How to Remove the “Add to Cart” Button in WooCommerce: A Beginner’s Guide

So, you’ve built a beautiful WooCommerce store, but you need to remove the “Add to Cart” button from certain products. Maybe you’re offering services instead of physical goods, using WooCommerce for appointments, or showcasing products that require a quote. Whatever the reason, removing that button is key. This guide will show you how, catering to even the most novice WooCommerce user.

Why Remove the “Add to Cart” Button?

Before diving into the how-to, let’s understand *why* you might want to remove this button. Here are a few common scenarios:

• Offering Services: If you’re using WooCommerce to manage appointments or consultations, the “Add to Cart” button is irrelevant and confusing for customers.
• Custom Quotes: For high-value items or bespoke products, a quote request is more appropriate than a simple “Add to Cart.”
• Membership Sites: If your products are only accessible via membership, the button is unnecessary and might be misleading.
• Lead Generation: Sometimes, the goal isn’t immediate sales; you might want to collect leads before offering products. The button could interfere with this.
• Product Displays Only: You may simply want to showcase products without allowing immediate purchases (perhaps using WooCommerce as a product catalog).

Methods to Remove the “Add to Cart” Button

There are several ways to remove the “Add to Cart” button, ranging from simple code snippets to using plugins. Let’s explore the most common and beginner-friendly methods:

1. Using a Plugin (Easiest Method)

The simplest approach is using a plugin. Plugins offer a user-friendly interface, avoiding any direct code interaction. Search for plugins like “WooCommerce Product Visibility” or similar. Many plugins allow fine-grained control, enabling you to hide the button on specific products or product categories.

• Pros: Easy to use, no coding required.
• Cons: Requires installing and configuring a plugin, potentially adding overhead to your website.

2. Using a Code Snippet (For the Technically Inclined)

For those comfortable with code, adding a small snippet to your theme’s `functions.php` file (or a child theme’s `functions.php` for safety) can achieve this. Always back up your files before making any code changes!

Here’s a snippet that removes the “Add to Cart” button from all products:

add_filter( 'woocommerce_is_purchasable', 'disable_add_to_cart_button', 10, 2 );
function disable_add_to_cart_button( $purchasable, $product ) {
return false;
}

This code overrides the function that determines if a product is purchasable, effectively hiding the button. You can target specific products or categories using more advanced code, but this provides a basic example. Consult a developer if you’re unsure about code implementation.

3. Using WooCommerce’s Built-in Product Settings (For Specific Products)

For a more targeted approach, WooCommerce allows you to individually disable the “Add to Cart” button for specific products *without* code. However, this often only works for hiding the “add to cart” button and not for disabling purchasing.

• Go to your WooCommerce dashboard.
• Navigate to “Products.”
• Select the product you want to modify.
• Under the “Product data” tab, you might find options to disable or change the product’s status (e.g., changing “In Stock” to “Out of Stock”). This will affect how the product displays on the shop pages.

*Note:** This method might not completely remove the button but change its appearance or functionality based on the product’s status.*