How to Turn Off Related Products in WooCommerce

Are those automatically generated “Related Products” in your WooCommerce store cluttering your product pages and potentially distracting customers? Many store owners find these suggestions unhelpful or even detrimental to their sales. Fortunately, disabling them is easier than you think. This guide will walk you through several methods to effectively turn off related products in WooCommerce, boosting your site’s user experience and potentially improving your conversion rates.

Why Disable Related Products?

Before diving into the how-to, let’s briefly discuss why you might want to disable related products. While intended to increase sales by suggesting complementary items, they can sometimes backfire:

• Cluttered Product Pages: Too many related products can make the page feel overwhelming and difficult to navigate.
• Irrelevant Suggestions: WooCommerce’s default algorithm may not always provide relevant product suggestions, leading to customer frustration.

Poor Design Integration: The default styling might clash with your store’s overall design aesthetic.

Reduced Focus on Primary Product: Related products can distract customers from the main product they’re viewing.

How to Turn Off Related Products in WooCommerce

There are several ways to achieve this, each with varying levels of complexity:

Method 1: Using the WooCommerce Theme Options (Easiest)

Many WooCommerce themes offer a simple option within their theme customization settings to disable related products. Look for settings related to “Shop,” “Products,” or “Single Product.” The exact location varies depending on your theme, but often includes a checkbox or toggle switch to enable/disable related products. Check your theme’s documentation for specific instructions.

Method 2: Using a Plugin (Recommended for Advanced Customization)

If your theme doesn’t offer a direct option, a plugin provides a reliable solution. Several plugins allow granular control over related products, enabling you to disable them completely or customize their display. Some popular options include:

• Disable Related Products: A simple plugin dedicated to disabling related products.

WooCommerce Product Add-ons: This plugin offers more comprehensive control over product display, including related product management.

Note: Always check plugin reviews and compatibility before installing.

Method 3: Customizing the WooCommerce Template Files (Advanced Users Only)

This method is for advanced users comfortable editing code. You can directly remove the related products section by modifying the relevant WooCommerce template files. This usually involves locating the `single-product.php` file (or a similar file depending on your theme) and removing the code responsible for displaying related products. This approach requires a thorough understanding of PHP and WordPress template files and is not recommended for beginners. A mistake could break your website.

Conclusion

Disabling related products in WooCommerce can significantly improve your store’s user experience and potentially boost sales by creating a cleaner, more focused shopping environment. Choose the method that best suits your technical skills and store requirements. Remember to always back up your website before making any significant changes, especially when editing template files. If you’re unsure, the plugin method offers a safe and effective solution.