How to Get Rid of the WooCommerce Shopping Cart (and Why You Might Want To)
Are you tired of seeing that ever-present WooCommerce shopping cart icon cluttering your website? Perhaps you’re building a membership site, a portfolio, or a landing page where a shopping cart is simply irrelevant and distracting. Whatever your reason, removing Learn more about How To Use Priceyak With Woocommerce the WooCommerce shopping cart can significantly improve your site’s user experience and aesthetic appeal. This guide will walk you through several methods, explaining the pros and cons of each approach.
Understanding Why You Might Want to Remove Your WooCommerce Shopping Cart
Before diving into the removal process, it’s important to consider *why* you’re removing your shopping cart. This helps determine the best method for your specific needs. Common reasons include:
- Creating a non-eCommerce website: If your site focuses on content, services, or a portfolio, the shopping cart is superfluous and detracts from the overall design.
- Building a membership site: Membership sites often have their own integrated payment systems, making the WooCommerce cart unnecessary.
- Using WooCommerce for features other than e-commerce: WooCommerce offers functionality beyond selling products; you might use it for its flexible product display without actually selling anything.
- Improving website speed and performance: Removing the cart can slightly improve load times, particularly for sites with many other plugins or extensive product catalogs.
- Creating a cleaner user experience: A streamlined website design, devoid of unnecessary elements, often enhances user engagement.
Methods for Removing the WooCommerce Shopping Cart
Several techniques exist to remove the WooCommerce shopping cart, ranging from simple plugin use to code modifications. Choose the method that best matches your technical skill level and website needs.
#### 1. Using a Plugin:
This is the easiest and most recommended approach for non-technical users. Many plugins are available that can easily hide or remove the cart icon and widget. Search the WordPress plugin directory for “WooCommerce remove cart” or similar keywords. Remember to carefully review plugin reviews and ratings before installing anything.
#### 2. Removing the Cart Icon via Theme Functions.php:
If you’re comfortable editing your theme’s `functions.php` file, this offers a more direct method. Caution: Incorrectly editing this file can break your website. Always back up your files before making any changes.
This code snippet removes the cart icon from the header:
add_filter( 'woocommerce_add_to_cart_fragments', 'remove_cart_icon' ); function remove_cart_icon( $fragments ) { unset( $fragments['div.widget_shopping_cart_content'] ); return $fragments; }
This code needs to be added to your theme’s `functions.php` file. You may need to adjust the selector (`div.widget_shopping_cart_content`) depending on your theme’s structure. Use your browser’s developer tools to inspect the cart element and identify the correct class or ID.
#### 3. Removing the Cart Widget:
Another approach involves removing the cart widget from your sidebar or other widget areas. This is usually done through the WordPress Customizer or by directly editing your theme files. Refer to your theme’s documentation for instructions on managing widgets.
Conclusion: Choosing the Right Approach
Removing your WooCommerce shopping cart offers several advantages for specific website types and designs. The best method depends on your technical skills and comfort level. Plugins offer the easiest solution, while code modifications Read more about How To Create Custom Woocommerce Theme provide more precise control but require more technical expertise. Remember to always back up your website before making any code changes. By following these steps, you can successfully remove the shopping cart and create a cleaner, more focused website experience for your visitors. Choosing the correct method will depend entirely on your technical skills and website’s specific needs. Remember to test your changes thoroughly after implementation.
