How to Add Cart and Checkout to WooCommerce: A Beginner’s Guide
So, you’ve set up your WooCommerce store, added some awesome products, and you’re ready to start selling! But wait… where’s the shopping cart and the checkout page? Don’t panic! WooCommerce is pretty smart, and in most cases, it automatically creates these essential pages during the installation process. However, sometimes things don’t go as planned, or you might accidentally delete them.
This guide will walk you through how to ensure you have a functioning cart and checkout page, and what to do if they’re missing. We’ll keep it simple and easy to understand, even if you’re a complete newbie to WooCommerce.
Why are Cart and Checkout Pages So Important?
Imagine walking into a real-life store. You pick out your items, put them in a shopping cart, and then head to the checkout counter to pay. The cart and checkout pages in your WooCommerce store are the online equivalent of this process.
- The Cart Page: This is where customers can review the items they’ve added, adjust quantities, apply coupons, and estimate shipping costs. It’s a crucial step in solidifying their purchase decision.
- The Checkout Page: This is the final step where customers enter their billing and shipping information, choose a payment method, and place their order. A smooth and secure checkout process is vital for converting visitors into paying customers.
- Give the page the title “Cart”.
- In the content area (the big text box), add the shortcode: `[woocommerce_cart]`
- Click “Publish.”
- Go to Pages > Add New again.
- Give the page the title “Checkout.”
- In the content area, add the shortcode: `[woocommerce_checkout]`
- Click “Publish.”
- Cart page shows a blank page: This usually means the `[woocommerce_cart]` shortcode is missing or incorrectly entered. Double-check the shortcode and make sure it’s enclosed in square brackets.
- Checkout page shows a blank page: Similar to the cart page, this usually means the `[woocommerce_checkout]` shortcode is missing or incorrect.
- “Return to shop” button doesn’t work: This might be because the “Shop page” isn’t set correctly in WooCommerce settings (under WooCommerce > Settings > Products). Ensure you have a “Shop” page created and selected in this setting.
- Cart page redirects to the homepage: This could be due to a plugin conflict or a theme issue. Try deactivating plugins one by one to see if that resolves the problem. If it’s a theme issue, try switching to a default WordPress theme (like Twenty Twenty-Three) to see if that fixes it.
Without these pages, your customers simply can’t buy anything from you! It’s like having a store with no cash register.
Checking If Your Cart and Checkout Pages Already Exist
Before we start adding anything, let’s make sure the pages aren’t already there, just hiding!
1. Log into your WordPress dashboard. This is where you manage your website.
2. Navigate to Pages > All Pages. Look for pages titled “Cart” and “Checkout.”
If you see these pages listed, great! You can skip ahead to the section on “Ensuring Correct Page Assignment.” If not, don’t worry, we’ll create them now.
Creating the Cart and Checkout Pages
If you don’t see the “Cart” and “Checkout” pages, here’s how to create them:
1. Go to Pages > Add New.
2. Create the Cart Page:
3. Create the Checkout Page:
What are shortcodes? Think of them as special instructions for WooCommerce. The `[woocommerce_cart]` and `[woocommerce_checkout]` shortcodes tell WooCommerce to display the cart and checkout functionalities on those specific pages.
Ensuring Correct Page Assignment in WooCommerce Settings
Now that you’ve created the pages, you need to tell WooCommerce which pages to use for the cart and checkout.
1. Navigate to WooCommerce > Settings.
2. Click on the “Advanced” tab.
3. Locate the “Page setup” section. Here, you’ll see dropdown menus for “Cart page” and “Checkout page.”
4. Select the “Cart” page you just created from the “Cart page” dropdown.
5. Select the “Checkout” page you just created from the “Checkout page” dropdown.
6. Click “Save changes” at the bottom of the page.
This step is crucial! Without it, WooCommerce won’t know which pages to use, and your customers will be stuck.
Testing Your Cart and Checkout Pages
After completing the above steps, it’s essential to test everything to make sure it’s working correctly.
1. Visit your online store.
2. Add a product to your cart.
3. Click on the “View Cart” button (or a similar link) to go to your Cart page. Make sure the cart displays correctly, allows you to change quantities, and estimate shipping.
4. From the Cart page, click on the “Proceed to Checkout” button.
5. Check that the Checkout page loads properly. Make sure all the necessary fields (billing address, shipping address, payment options) are visible.
If you encounter any errors, double-check the steps above, especially the shortcodes and the page assignments in the WooCommerce settings.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Here are a few common problems you might encounter and how to fix them:
Conclusion
Adding a cart and checkout to your WooCommerce store is fundamental for selling online. By following these simple steps, you can ensure a smooth and seamless shopping experience for your customers. Remember to double-check the shortcodes, page assignments, and test everything thoroughly to avoid any frustrating issues. Now you’re ready to start accepting orders and growing your online business!
