How To Hide A Product In Woocommerce From Catalog

# How to Hide a Product in WooCommerce from the Catalog

Want to temporarily remove a product from your WooCommerce store’s catalog without completely deleting it? This guide will show you several ways to hide a product from the WooCommerce catalog, keeping it safe for later reactivation while maintaining a clean and organized storefront. This is useful for various reasons, such as out-of-stock items, seasonal products, or items undergoing updates.

Understanding the Different Methods for Hiding WooCommerce Products

There are several ways to achieve this, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. We’ll explore the most common and effective methods, from simple plugin options to more technical approaches using WooCommerce’s built-in features and custom code. Choosing the right method depends on your technical skills and the level of control you require.

Method 1: Using WooCommerce’s Built-in “Inventory” Feature

The simplest method involves leveraging WooCommerce’s stock management system. If a product is out of stock, you can automatically hide it from the catalog.

• Navigate to the product: Go to your WordPress dashboard, then Products > All Products.
• Edit the product: Select the product you want to hide.
• Adjust Inventory: In the “Inventory” tab, set the “Stock Quantity” to 0.
• Check “Out of stock visibility”: Under “Out of stock visibility,” select “Hide out of stock items from the catalog”.
• Save changes: Update the product.

This method is effective for temporary unavailability, but it’s not ideal for permanently hiding products that might return to the catalog later. The product remains in your database, and it could be easily made visible again.

Method 2: Using a WooCommerce Plugin

Several plugins offer robust product management capabilities, including the ability to hide products from the catalog. These plugins often provide more sophisticated options than the built-in features.

• Install a plugin: Search for “WooCommerce product visibility” or similar terms in your WordPress plugin repository. Many free and premium plugins are available. Popular options include:
• Product Visibility Suite
• Advanced Product Catalog
• Configure the plugin: Once installed and activated, follow the plugin’s instructions to select the products you want to hide. Most plugins provide an intuitive interface for managing product visibility.
• Advantages of using a plugin: Plugins usually offer additional features like scheduled visibility, bulk actions, and more control over product display.

Method 3: Custom Code (Advanced Users)

For more precise control, you can use custom code. This approach requires some coding knowledge and is not recommended for beginners. It involves adding code snippets to your theme’s `functions.php` file or a custom plugin.

Here’s an example of PHP code that hides a product by its ID:

add_filter( 'woocommerce_is_purchasable', 'hide_product_by_id', 10, 2 );
function hide_product_by_id( $purchasable, $product ) {
if ( $product->get_id() == 123 ) { // Replace 123 with your product ID
return false;
}
return $purchasable;
}

Important Note: Always back up your website before adding custom code. Incorrect code can break your website. This code snippet only hides the product; it doesn’t remove it from the database.

Conclusion

Hiding products from your WooCommerce catalog is a valuable tool for managing your inventory and maintaining a clean, efficient online store. The method you choose depends on your needs and technical skills. The built-in method is suitable for simple scenarios, plugins offer greater flexibility, and custom code provides ultimate control. Remember to carefully consider the pros and cons of each option before implementing it. Always back up your website before making any significant changes.