How to Hide WooCommerce Categories (Without Deleting Them!)

So you’ve built a beautiful WooCommerce store, but some categories are causing more trouble than they’re worth. Maybe they’re temporary, outdated, or simply not ready for prime time. Deleting them seems drastic, but leaving them visible is messy. The good news? You can hide WooCommerce categories without deleting them, preserving your data and keeping your store clean. This guide shows you how, even if you’re a complete beginner.

Why Hide, Not Delete?

Before diving into the how-to, let’s understand the *why*. Deleting a category permanently removes all associated data. This is a big deal if:

• You might need the category later. Think of a seasonal sale category – you’d want to reuse it next year!
• You’ve already assigned products to it. Deleting it would orphan those products, requiring manual re-assignment.
• You want to keep your product organization intact for your internal processes.

Hiding a category, on the other hand, keeps everything neatly tucked away until you’re ready for it again.

Method 1: Using the WooCommerce Built-in Options (Easiest Method)

This is the simplest way to hide a category. It works directly within WooCommerce, requiring no plugins or complex code.

• Step 1: Log in to your WordPress dashboard.
• Step 2: Navigate to Products > Categories.
• Step 3: Find the category you want to hide.
• Step 4: Look for the checkbox labeled “Display in Menu“. Uncheck this box.
• Step 5: Click “Update“.

That’s it! Your category will disappear from your navigation menu, making it effectively hidden from your customers. The products remain linked to the category, and you can easily unhide it by re-checking the box whenever needed.

Real-life example: Imagine you have a “Winter Sale” category. Once winter ends, you uncheck “Display in Menu” to remove it from the navigation. Next year, you simply re-check it and restock your winter items!

Method 2: Using a Plugin (For More Control)

While the built-in method is perfect for simple scenarios, plugins offer extra functionality. Consider using a plugin if you need more advanced control over category visibility. Popular options include:

• Category Order & Visibility: This plugin allows you to control not just the visibility, but also the order of your categories.
• WP Hide Post: While primarily designed to hide posts, this plugin also works with categories.

These plugins often provide more granular control, allowing you to hide categories from specific pages or even individual users. However, they require installing and configuring a plugin, so they are slightly more advanced.

Method 3: Using Custom Code (For Advanced Users)

This method involves adding custom code to your `functions.php` file or a custom plugin. This is *not* recommended for beginners, as incorrect code can break your website. However, if you’re comfortable with code, it allows for highly customized solutions.

Warning: Always back up your website before adding custom code!

Here’s a *basic* example that hides a category with the slug “hidden-category”:

function hide_category_from_shop( $query ) {
if ( !is_admin() && $query->is_main_query() && is_shop() ) {
$query->set( 'category__not_in', array( get_cat_ID( 'hidden-category' ) ) );
}
}
add_action( 'pre_get_posts', 'hide_category_from_shop' );

This code snippet prevents the “hidden-category” from appearing on the main shop page. You’ll need to adjust the slug (“hidden-category”) to match your category’s actual slug.

Conclusion

Hiding WooCommerce categories is a powerful tool for maintaining a clean and efficient online store. Choose the method that best suits your technical skills and needs. Start with the built-in options if you’re a beginner, and explore plugins or custom code only if you need more advanced functionality. Remember to always back up your website before making any significant changes!