How to Turn Off Bottom Navigation on WooCommerce: A Beginner’s Guide
You’ve got a WooCommerce store, which is fantastic! But sometimes, you need to tweak things to get the perfect look and feel. One common issue is the bottom navigation bar, especially if you’re using a mobile-first theme or simply don’t need it.
This guide will walk you through how to disable that bottom navigation on your WooCommerce site. We’ll cover a few methods, making sure even beginners can follow along easily.
Why Remove the Bottom Navigation?
Think of your online store like a real-world shop. Clutter and unnecessary elements can confuse customers and distract them from what you want them to do: browse and buy! The bottom navigation, while intended to be helpful, might:
* Duplicate Functionality: If you already have a clear menu at the top, the bottom navigation can feel redundant.
* Clash with Design: The style might not fit your brand, creating a visual disconnect.
* Take Up Valuable Screen Space: Especially on mobile, screen real estate is precious. You want customers focused on products, not navigation they might not even need.
Imagine walking into a well-organized boutique versus a crowded thrift store. Which one encourages browsing and purchasing? The same principle applies to your website!
Method 1: Using Theme Customizer (The Easiest Way!)
Many WooCommerce-compatible themes offer built-in options to customize or completely disable the bottom navigation directly through the WordPress Theme Customizer. This is the easiest and safest approach.
1. Access the Customizer: Go to Appearance > Customize in your WordPress dashboard.
2. Look for Theme Options: Every theme is different, but look for sections like “Theme Options,” “Mobile Options,” “WooCommerce,” or something similar.
3. Disable the Bottom Navigation: Within those options, you should find a setting to disable or hide the bottom navigation. It might be a simple checkbox or a dropdown menu.
Example:
Let’s say your theme has a “Mobile Options” section. Clicking on it might reveal a checkbox labeled “Enable Bottom Navigation.” Unchecking this box and then clicking “Publish” will likely remove the bottom navigation from your mobile view.
Reasoning:
This method is ideal because it doesn’t involve coding and utilizes the theme’s intended customization features. It’s also easily reversible if you change your mind later.
Method 2: Using CSS (For More Control)
If your theme doesn’t offer a direct option, you can use CSS to hide the bottom navigation. This gives you more control over how it’s hidden, and you can target specific devices.
1. Inspect the Bottom Navigation Element: Use your browser’s developer tools (usually by right-clicking on the navigation bar and selecting “Inspect” or “Inspect Element”) to identify the CSS class or ID assigned to the bottom navigation element. Common names include `.bottom-nav`, `#bottom-navigation`, or something similar.
2. Add Custom CSS: Go to Appearance > Customize > Additional CSS in your WordPress dashboard.
3. Add the CSS Code: Use the following CSS code, replacing `[your-bottom-nav-selector]` with the actual class or ID you found in step 1:
/* Hide bottom navigation on all devices */
[your-bottom-nav-selector] {
display: none !important;
}
/* Hide bottom navigation only on mobile (adjust max-width as needed) */
@media (max-width: 768px) {
[your-bottom-nav-selector] {
display: none !important;
}
}
Example:
If your inspection reveals that the bottom navigation has the class `.bottom-nav-bar`, your CSS code would be:
/* Hide bottom navigation on all devices */
.bottom-nav-bar {
display: none !important;
}
/* Hide bottom navigation only on mobile (adjust max-width as needed) */
@media (max-width: 768px) {
.bottom-nav-bar {
display: none !important;
}
}
4. Publish Changes: Click “Publish” to save your changes.
Reasoning:
CSS allows precise targeting of the bottom navigation element. The `display: none !important;` ensures the element is hidden, even if other CSS rules try to display it. The `@media` query lets you hide the navigation only on smaller screens (mobile).
Method 3: Using a Code Snippet (For Advanced Users)
This method is more advanced and involves directly editing your theme’s files or using a code snippets plugin. Be cautious when editing theme files, as mistakes can break your site. Always back up your website before making any changes. Using a code snippet plugin is generally safer.
1. Install a Code Snippets Plugin: If you don’t already have one, install a plugin like “Code Snippets.” This allows you to add PHP code without directly editing theme files.
2. Create a New Snippet: In the Code Snippets plugin, click “Add New.”
3. Add the Code: This method requires identifying the PHP file responsible for rendering the bottom navigation in your theme. This is highly theme-dependent. You’ll then need to remove or comment out the code that outputs the navigation.
* Find the Relevant File: Use your browser’s inspector to identify the HTML of the bottom navigation. Trace back to the PHP file in your theme’s directory structure that’s responsible for generating that HTML. This may require some detective work! Search for code fragments from the HTML within your theme files.
* Remove/Comment Out the Code: Once found, you can either completely remove the relevant lines of code, or comment them out using `/* */` or `//`.
Example (This is Highly Dependent on Your Theme):
Let’s imagine you find the following code in `your-theme/inc/template-functions.php`:
<?php
function your_theme_bottom_navigation() {
// Output the bottom navigation menu
echo '';
}
add_action( 'wp_footer', 'your_theme_bottom_navigation' );
?>
You could comment it out like this:
<?php
// function your_theme_bottom_navigation() {
// // Output the bottom navigation menu
// echo '';
// }
// add_action( 'wp_footer', 'your_theme_bottom_navigation' );
?>
A More Robust Code Snippet Approach:
Sometimes, themes provide a filter hook that lets you disable the function entirely:
Replace `your_theme_enable_bottom_navigation` with the actual filter hook name if your theme provides one. Check your theme’s documentation or source code to find available filters.
4. Save and Activate the Snippet: Save the snippet with a descriptive name and activate it.
Reasoning:
This method gives you the most control but also carries the highest risk. Using a code snippet plugin makes it safer than directly editing theme files. However, finding the correct file and code to modify requires technical expertise and a good understanding of your theme’s structure.
Important Considerations:
* Child Themes: If you’re comfortable editing theme files, always create a child theme first. This prevents your changes from being overwritten when the theme is updated.
* Backup: Always back up your website before making any code changes. This allows you to quickly restore your site if something goes wrong.
* Theme Updates: When your theme is updated, any CSS or code snippets you’ve added might need to be re-evaluated to ensure they still work correctly.
By following these methods, you should be able to successfully disable the bottom navigation on your WooCommerce store and create a cleaner, more user-friendly experience for your customers. Remember to always back up your site and proceed with caution when editing code. Good luck!
