directly editing code. If the option is there, it’s the quickest solution.
Method 2: Overriding the Footer with a Child Theme (Recommended)
If the Theme Customizer doesn’t offer an option, the recommended approach is to use a child theme. This is a crucial concept in WordPress development. A child theme is like a copy of the Storefront theme that you can modify without affecting the original. That means when Storefront updates, your changes *won’t be overwritten*.
Here’s how to do it:
1. Create a Child Theme: The easiest way is to use a plugin like “Child Theme Configurator” or “Child Theme Wizard.” Install and activate one of these plugins. Follow the plugin’s instructions to create a child theme of Storefront.
2. Locate the `footer.php` file in the parent Storefront theme: You’ll need to access your website’s files. The easiest way for beginners is usually through an FTP client like FileZilla, or the file manager provided by your hosting provider. Navigate to `/wp-content/themes/storefront/footer.php`.
3. Copy the `footer.php` file to your Child Theme: Copy the `footer.php` file from the parent Storefront theme to your child theme’s directory (`/wp-content/themes/storefront-child/footer.php`). If the `footer.php` doesn’t exist in your child theme, create it.
4. Edit the `footer.php` file in your Child Theme: Open the `footer.php` file in your child theme using a code editor (your hosting provider often has one in their file manager, or you can use a dedicated program like Notepad++ or Visual Studio Code).
5. Find the code responsible for the “Built with Storefront” credit: Look for code that looks similar to this (the exact code might vary slightly):
<?php printf( esc_html__( '%1$s • %2$s', 'storefront' ), '' . esc_html__( 'Built with WooCommerce', 'storefront' ) . '', sprintf( esc_html__( 'Storefront designed by %s.', 'storefront' ), 'WooThemes' ) ); ?>
6. Remove or Modify the Code: You have a few options:
- Remove it completely: Delete the entire `site-info` div.
- Replace it with your own text: Change the `printf` content. For example:
© [Your Store Name] - All Read more about How To Set Wholesale Minimum Order Woocommerce Rights Reserved.
7. Save the `footer.php` file.
8. Activate your Child Theme: In your WordPress dashboard, go to Appearance > Themes and activate your child theme.
Why this works: Because you’re modifying a *copy* of the original file in a child theme, your changes are safe from theme updates. This is the standard, best-practice way to customize WordPress themes.
Real-Life Example: Let’s say you’re selling digital art prints. Your modified `footer.php` could include a small copyright notice and a link to your portfolio:
© Digital Canvas - All Rights Reserved. View My Portfolio
Method 3: Using a Code Snippet (Less Recommended, but Quick)
This method involves adding a PHP code snippet to your theme. While quick, it’s less recommended for beginners because errors in code snippets can break your site. Always back up your site before adding code snippets!
1. Install a Code Snippets Plugin: The “Code Snippets” plugin is a popular choice. Install and activate it.
2. Add a New Snippet: Go to Snippets > Add New.
3. Paste the following code into the code area:
4. Give the snippet a title (e.g., “Remove Storefront Credit”).
5. Set the snippet to run “Everywhere.”
6. Save and Activate the snippet.
Why this works: This code snippet removes the `storefront_credit` function that adds the “Built with Storefront” text to the footer.
Why it’s less recommended: Code snippets can be fragile. If there’s a conflict or an error in the snippet, it can cause problems on your site. Using a child theme is generally a safer and more robust approach.
Important Considerations:
- Backup Your Website! Before making any changes to your theme files, *always* back up your entire website. This includes your files and database. If something goes wrong, you can easily restore your site to its previous state. Your hosting provider often offers backup solutions, or you can use a WordPress backup plugin like UpdraftPlus.
- Be Careful with Code: If you’re not comfortable editing code, stick to the Theme Customizer method (if available) or using a child theme with clear instructions.
- Test Your Changes: After making any changes, thoroughly test your website to make sure everything is working correctly.
Conclusion
Removing the “Built with Storefront” credit is a simple but important step in customizing your WooCommerce store and building your brand. While the ideal method depends on your comfort level, using a child theme is the recommended approach for long-term stability and maintainability. Remember to always back up your website and proceed with caution when editing code! Good luck, and happy selling!
