How to Remove Additional Information in WooCommerce: A Beginner’s Guide
WooCommerce is a fantastic platform for selling online, but sometimes it displays information you don’t need or want on your product pages. One common area of customization is the “Additional Information” tab, which often shows product attributes like weight and dimensions. This article will guide you through how to remove additional information in WooCommerce easily, even if you’re a complete beginner. Let’s get started!
Imagine you’re selling digital downloads. Weight and dimensions are irrelevant! Displaying them just clutters your product page and potentially confuses customers. Removing this unnecessary information creates a cleaner, more professional look.
Why Remove the Additional Information Tab?
The “Additional Information” tab in WooCommerce is designed to display product attributes. While useful for physical products, it can be redundant or even confusing in several situations:
- Digital Products: As mentioned earlier, digital downloads don’t have weight or dimensions.
- Services: Services don’t typically have physical attributes.
- Products with All Info in the Description: If you’ve already covered all relevant information in your product description, the “Additional Information” tab might be repetitive.
- Clean Design: Sometimes, you just prefer a minimalist design and want to streamline your product pages.
- Go to your WordPress dashboard.
- Navigate to Appearance > Theme File Editor (or Theme Editor depending on your theme).
- On the right-hand side, find the `functions.php` file. Important: Before making any changes, back up your `functions.php` file! If something goes wrong, you can easily restore it. You can download it directly from the editor.
- If you are using a child theme, edit `functions.php` in your child theme. This protects your changes from being overwritten when the parent theme updates. Using a child theme is highly recommended.
Method 1: Using Code (The Recommended Approach)
While there are plugins to achieve this, using code directly is often cleaner and avoids adding extra baggage to your site. Don’t worry, it’s easier than it sounds!
1. Access Your Theme’s `functions.php` File:
2. Add the Code Snippet:
Paste the following code snippet at the bottom of your `functions.php` file, before the closing `?>` tag (if it exists):
<?php add_filter( 'woocommerce_product_tabs', 'woo_remove_product_tabs', 98 );
function woo_remove_product_tabs( $tabs ) {
unset( $tabs[‘additional_information’] ); // Remove the additional information tab
return $tabs;
}
?>
3. Save the File:
Click the “Update File” button.
4. Check Your Product Pages:
Visit a product page on your website and verify that the “Additional Information” tab is gone.
Explanation of the Code:
- `add_filter( ‘woocommerce_product_tabs’, ‘woo_remove_product_tabs’, 98 );` This line tells WordPress to use our custom function `woo_remove_product_tabs` when generating the product tabs. The `98` is the priority, which ensures our function runs after WooCommerce’s default functions.
- `function woo_remove_product_tabs( $tabs ) { … }` This defines our custom function that will modify the tabs.
- `unset( $tabs[‘additional_information’] );` This is the key line! It removes the ‘additional_information’ tab from the `$tabs` array.
- `return $tabs;` This returns the modified `$tabs` array to WooCommerce.
Method 2: Using a Plugin (Alternative Option, but Less Recommended)
If you’re uncomfortable editing code, you can use a plugin. However, keep in mind that using too many plugins can slow down your website.
1. Install and Activate a Plugin:
Search for a plugin like “WooCommerce Tab Manager” or “Custom Product Tabs for WooCommerce” in the WordPress plugin directory (Plugins > Add New). Install and activate your chosen plugin.
2. Configure the Plugin:
The plugin will usually add a new settings page or options within the WooCommerce settings. Look for options to disable or remove the “Additional Information” tab. The plugin will then do the coding work in the background.
3. Check Your Product Pages:
As with the code method, verify that the “Additional Information” tab is gone from your product pages.
Important Considerations:
- Backup: Always back up your `functions.php` file (or your entire website) before making any changes.
- Child Theme: Use a child theme to prevent your changes from being overwritten during theme updates.
- Plugin Compatibility: Ensure any plugin you use is compatible with the latest version of WooCommerce and your theme.
- Caching: If you’re using a caching plugin, clear your cache after making changes to ensure the changes are reflected on your website.
Conclusion
Removing the “Additional Information” tab in WooCommerce is a simple way to customize your product pages and improve the user experience on your online store. By following these steps, you can easily clean up your product pages and present a more professional image to your customers. Remember to back up your website before making any changes, and always test your changes thoroughly. Good luck!
