WooCommerce: How to Change the “Out of Stock” Text (Simple Guide for Beginners)
So, you’re running a WooCommerce store and want to spice things up a bit? Maybe the default “Out of Stock” text feels a bit bland, or perhaps you want to be more creative and informative for your customers. You’ve come to the right place! This guide will walk you through the easiest ways to customize the “Out of Stock” text in your WooCommerce store, even if you’re not a coding whiz.
Why Change the “Out of Stock” Text?
Think of it this way: seeing “Out of Stock” can be a bit of a downer for a potential customer. Instead of just stopping there, you can use this opportunity to:
- Reduce frustration: Tell them *why* it’s out of stock (“Due to high demand!”)
- Offer alternatives: Suggest similar products or redirect them to related categories.
- Encourage future purchases: Offer an option to sign up for notifications when the item is back in stock.
- Build your brand voice: Use language that reflects your brand’s personality (funny, professional, etc.).
- Original string: Enter the exact text you want to change, which is usually “Out of stock”.
- Text domain: Enter `woocommerce`.
- Text context: Leave this blank in most cases.
- Replacement string: Enter your new text, e.g., “Sold Out! Sign up for restock alerts!”.
Imagine you sell handmade candles. Instead of just saying “Out of Stock,” you could say “This scent is currently taking a well-deserved rest! New batch arriving soon.” It adds a personal touch, doesn’t it?
Method 1: Using a Plugin (Easiest for Non-Coders)
The simplest way to customize the “Out of Stock” text is using a plugin. There are several free and premium plugins available that make this incredibly easy.
Recommended Plugin: Say What?
“Say What?” is a free plugin specifically designed for changing text strings within WordPress plugins and themes, including WooCommerce. It’s lightweight, effective, and perfect for our needs.
Here’s how to use it:
1. Install and Activate: Go to Plugins > Add New in your WordPress dashboard and search for “Say What?”. Install and activate the plugin.
2. Find the Text Domain: WooCommerce uses the text domain `woocommerce`. You’ll need this later.
3. Go to Text Changes: After activation, a new menu item will appear under Tools > Text Changes.
4. Add a New Text Change: Click “Add New”.
5. Fill in the Fields:
Example:
*Original string:* Out of stock
*Text domain:* woocommerce
*Text context:* (leave blank)
*Replacement string:* Sold Out! Join our mailing list to be notified when it’s back!
6. Save Changes: Click “Add”.
That’s it! Your new “Out of Stock” text should now be visible on your product pages.
Method 2: Using Code (For the More Adventurous)
If you’re comfortable with a little bit of coding, you can customize the “Out of Stock” text directly in your theme’s `functions.php` file or using a code snippets plugin (like Code Snippets – highly recommended). Important: Always back up your site before making any code changes!
Here’s how:
1. Access Your Theme’s `functions.php` File: You can access it via Appearance > Theme Editor in your WordPress dashboard. However, strongly consider using a code snippets plugin instead. It’s safer and keeps your theme’s code clean.
2. Add the Following Code Snippet:
<?php
add_filter( 'woocommerce_get_availability', 'custom_outofstock_message');
function custom_outofstock_message( $availability ) {
global $product;
if ( ! $product->is_in_stock() ) {
$availability[‘availability’] = __(‘Coming Soon! Pre-order yours now!’, ‘woocommerce’);
}
return $availability;
}
?>
3. Customize the Text: Change the text inside the `__(‘Coming Soon! Pre-order yours now!’, ‘woocommerce’)` part to your desired message. For example, `__(‘Currently Unavailable – Sign up for restock updates!’, ‘woocommerce’)`.
4. Save the Changes: Click “Update File” (if editing `functions.php`) or “Save Changes” (if using a code snippets plugin).
Explanation of the Code:
- `add_filter( ‘woocommerce_get_availability’, ‘custom_outofstock_message’);`: This line tells WordPress to run our custom function (`custom_outofstock_message`) whenever WooCommerce tries to determine the availability of a product.
- `global $product;`: This makes the `$product` object available within our function, allowing us to check if the product is in stock.
- `if ( ! $product->is_in_stock() ) { … }`: This `if` statement checks if the product is out of stock.
- `$availability[‘availability’] = __(‘Coming Soon! Pre-order yours now!’, ‘woocommerce’);`: If the product is out of stock, this line changes the `availability` array’s `availability` key (which contains the “Out of Stock” text) to our custom message.
- `__(‘…’, ‘woocommerce’)`: This is a WordPress translation function. The `’woocommerce’` part is the text domain (remember that from earlier?). It’s important for making your changes translation-ready (if you’re planning on having a multilingual store).
Example with a “Limited Restock” message:
<?php
add_filter( 'woocommerce_get_availability', 'custom_outofstock_message');
function custom_outofstock_message( $availability ) {
global $product;
if ( ! $product->is_in_stock() ) {
$availability[‘availability’] = __(‘Out of Stock – Limited restock expected in 2 weeks!’, ‘woocommerce’);
}
return $availability;
}
?>
Important Considerations:
- Caching: If you don’t see your changes right away, clear your website’s cache and your browser’s cache.
- Child Theme: If you’re editing your theme’s `functions.php` file, it’s highly recommended to use a child theme. This prevents your changes from being overwritten when you update your main theme. A code snippets plugin is an even better alternative!
- Text Domain: Always use the correct text domain (`woocommerce`) when using the `__()` translation function.
- Testing: Test your changes on different devices and browsers to ensure they display correctly.
By customizing the “Out of Stock” text, you can transform a potentially negative experience into a positive opportunity to engage with your customers and encourage future sales. Good luck!
