WooCommerce: How to Disable the Shopping Cart Function and Turn Your Store into a Catalog
Are you looking to convert your WooCommerce store into a catalog or simply display products without the option for immediate purchase? Perhaps you want to showcase your offerings, generate leads, or provide custom quotes before finalizing sales. Disabling the shopping cart function in WooCommerce is a straightforward way to achieve this. In this article, we’ll explore various methods to disable the cart, transforming your online store into a product showcase. We’ll discuss different approaches, including using code snippets, plugins, and even leveraging existing WooCommerce settings. Let’s dive in!
Why Disable the WooCommerce Shopping Cart?
Before we get into the “how-to,” let’s understand why you might want to disable the shopping cart in WooCommerce. Several scenarios might warrant this approach:
- Turning your store into a catalog: If you’re not ready to sell products directly but want to display your offerings, disabling the cart allows you to create a product catalog for browsing.
- Quote-based sales: For businesses offering custom products or services, disabling the cart and encouraging inquiries allows you to provide personalized quotes.
- Lead generation: Instead of immediate sales, you can use your product pages to generate leads by encouraging visitors to contact you for more information.
- Wholesale or membership sites: You might want to restrict purchasing to logged-in members or wholesale clients, requiring them to contact you for access.
- Testing or development: During website development, you might want to temporarily disable the cart to prevent accidental purchases.
Methods to Disable the WooCommerce Shopping Cart
Now, let’s look at the methods you can use to disable the WooCommerce shopping cart:
#### 1. Using a Code Snippet (functions.php or a Code Snippet Plugin)
This method involves adding a code snippet to your theme’s `functions.php` file or using a code snippet plugin. It’s crucial to back up your website before making any changes to the `functions.php` file to prevent potential issues. A Discover insights on How To Import A Csv File Into Woocommerce code snippet plugin like “Code Snippets” is generally a safer and more user-friendly option.
Here’s the code:
/**
/
* Remove the add to cart button on product archive pages.
*/
remove_action( ‘woocommerce_after_shop_loop_item’, ‘woocommerce_template_loop_add_to_cart’, 10 );
/
* Remove the cart page.
*/
add_filter( ‘woocommerce_is_cart_or_checkout’, ‘remove_cart_page’ );
function remove_cart_page( $is_cart ) {
if ( is_cart() ) {
$is_cart = false;
}
return $is_cart;
}
/
* Redirect cart page to shop page.
*/
add_action( ‘template_redirect’, ‘redirect_empty_cart’ );
function redirect_empty_cart() {
if ( is_cart() && WC()->cart->is_empty() ) {
wp_safe_redirect( get_permalink( wc_get_page_id( ‘shop’ ) ) );
exit;
}
}
/
* Remove cart fragments to prevent AJAX cart updates.
*/
add_filter( ‘woocommerce_add_to_cart_fragments’, ‘__return_empty_array’ );
Explanation:
- `remove_action( ‘woocommerce_single_product_summary’, ‘woocommerce_template_single_add_to_cart’, 30 );`: This line removes the “Add to Cart” button from single product pages.
- `remove_action( ‘woocommerce_after_shop_loop_item’, ‘woocommerce_template_loop_add_to_cart’, 10 );`: This line removes the “Add to Cart” button from product listing pages (like the shop page or category pages).
- `add_filter( ‘woocommerce_is_cart_or_checkout’, ‘remove_cart_page’ );` & `function remove_cart_page( $is_cart )`: This code effectively disables the cart page by making `is_cart()` always return false.
- `add_action( ‘template_redirect’, ‘redirect_empty_cart’ );` & `function redirect_empty_cart()`: This code redirects users to the shop page if they attempt to access the cart page while it’s empty.
- `add_filter( ‘woocommerce_add_to_cart_fragments’, ‘__return_empty_array’ );`: This line prevents AJAX cart updates, further disabling cart functionality.
Steps:
1. Backup your website: This is essential before modifying `functions.php`.
2. Install and activate a Code Snippet plugin (recommended) or access your theme’s `functions.php` file (Appearance -> Theme Editor).
3. Copy and paste the code snippet into the `functions.php` file (after the opening `<?php` tag) or add it as a new snippet in the Code Snippets plugin.
4. Save the changes.
5. Clear your website cache (if you use a caching plugin).
#### 2. Using a Plugin
Several plugins can help you disable the shopping cart functionality in WooCommerce without writing code. Some popular options include:
- WooCommerce Catalog Mode, Disable Cart & Enquiry Form: This plugin provides a simple way to enable catalog mode, disable the cart, and optionally add an inquiry form on product pages.
- YITH WooCommerce Catalog Mode: Another popular plugin that allows you to easily switch your store to catalog mode, hiding the cart and checkout pages.
- ELEX WooCommerce Catalog Mode, Enquiry & Quote Option: Provides catalog mode, inquiry options, and quote functionality, offering a comprehensive solution.
Steps (Generic for most plugins):
1. Install and activate the plugin.
2. Navigate to the plugin settings. This is usually found under the WooCommerce menu or a separate menu item.
3. Enable “Catalog Mode” or the equivalent option.
4. Configure any additional settings offered by the plugin (e.g., displaying inquiry forms).
5. Save the settings.
6. Clear your website cache (if you use a caching plugin).
#### 3. Hiding the “Add to Cart” Button with CSS (Less Recommended)
While not a complete solution, you can use CSS to hide the “Add to Cart” button. This method only hides the button visually and doesn’t actually disable the underlying functionality. Users could potentially still add products to the cart through other means.
Steps:
1. Access your theme’s Customizer: Appearance -> Customize -> Additional CSS.
2. Add the following CSS code:
.woocommerce div.product form.cart .button,
.woocommerce ul.products li.product .add_to_cart_button {
display: none !important;
}
3. Publish the changes.
This CSS code will hide the “Add to Cart” button on both single product pages and product listing pages.
Why this is less recommended: It’s simply a visual change and doesn’t truly disable cart functionality. A user with even basic technical knowledge could bypass this.
#### 4. Removing Individual Product Availability (WooCommerce Settings)
You can set individual products to be “Out of Stock” or make them Explore this article on How To Add The Store Information In Woocommerce “Virtual” (which often removes the need for shipping). This requires manually adjusting each product and isn’t a scalable solution for a large inventory, but it might be suitable for a small number of products.
Steps:
1. Edit the product.
2. Go to the “Inventory” tab.
3. Set “Stock status” to “Out of stock.”
4. Update the product.
Or:
1. Edit the product.
2. Under “Product data,” choose “Simple product” Learn more about How To Set Minimum Order Quantity In Woocommerce (or “Variable product,” etc.).
3. Check the “Virtual” checkbox. (This also often removes the shipping tab.)
4. Update the product.
Conclusion
Disabling the WooCommerce shopping cart Explore this article on How To Create Local Pickup Discount In Woocommerce function can be a valuable strategy for transforming your online store into a catalog, generating leads, or offering custom quotes. The code snippet method provides the most control and complete disabling of the cart functionality. Plugins offer a user-friendly alternative with added features. Hiding the “Add to Cart” button with CSS is the least effective method. Choosing the right approach depends on your technical skills and specific requirements. Remember to always back up your website before making significant changes, especially when modifying the `functions.php` file. By carefully implementing these methods, you can effectively disable the shopping cart and achieve your desired online store configuration.
