# How to Disable Reviews in WooCommerce: A Beginner’s Guide
So you’ve built your beautiful WooCommerce store, and you’re happy with your products. But maybe you’re not quite ready for customer reviews, or perhaps you have a specific reason to disable them temporarily. Whatever the reason, disabling WooCommerce reviews is easier than you think. This guide will show you how, catering to all skill levels.
Why Disable WooCommerce Reviews?
There are several valid reasons why you might want to temporarily or permanently disable reviews on your WooCommerce store:
- New Store: If your store is brand new, you might not have enough reviews yet to make them worthwhile. A page full of zero stars can look unappealing to potential customers.
- Product-Specific Reasons: Maybe you’re launching a new product with limited initial stock and don’t want negative reviews before you can address potential issues Learn more about How To Use Woocommerce Social Login and improve the product.
- Temporary Maintenance: You might disable reviews during a website update or a period of high traffic to prevent any potential issues.
- Specific Product Types: Some product types might not lend themselves to reviews (e.g., custom-made items where each order is unique).
Methods to Disable WooCommerce Reviews
There are several ways to disable reviews in WooCommerce, ranging from simple plugin tweaks to direct code modifications. We’ll cover the easiest methods first.
1. Using a Plugin (Easiest Method)
The simplest way is to use a plugin. Many plugins offer extensive WooCommerce customization options, including the ability to disable reviews. This is ideal for beginners as it avoids direct code manipulation.
* Search the WordPress Plugin Directory: Search for plugins with names like “WooCommerce Review Control” or “Disable WooCommerce Reviews”. Many free and premium options exist.
* Install and Activate: Once you find a suitable plugin, install it through your WordPress dashboard (Plugins > Add New). Activate it.
* Configure Settings: Most plugins will have simple settings to enable or disable reviews. Follow the plugin’s instructions to disable the reviews feature.
Example: Imagine you’re using a plugin called “Review Control Pro”. You would go to its settings page (usually found under WooCommerce or a similar menu Read more about How To Change Woocommerce Single Product Page Layout item) and find a toggle or checkbox to disable product reviews.
2. Disabling Reviews Through Theme Functions.php (Intermediate)
This method involves adding a small piece of code to your theme’s `functions.php` file. Warning: Modifying the `functions.php` file can break your website if done incorrectly. Always back up your website before making any code changes.
Add the following code snippet to your theme’s `functions.php` file:
add_filter( 'woocommerce_product_review_count', '__return_zero' ); add_filter( 'woocommerce_product_allow_reviews', '__return_false' );
This code does two things:
* `add_filter( ‘woocommerce_product_review_count’, ‘__return_zero’ );`: This hides the review count (e.g., “2 Reviews”).
* `add_filter( ‘woocommerce_product_allow_reviews’, ‘__return_false’ );`: This prevents users from submitting new reviews.
3. Child Theme (Recommended for Code Modifications)
The safest way to add custom code is by creating a child theme. This keeps your changes separate from your main theme, preventing them from being lost when the theme is updated. If you are not comfortable with this, then use a plugin.
Re-enabling Reviews
Re-enabling reviews is just as straightforward. For plugins, simply Discover insights on How To Get A Child Theme Overriding Woocommerce re-enable the review option in the plugin settings. For code modifications, remove the code snippets from your `functions.php` file or child theme’s `functions.php` file.
Conclusion
Disabling WooCommerce reviews is a simple process, regardless of your technical skill level. Choosing the right method depends on your comfort level with code and the level of control you need. Remember to always back up your website before making any code changes, and consider using plugins for ease of use and maintenance. If you’re unsure about modifying code, using a plugin is always the safest option.
