Stop That Cart! How to Prevent the Redirect After “Add to Cart” in WooCommerce
Ever added something to your WooCommerce cart, only to be whisked away to the cart page? It can be disruptive, especially if you want to keep browsing for more goodies. This automatic redirect is the default WooCommerce behavior, but thankfully, it’s easy to change!
This guide will walk you through stopping the redirect after adding to cart, keeping your customers on the product or shop page and encouraging them to add even *more* to their basket! We’ll cover the easiest method and a more advanced code-based solution.
Why Stop the Redirect? Real-World Examples
Imagine these scenarios:
* Selling small items like stickers or accessories: Customers often want to add multiple items of the same type or browse related products. A redirect after each “Add to Cart” forces them to repeatedly navigate back, potentially leading to frustration and lost sales.
* Upselling/Cross-selling strategy: You carefully curate related products on a product page. Preventing the redirect allows customers to immediately see these suggestions and add them to their cart effortlessly. Think of it as showing them the candy aisle right after they grabbed a soda.
* User Experience Focus: A smoother, less interruptive shopping experience can lead to higher engagement and conversion rates. It’s about making the purchase process as seamless as possible.
In short, disabling the redirect allows for a faster, more intuitive, and ultimately more profitable shopping experience.
Method 1: Using the WooCommerce Settings (The Easiest Way!)
This is the simplest method and perfect for beginners. It’s all done within the WordPress admin panel.
1. Login to your WordPress dashboard.
2. Navigate to WooCommerce > Settings.
3. Click on the “Products” tab.
4. Under the “Add to cart behavior” section, uncheck the box labeled “Redirect to the cart page after successful addition”.
Important: This single checkbox does the trick!
5. Click “Save changes” at the bottom of the page.
That’s it! Now, when a customer clicks “Add to Cart,” the product will be added, and they’ll remain on the same page.
Method 2: Using Code (For More Control)
This method requires adding a small snippet of code to your theme’s `functions.php` file or, even better, using a code snippets plugin. Always back up your website before making code changes!
Why use code when the setting exists? Sometimes you might want more granular control. For example, you might want to disable the redirect *only* for certain product categories.
Here’s the code:
add_filter( 'woocommerce_add_to_cart_redirect', 'ts_remove_redirect_checkout' );
function ts_remove_redirect_checkout( $url ) {
return wc_get_page_permalink( ‘shop’ ); // Redirects back to the shop page
// Or:
// return false; // Keeps the user on the same page
}
Explanation:
* `add_filter( ‘woocommerce_add_to_cart_redirect’, ‘ts_remove_redirect_checkout’ );` This line hooks into the `woocommerce_add_to_cart_redirect` filter, allowing us to modify the redirect URL.
* `function ts_remove_redirect_checkout( $url ) { … }` This defines a function named `ts_remove_redirect_checkout` that takes the original URL as input.
* `return wc_get_page_permalink( ‘shop’ );` This line tells WooCommerce to redirect the user to the shop page after adding to cart.
* `return false;` Alternative: This line tells WooCommerce *not* to redirect at all, keeping the customer on the same product page. This is often the preferred behavior.
How to Use the Code:
1. Install a Code Snippets plugin: A great option is “Code Snippets” by Code Snippets Pro. This keeps your functions.php file clean and makes it easy to manage code snippets.
2. Add a new snippet: Go to Snippets > Add New.
3. Paste the code: Paste the code above into the snippet editor.
4. Choose the redirection: Choose either `wc_get_page_permalink( ‘shop’ )` to go to the shop, or `false` to stay on the same page.
5. Give your snippet a title: For example, “Disable Add to Cart Redirect.”
6. Save and Activate: Save the snippet and activate it.
Important Considerations for the Code Method:
* Specificity: You can modify this code to be more specific. For example, you could check the product category being added and only disable the redirect if it belongs to a certain category. This requires more advanced PHP skills.
* Theme Updates: When your theme updates, it *could* overwrite your changes in `functions.php` (another reason to use a code snippets plugin).
Which Method Should You Choose?
* Beginner: Use Method 1 (WooCommerce Settings). It’s the easiest and safest option.
* Intermediate/Advanced: Use Method 2 (Code Snippets) if you need more control or want to disable the redirect only under specific circumstances.
Testing Your Changes
After implementing either method, thoroughly test your website. Add a product to your cart and verify that the redirect behavior is as expected. Test on different devices (desktop, mobile) and browsers.
By implementing one of these methods, you can create a smoother and more enjoyable shopping experience for your customers, potentially leading to increased sales and customer satisfaction. Happy selling!
