Removing the WooCommerce Add to Cart Button: A Beginner’s Guide
So, you’re looking to remove the “Add to Cart” button in your WooCommerce store? Maybe you want to turn your online store into a catalog, offer services instead of physical products, or implement a custom ordering system. Whatever your reason, you’ve come to the right place! This guide will walk you through several methods to achieve this, focusing on clarity and ease of implementation for those new to WooCommerce customization.
Why Remove the Add to Cart Button?
Before we dive in, let’s consider why you might want to remove the “Add to Cart” button in the first place. Understanding the rationale helps you choose the best method and understand the implications of your decision.
* Creating a Catalog Site: You might want to showcase products without selling them directly online. Think of a furniture store that wants to display their range online but direct customers to their physical showroom.
* Offering Services: If you sell services like web design or consulting, an “Add to Cart” button might be confusing. You likely prefer potential clients to contact you for a quote or consultation.
* Custom Ordering Process: You might have a complex product requiring specific customization, making a standard “Add to Cart” process unsuitable. Perhaps you sell custom-built computers where each component is chosen by the customer.
* Wholesale Business: You may only want registered wholesale customers to purchase and therefore hide the add to cart button from regular visitors.
Method 1: Using a Plugin (Easiest)
For beginners, using a plugin is often the easiest and safest way to remove the “Add to Cart” button. Plugins handle the code for you, minimizing the risk of breaking your site.
* Recommended Plugin: “Remove Add to Cart Button” (search this on the WordPress Plugin Directory). There are many free and paid plugins, but this simple search term should bring up functional, easy-to-use options.
How it works:
1. Install and Activate: Go to Plugins -> Add New in your WordPress dashboard. Search for “Remove Add to Cart Button,” install, and activate it.
2. Configure the Plugin: Most of these plugins have straightforward settings. You can usually:
* Choose to remove the button from specific product categories.
* Remove the button from individual products.
* Remove the button globally from the entire store.
* Replace the button with a custom message (e.g., “Contact us for a quote”).
Why this is good for beginners:
- No Coding Required: It avoids directly editing theme files.
- Easy to Undo: If you change your mind, simply deactivate the plugin.
- Less Risk: It’s less likely to break your site compared to editing code.
Method 2: Using Code Snippets (Intermediate)
If you’re comfortable with a little bit of code, you can use code snippets to remove the “Add to Cart” button. This gives you more control over the process.
Important Note: Before making any code changes, back up your website! This is crucial in case something goes wrong. You can use a plugin like “UpdraftPlus” for easy backups.
Where to Add the Code:
There are two common ways to add code snippets:
1. Using your theme’s `functions.php` file: This is the traditional method, but it’s generally not recommended for beginners. Changes to your theme’s `functions.php` file will be lost when you update your theme.
2. Using a code snippets plugin: This is the recommended approach for beginners. Plugins like “Code Snippets” (search in the WordPress Plugin Directory) allow you to add and manage code snippets without directly editing theme files. This makes it safer and easier to manage your code.
The Code:
Here’s a snippet to remove the “Add to Cart” button from single product pages:
remove_action( 'woocommerce_single_product_summary', 'woocommerce_template_single_add_to_cart', 30 );
Explanation:
* `remove_action()`: This function removes a specific action from a WordPress hook.
* `woocommerce_single_product_summary`: This is the hook in WooCommerce where the “Add to Cart” button is displayed on single product pages.
* `woocommerce_template_single_add_to_cart`: This is the function that displays the “Add to Cart” button.
* `30`: This is the priority of the `woocommerce_template_single_add_to_cart` action. It’s needed to remove the correct function.
To remove the “Add to Cart” button from archive pages (shop page, category pages), use this code:
remove_action( 'woocommerce_after_shop_loop_item', 'woocommerce_template_loop_add_to_cart', 10 );
Explanation:
* `woocommerce_after_shop_loop_item`: This hook handles what’s displayed after each product in archive pages.
* `woocommerce_template_loop_add_to_cart`: This function adds the “Add to Cart” button in archive pages.
* `10`: This is the priority of the `woocommerce_template_loop_add_to_cart` action.
To remove the add to cart button from both single product and archive pages, use this code:
remove_action( 'woocommerce_single_product_summary', 'woocommerce_template_single_add_to_cart', 30 ); remove_action( 'woocommerce_after_shop_loop_item', 'woocommerce_template_loop_add_to_cart', 10 );
Adding the Code Using the “Code Snippets” Plugin:
1. Install and Activate: Install and activate the “Code Snippets” plugin.
2. Add a New Snippet: Go to Snippets -> Add New in your WordPress dashboard.
3. Enter a Title: Give your snippet a descriptive title (e.g., “Remove Add to Cart Button”).
4. Paste the Code: Paste the code snippet into the code editor.
5. Select “Run snippet everywhere” from the dropdown menu at the bottom of the page.
6. Save and Activate: Save and activate the snippet.
Why this is useful:
* More Control: You have finer-grained control over where the button is removed.
* No Theme Modification: Using a code snippets plugin keeps your theme files clean and safe.
* Customization: You can combine this with other code snippets to customize the behavior further. For example, you can display a “Contact Us” button instead.
Method 3: Using Custom CSS (Limited Use)
While not ideal for completely removing the button’s functionality, you can use CSS to *hide* the “Add to Cart” button. This is not a secure method as users with a little technical know-how can still access the add-to-cart functionality. Consider this only for visual adjustments and not for any core functional change.
How to Implement:
1. Find the CSS Class: Use your browser’s developer tools (usually by right-clicking on the button and selecting “Inspect”) to identify the CSS class or ID of the “Add to Cart” button. It’s often something like `.add_to_cart_button` or similar.
2. Add the CSS: Go to Appearance -> Customize -> Additional CSS in your WordPress dashboard. Add the following CSS code, replacing `.add_to_cart_button` with the actual class you found:
.add_to_cart_button {
display: none !important;
}
.woocommerce div.product form.cart .button {
display: none !important;
}
Explanation:
* `display: none;`: This hides the element from the page.
* `!important;`: This ensures that your CSS rule overrides any other CSS rules that might be affecting the button.
Why this method is less ideal:
* Only Hides, Doesn’t Remove: The button is still technically present in the HTML code, even if it’s not visible.
* Not Secure: Technically savvy users can still find the add to cart link through the source code and still purchase the product.
* Less Flexibility: It’s harder to target specific products or categories with CSS alone.
Choosing the Right Method
The best method depends on your technical skills and the level of control you need.
* Beginner: Use a plugin.
* Intermediate: Use code snippets with a code snippets plugin.
* Advanced: (Not covered here) Modify your theme files directly (but only do this if you *really* know what you’re doing!).
Remember to always back up your website before making changes and test thoroughly after implementing any of these methods. Good luck customizing your WooCommerce store!
