How to Change Default Sorting in WooCommerce: A Comprehensive Guide
WooCommerce offers a flexible e-commerce experience, but its default product sorting might not always meet your specific needs. Perhaps you want to prioritize new arrivals, showcase bestsellers, or highlight products on sale. This guide will walk you through several methods to effectively change the default WooCommerce product sorting, catering to both beginners and experienced users.
Understanding WooCommerce’s Default Sorting
By default, WooCommerce typically sorts products by relevance, often a combination of factors like popularity and recency. While this works well in many cases, customizing the sorting order can significantly improve your store’s user experience and potentially boost sales. You can choose to sort by price (low to high, high to low), popularity, rating, newness, and more.
Method 1: Using the WooCommerce Settings Panel (Easiest Method)
This is the simplest method for changing your default product sorting. It works directly through the WordPress admin panel and doesn’t require any coding.
1. Access your WordPress dashboard: Log in to your WordPress website and navigate to your admin panel.
2. Go to WooCommerce Settings: In the left-hand menu, click on “WooCommerce” and then select “Products”.
3. Find the “Default Sorting” Option: Look for the “Default product sorting” option. This section allows you to choose from a predefined list.
4. Select your preferred sorting option: Choose from options like “Date (newest first),” “Price (low to high),” “Price (high to low),” “Popularity (sales),” or “Rating (highest to lowest)“.
5. Save your changes: Click the “Save changes” button to apply your selected default sorting.
Method 2: Using a WooCommerce Plugin (For Advanced Options)
While the default settings work well, some may need more control. Several plugins offer expanded sorting options. These often allow you to add custom sorting options or even let your customers choose the sorting method. Popular choices include:
- YITH WooCommerce Order Management: Offers advanced options for product and order management, including flexible sorting capabilities.
- WooCommerce Sort by: A plugin dedicated specifically to providing extensive sorting options to customers.
Method 3: Customizing the Code (For Developers)
This method requires coding knowledge and is recommended only for users comfortable modifying WooCommerce’s core files. Directly altering the code provides ultimate control but carries a higher risk. Always back up your website before making any code changes.
You can adjust the default sorting by modifying the `pre_get_posts` hook in your `functions.php` file (or a custom plugin). Here’s an example that sorts products by popularity:
add_action( 'pre_get_posts', 'custom_woocommerce_sorting' );
function custom_woocommerce_sorting( $query ) {
if ( ! $query->is_main_query() || ! $query->is_post_type_archive( ‘product’ ) ) return;
$query->set( ‘orderby’, ‘meta_value_num’ );
$query->set( ‘meta_key’, ‘_wc_average_rating’ ); // For rating, use ‘_wc_average_rating’
$query->set( ‘order’, ‘DESC’ ); // DESC for descending, ASC for ascending
}
Remember to replace `’_wc_average_rating’` with the appropriate meta key depending on your desired sorting method. For example:
- Popularity (sales): `’_sold_individually’` (if sold individually) or `’_sold_individually’` (if not sold individually), `meta_key` might vary
- Price (low to high): `’price’`
- Date: `’date’`
Caution: Incorrect code can break your website. Test thoroughly after implementation.
Conclusion
Changing the default product sorting in WooCommerce is achievable through several methods, catering to different levels of technical expertise. Whether you choose the simple settings panel, a powerful plugin, or direct code modification, ensuring your products are displayed in the most appealing and relevant order will ultimately enhance your customer experience and improve sales. Remember to always back up your website before making any significant changes.
