How to Remove the Shopping Cart Icon in WooCommerce: A Complete Guide
Introduction:
WooCommerce is a fantastic platform for building online stores, offering a wealth of customization options. However, sometimes you might want to tweak the default appearance to better suit your brand or design preferences. One common request is removing the shopping cart icon from the header, menu, or other areas of your WooCommerce store. This could be because you’re offering services instead of physical products, prefer a cleaner look, or want to implement a different type of cart functionality. Regardless of the reason, this article will guide you through various methods to effectively remove the shopping cart icon in WooCommerce. We’ll cover code-based approaches, plugin solutions, and custom CSS options, catering to different skill levels and preferences.
Understanding Why You Might Remove the Cart Icon
Before diving into the methods, let’s briefly consider why you might want to remove the shopping cart icon:
- Service-based Businesses: If you sell services, consultations, or digital downloads without a traditional cart, the icon might be misleading.
- Minimalist Design: You might prefer a cleaner, less cluttered design aesthetic.
- Alternative Cart Implementation: You might be using a custom cart solution or a different checkout flow.
- Testing Purposes: Temporarily removing the cart icon can be useful for A/B testing different design variations.
- Easy and quick to implement.
- No code editing required.
- Reversible; simply remove the CSS code.
- Relies on CSS classes, which can vary between themes.
- Only hides the icon visually, it doesn’t remove the underlying functionality.
Methods for Removing the Shopping Cart Icon
Here are several ways to remove the shopping cart icon in WooCommerce. Choose the method that best suits your technical skill level and specific needs.
1. Using Custom CSS (Easiest & Quickest)
This is the simplest method and requires no code editing. Check out this post: How To Make Products Woocommerce Show Up Homepage It works by hiding the icon using CSS.
1. Access the WordPress Customizer: Navigate to Appearance > Customize in your WordPress dashboard.
2. Locate the “Additional CSS” Section: Click on “Additional CSS.”
3. Add the following CSS code:
.woocommerce-cart-page .cart-contents,
.woocommerce-checkout-page .cart-contents,
.site-header-cart .cart-contents {
display: none !important;
}
Explanation: This CSS code targets specific CSS classes that usually contain the cart icon and hides them by setting the `display` property to `none`. The `!important` declaration ensures that this rule overrides any other conflicting styles. Adjust the selectors (`.woocommerce-cart-page .cart-contents`, etc.) if your theme uses different CSS classes for the cart icon.
4. Publish Your Changes: Click the “Publish” button at the top of the Customizer.
Pros:
Cons:
2. Using Code Snippets (functions.php or a Code Snippets Plugin)
This method involves adding PHP code to your `functions.php` file or using a code snippets plugin. Important: Always back up your website before editing the `functions.php` file. Editing the `functions.php` incorrectly can break your site. Using a code snippets plugin is generally safer.
1. Choose a method: Either edit your `functions.php` file (Appearance > Theme Editor) or install and activate a code snippets plugin like “Code Snippets”.
2. Add the following PHP code:
add_filter( 'woocommerce_add_to_cart_fragments', 'remove_woocommerce_cart_icon' ); function remove_woocommerce_cart_icon( $fragments ) { unset($fragments['div.widget_shopping_cart_content']); return $fragments; }
Explanation: This code uses the `woocommerce_add_to_cart_fragments` filter, which is responsible for updating the cart content dynamically using AJAX. We’re essentially unsetting the fragment that contains the cart icon.
3. Save your changes: If you edited `functions.php`, click “Update File.” If you used a code snippets plugin, activate the snippet.
Pros:
- More robust than CSS, as it removes the actual cart icon element.
- Less reliant on specific CSS classes.
Cons:
- Requires some understanding of PHP.
- Editing `functions.php` directly carries a risk of breaking your site.
- The exact filter might need adjustment depending on your theme.
3. Using a Plugin (If a Theme Option is Unavailable)
Some WooCommerce themes provide built-in options to disable the cart icon within their theme settings. Check your theme’s options panel before resorting to other methods. If your theme doesn’t offer this functionality, you can use a plugin to remove the cart icon. Some plugins that offer this feature also allow you to customize other aspects of your WooCommerce store.
Plugin Example (Search for similar keywords in the plugin directory):
* “WooCommerce Cart Icon Remover”
* “WooCommerce Customizer” (may include the option to hide the cart icon)
Pros:
- Easy to use, with a user-friendly interface.
- Often includes additional customization options.
Cons:
- Adds another plugin to your site.
- May come with a cost (premium plugins).
4. Modifying Theme Templates (Advanced – Requires Development Knowledge)
This is the most advanced method and should only be attempted if you have a good understanding of WordPress theme development and WooCommerce template structure. It involves directly editing the theme’s template files that display the cart icon.
1. Identify the template file: Use your browser’s developer tools (Inspect Element) to identify the HTML markup of the cart icon. This will give you clues about which template file is generating that output (e.g., `header.php`, `woocommerce/cart/mini-cart.php`).
2. Override the template: Do not directly edit the theme’s original template files. Instead, create a child theme and copy the template file you want to modify into the child theme. This ensures that your changes are not overwritten when the parent theme is updated.
3. Remove the code: Within the copied template file, carefully remove the HTML code that displays the cart icon.
4. Save your changes: Upload the modified template file to your child theme’s directory.
Pros:
- Provides the most control over the cart icon’s removal.
Cons:
- Requires advanced knowledge of WordPress theme development and WooCommerce template structure.
- Can be time-consuming and complex.
- Higher risk of breaking your site if done incorrectly.
- Template changes might need to be adjusted after theme updates.
Conclusion
Removing the shopping cart icon in WooCommerce is a relatively straightforward process, with multiple methods available to suit different skill levels and preferences. The easiest option is to use custom CSS, which allows you to quickly hide the icon without modifying any code. For a more robust solution, consider using a code snippet. Plugins can provide a user-friendly Discover insights on How To Change Payment Method For Certain Products Woocommerce interface for removing the cart icon, while modifying theme templates offers the most control but requires advanced development knowledge. Always back up your website before making any code changes and choose the method that best aligns with your technical expertise and the specific needs of your WooCommerce store. Remember to test your changes thoroughly to ensure they work as expected and don’t introduce any new issues.
