How to Disable Quantity Fields in WooCommerce: A Beginner’s Guide
So, you’re running a WooCommerce store, and you’ve decided you don’t need those pesky quantity fields on your product pages. Maybe you’re selling unique, one-of-a-kind items, or offering services where quantity doesn’t apply. Whatever the reason, you’ve come to the right place! This guide will walk you through how to disable quantity in WooCommerce in a simple and straightforward way. No coding experience required (though we’ll touch on a code snippet option for the adventurous!).
Think of it like this: You’re selling handmade pottery. Each piece is unique, so customers can only buy one. Having a quantity field is confusing and unnecessary! Removing it streamlines the buying process and reduces potential customer confusion.
Why Disable Quantity Fields in WooCommerce?
Before we dive into *how*, let’s understand *why* you might want to disable quantity fields:
- Selling Unique Items: As mentioned, if you sell one-off items like antiques, art, or custom-made goods, a quantity field is redundant.
- Offering Services: If you’re selling services like consultations, classes, or subscriptions, the quantity field is often irrelevant.
- Simplifying the User Experience: For some products, offering only one purchase option streamlines the customer journey and reduces decision fatigue.
- Controlling Inventory: In certain situations, you might want to manually manage orders and prevent customers from accidentally ordering more than you have available.
Method 1: Using a Plugin (The Easiest Way!)
The easiest and recommended approach for most users is to use a plugin. Several free and premium plugins can achieve this. For this example, we’ll use a free, popular option:
Plugin: Variation Quantity Manager for WooCommerce
While this plugin is designed to manage quantities for variations, it can also be used to Read more about How To Add Buy Now Button In Woocommerce Shop Page disable the quantity field entirely.
Here’s how to use it:
1. Install and Activate the Plugin: Go to Plugins > Add New in your WordPress dashboard. Search for “Variation Quantity Manager for WooCommerce” and install it. Once installed, click “Activate.”
2. Configure the Plugin: Go to WooCommerce > Variation Quantity Manager.
3. Disable Quantity: In the settings panel, find the option that allows you to disable the quantity field. This is usually a checkbox or a setting labeled something like “Disable Quantity Input” or “Hide Quantity Field.” Enable this option. Save your changes.
4. Test It Out: Visit a product page on your website. The quantity field should now be gone!
This plugin offers flexibility. You can apply this change globally (to all products) or selectively to specific product categories.
Method 2: Using a Code Snippet (For the More Technical)
If you’re comfortable with code, you can use a code snippet to disable the quantity field. This method is generally faster, but requires a bit more technical knowledge.
Important: Before editing any theme files, always back up your website! This ensures you can restore your site if something goes wrong.
Here’s the code snippet you can use (add to your theme’s `functions.php` file or use a code snippets plugin):
<?php /**
add_action(‘woocommerce_single_product_summary’, ‘woocommerce_template_single_add_to_cart’, 30);
}
add_action( ‘woocommerce_before_single_product’, ‘remove_quantity_field’ );
/**
- Custom Add to Cart button
*/
function custom_add_to_cart() {
global $product;
echo ‘
‘;
echo ”;
echo ‘‘;
echo ‘
‘;
}
remove_action( ‘woocommerce_single_product_summary’, ‘woocommerce_template_single_add_to_cart’, 30 );
add_action( ‘woocommerce_single_product_summary’, ‘custom_add_to_cart’, 30 );
?>
Explanation:
- `remove_action()`: This function removes the default WooCommerce quantity field and related elements from the product page.
- `add_action()`: This function adds a custom “Add to Cart” button with a hidden quantity field set to 1. This ensures that only one item is added to the cart at a time.
How to Add the Code:
1. Access Your `functions.php` File: You can access this file through your WordPress dashboard by going to Appearance > Theme Editor. (Be very careful when editing this file!)
2. Paste the Code: Paste the code snippet at the *bottom* of the `functions.php` file.
3. Update File: Click “Update File.”
4. Test It Out: Visit a product page on your website. The quantity field should now be gone.
Important Considerations When Using Code Snippets:
- Theme Updates: When you update your theme, your changes to `functions.php` might be overwritten. Using a child theme is highly recommended to prevent this.
- Code Snippets Plugin: Alternatively, use a plugin like “Code Snippets” (available in the WordPress repository) to manage your code snippets. This keeps your code separate from your theme files, making updates easier.
Method 3: Using CSS (Hiding, Not Removing)
This method doesn’t *remove* the quantity field, but *hides* it using CSS. While it’s the simplest, it’s not the most ideal. The quantity field is still technically present in the HTML code.
1. Access the WordPress Customizer: Go to Appearance > Customize in your WordPress dashboard.
2. Go to Additional CSS: Look for the “Additional CSS” section (usually at the bottom).
3. Add the CSS Code: Paste the following CSS code:
.quantity {
display: none !important;
}
4. Publish: Click “Publish” to save your changes.
Why this method isn’t ideal:
- The field is still present in the code, which could potentially cause issues with certain plugins or scripts.
- A technically savvy user could still find and manipulate the quantity field.
Choosing the Right Method
- Beginner: Use the plugin method. It’s the easiest, safest, and most user-friendly.
- Intermediate: Use a code snippet plugin. It offers better organization and prevents theme update issues.
- Advanced: Use a child theme and modify `functions.php` directly (with caution!).
- Quick Fix (Not Recommended): Use CSS to hide the field.
No matter which method you choose, remember to test your changes thoroughly to ensure everything works as expected. Good luck disabling those quantity fields!
