How to Remove Related Products in WooCommerce (Easy Guide for Beginners)
So, you’ve got a fantastic WooCommerce store, filled with amazing products. But those related products at the bottom of your product pages? Sometimes they’re not so Discover insights on How To Get Woocommerce Product-Category Page Url “related,” or maybe they’re distracting from the main product you’re trying to sell. Don’t worry, removing them is easier than you think! This guide will walk you through several methods to remove related products WooCommerce, even if you’re a complete beginner.
Think of it like this: You’re selling a premium leather jacket. You *want* customers to focus on the quality and details of that jacket. Seeing a related product of “fuzzy socks” underneath might feel a bit out of place and dilute the jacket’s perceived value. Removing unrelated or distracting suggestions helps keep the customer focused on the product you *want* them to buy.
Why Remove Related Products?
There are several reasons why you might want to remove related products WooCommerce:
- Improved Conversion Rates: By removing distractions, you keep customers focused on the current product, increasing the likelihood of a purchase. Think of it as removing clutter from a store display – less clutter, more focus on the star item!
- Enhanced User Experience: Sometimes, the algorithm that generates related products isn’t perfect. It might suggest products that are completely irrelevant to the current item, leading to a frustrating user experience.
- Specific Product Strategy: You might be running a promotion on a specific product and don’t want related products to compete for attention.
- Clean and Focused Design: A cleaner product page can simply look more professional and appealing.
Method 1: Using WooCommerce Settings (The Simplest Way)
This is the easiest method, but it has limitations. It disables *all* related products globally.
1. Go to your WordPress dashboard.
2. Navigate to Appearance > Customize.
3. Click on WooCommerce > Product Page.
4. Find the Related Products section.
5. Uncheck the box that says “Enable related products“.
6. Click Publish to save your changes.
Limitation: This method removes related products from *every* product page. If you only want to remove them from specific products, you’ll need a more targeted approach (see the methods below).
Method 2: Using Code (For Specific Control – Requires a Little More Confidence)
This method involves adding a code snippet to your Read more about How To Create Woocommerce Addon theme’s `functions.php` file or using a code snippets plugin. Important: Always back up your website before editing code!
1. Access your theme’s `functions.php` file: You can do this through your WordPress dashboard by going to Appearance > Theme Editor (but be very careful!). A safer method is to use an FTP client or your hosting provider’s file manager.
2. Add the following code snippet:
remove_action( 'woocommerce_after_single_product_summary', 'woocommerce_output_related_products', 20 );
3. Save the changes.
Explanation: This code snippet removes the action that displays related products after the single product summary.
Alternative: Using a Code Snippets Plugin:
A code snippets plugin like “Code Snippets” is a safer and easier way to add code to your website without directly editing your theme files. Install and activate the plugin, then add the code snippet above as a new snippet and activate it.
Limitation: This method *also* removes related products globally. To target specific products, you need a more complex code solution.
Method 3: Using a Plugin (Best for Targeted Control and Ease of Use)
Several plugins allow you to remove related products WooCommerce on a product-by-product basis. This is often the most flexible and user-friendly approach.
Recommended Plugins:
- WooCommerce Related Products Manager: This plugin allows you to control related products on each product page. You can choose to disable them entirely, manually select related products, or even cross-sell products.
- YITH WooCommerce Related Products: Another popular option with similar features to WooCommerce Related Products Manager.
How to use a plugin (example using WooCommerce Related Products Manager):
1. Install and activate the plugin.
2. Go to Products > All Products.
3. Edit the product where you want to remove related products.
4. Look for the plugin’s settings (usually a new tab or section on the product edit page).
5. Disable related products for that specific product.
6. Update the product.
Why a plugin is often the best choice:
- Targeted Control: Remove related products only where you need to.
- No Coding Required: Easy to use interface.
- Advanced Features: Many plugins offer additional features like manually selecting related products or cross-selling.
Method 4: Using CSS (Hide, Don’t Remove
This method hides the related products section using CSS. While it *looks* like they’re gone, the code is still present on the page, so it’s not recommended for SEO.
1. Go to Appearance > Customize > Additional CSS.
2. Add the following CSS code:
.related.products {
display: none !important;
}
3. Click Publish.
Why this method is not recommended:
- Doesn’t improve page load speed: The code is still there, just hidden.
- Not SEO-friendly: Search engines might still see the related products, even if users don’t.
- Less control: Hides all related products globally.
Choosing the Right Method
- Simplest (Global Removal): Use WooCommerce settings (Method 1) or the code snippet (Method 2).
- Targeted Control (Best Option): Use a plugin (Method 3).
- Quick Fix (Not Recommended): Use CSS (Method 4).
Ultimately, the best method for you will depend on your technical skills and your specific needs. If you’re not comfortable editing code, a plugin is definitely the way to go. If you just want to get rid of related products across your entire store, the WooCommerce settings option might be sufficient. Remember to always back up your website before making any changes! Good luck!
