How to Remove the Uncategorized Product Category in WooCommerce (And Why You Should)
Introduction:
When setting up your WooCommerce store, you’ll likely notice an automatically created category called “Uncategorized.” This category acts as a default landing spot for any product you create without assigning it to a specific category. While convenient in the short term, leaving products in the “Uncategorized” category can harm your store’s SEO, user experience, and overall organization. This article will guide you through the process of removing the “Uncategorized” product category in WooCommerce and explain why it’s a beneficial step for your online store.
Why Remove the “Uncategorized” Category?
Before diving into the “how,” let’s briefly cover the “why.” Here are a few reasons why removing the “Uncategorized” category is a good idea:
- Improved SEO: Google and other search engines favor websites with well-structured content. Using descriptive and relevant categories helps search engines understand what your products are and rank them accordingly. “Uncategorized” provides no SEO value.
- Enhanced User Experience: Customers find products easier when they are logically organized into categories. A cluttered “Uncategorized” section makes it difficult for users to find what they’re looking for, potentially leading to frustration and lost sales.
- Better Store Organization: A well-organized store looks professional and reflects a commitment to customer satisfaction. Removing the “Uncategorized” category encourages you to properly categorize your products from the start, resulting in a cleaner and more user-friendly online shopping experience.
- Branding Consistency: “Uncategorized” is generic and doesn’t align with your brand’s identity. Using specific categories allows you to reinforce your brand messaging and create a more cohesive shopping experience.
- Rename and Repurpose: Click “Edit” under the “Uncategorized” category. Change the name and slug to a more relevant category for your products. For example, if you primarily sell t-shirts, you could rename it to “T-Shirts.”
- Delete (Use with Caution!): Click “Delete” under the “Uncategorized” category. Important: Before deleting, make sure all products that were assigned to “Uncategorized” have been moved to other appropriate categories. If not, they will become uncategorized and may not display properly on your store.
Removing the “Uncategorized” Product Category
There are a few ways to remove or re-purpose the “Uncategorized” product category in WooCommerce. We’ll cover two common methods: changing the default category and deleting/renaming the category.
Method 1: Changing the Default Product Category
This method doesn’t actually remove the “Uncategorized” category, but it prevents new products from automatically being assigned to it. Instead, you designate a different category as the Explore this article on How To Enable Quick View In Woocommerce default.
1. Log in to your WordPress dashboard.
2. Navigate to WooCommerce > Settings > Products > General.
3. Find the “Default Product Category” setting.
4. Select a different category from the dropdown menu. Choose a category that is commonly used in your store. If you don’t have any other categories, you’ll need to create one first.
5. Click “Save changes.”
From now on, any new product you create will automatically be assigned to the category you selected as the default, not “Uncategorized.”
Method 2: Deleting or Renaming the Category (Carefully!)
This method involves either deleting or renaming the “Uncategorized” Check out this post: How To Add A Sub Menu Woocommerce category. Deleting it can cause issues if you have products already assigned to it. Therefore, renaming and repurposing is often the better approach.
1. Log in to your WordPress dashboard.
2. Navigate to Products > Categories.
3. Hover over the “Uncategorized” category.
4. You have two options:
If you choose to delete, WooCommerce will prompt you to select a category to which you’d like to move all products currently assigned to the “Uncategorized” category. This is crucial!
Example Code Snippet (Renaming via Code – Advanced):
While not generally recommended for beginners, you can rename the category programmatically using a code snippet added to your theme’s `functions.php` file or a custom plugin.
function rename_uncategorized_category() { $term = get_term_by('slug', 'uncategorized', 'product_cat');
if ($term) {
wp_update_term($term->term_id, ‘product_cat’, array(
‘name’ => ‘New Default Category Name’,
‘slug’ => ‘new-default-category-slug’
));
}
}
add_action( ‘init’, ‘rename_uncategorized_category’ );
Important: Be extremely careful when editing your `functions.php` file or using code snippets. Incorrect code can break your website. Always back up your site before making changes. This snippet is provided as an example and should be modified to suit your specific needs.
Conclusion
Removing or repurposing the “Uncategorized” product category is a simple yet effective way to improve your WooCommerce store. Whether you choose to change the default category, rename the existing one, or carefully delete it after re-categorizing products, taking this step will contribute to a better user experience, improved SEO, and a more professional-looking online store. Remember to always prioritize a well-organized and easily navigable product catalog to maximize your sales potential.
