How To Remove Woocommerce Cart Bar In Header

How to Remove the WooCommerce Cart Bar in Header: A Comprehensive Guide

Introduction: Taming Your WooCommerce Header

The WooCommerce cart bar in the header is a convenient feature that allows customers to quickly see the number of items in their cart and the total cost. However, sometimes it might not align with your website’s design aesthetics or overall user experience goals. You might want a cleaner look, integrate a custom cart icon, or simply want to move the cart information to a different location on your website.

Fortunately, removing the WooCommerce cart bar from your header is a relatively straightforward process, and this article will guide you through several methods, ranging from the simplest to the more advanced. Let’s dive in and learn how to customize your header to your liking!

Removing the Cart Bar: Multiple Approaches

There are several ways to remove the WooCommerce cart bar from your header, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. We’ll explore a few popular methods:

#### 1. Using Theme Customizer Options (If Available)

Many WordPress themes, especially those designed with WooCommerce in mind, offer built-in options to control the display of the cart in the header.

• Check your Theme Options: Navigate to Appearance > Customize in your WordPress dashboard. Look for sections like “Header,” “WooCommerce,” or “Shop.”
• Search for the Cart Option: Within these sections, you Discover insights on How To Make Store Notice Sitewide Woocommerce may find a setting to disable or hide the cart icon or cart bar. The exact wording will vary depending on your theme.
• Disable and Publish: If you find the option, simply disable it and click the “Publish” button to save your changes.

Advantages: This is the easiest and safest method, as it doesn’t require any code modifications.

Disadvantages: It’s only available if your theme provides this specific option.

#### 2. CSS (Hiding with Styles)

If your theme doesn’t have a built-in option, you can use CSS to hide the cart bar. This method doesn’t actually remove the cart functionality, it simply hides it from view.

• Inspect Element: Using your browser’s developer tools (usually by right-clicking on the cart bar and selecting “Inspect” or “Inspect Element”), identify the CSS class or ID associated with the cart bar. Common class names include `.woocommerce-cart`, `.cart-contents`, or `#site-header-cart`.
• Add Custom CSS: Go to Appearance > Customize > Additional CSS in your WordPress dashboard.
• Write the CSS Rule: Use the following CSS to hide the cart bar, replacing `YOUR_CART_SELECTOR` with the actual class or ID you identified in the first step:

.YOUR_CART_SELECTOR {

display: none !important;

}

• Publish Changes: Click “Publish” to save your changes.

Advantages: Simple and quick. Doesn’t require modifying theme files.

Disadvantages: The cart HTML still exists in the page source, which is generally considered less efficient than removing it altogether. Also, using `!important` is generally discouraged unless absolutely necessary, but is often needed to override theme styles.

#### 3. Using a Code Snippet (Removing with PHP)

For more control and a cleaner removal, you can use a PHP code snippet to unhook the function that adds the cart bar to the header. This method requires a basic understanding of PHP and WordPress action hooks. It’s crucial to back up your website before making changes to your theme’s code.

• Identify the Function: You’ll need to identify the function responsible for adding the cart bar to the header and the action hook it’s attached to. This information may be available in your theme’s documentation or by inspecting the theme’s files (usually `header.php` or `functions.php`). Often, themes use a WooCommerce-specific hook like `woocommerce_before_main_content`.
• Create a Child Theme (Highly Recommended): Never modify your parent theme’s files directly. Create a child theme to preserve your changes when the parent theme is updated.
• Add Code Snippet to Child Theme’s `functions.php`: Add the following code to your child theme’s `functions.php` file, replacing `YOUR_FUNCTION_NAME` with the actual name of the function that adds the cart bar and `YOUR_ACTION_HOOK` with the action hook it’s attached to:
• `remove_action( ‘YOUR_ACTION_HOOK’, ‘YOUR_FUNCTION_NAME’ )`: This line removes the specified function from the specified action hook.
• `add_action( ‘wp_loaded’, ‘remove_woocommerce_cart_bar’ )`: This line ensures the removal happens after the theme and WooCommerce have loaded. Using `wp_loaded` is often more reliable than `init` or `after_setup_theme` for these types of actions.
• Example (using a hypothetical function and action):
• Upload and Activate: Upload the modified `functions.php` file to your child theme and activate the child theme.

Advantages: Completely removes the cart bar from the HTML source code. Provides the most control over the removal process.

Disadvantages: Requires PHP knowledge and understanding of WordPress action hooks. Can be more complex and risky if not done correctly. *Always back up your website before modifying code.* Identifying the correct function and action hook can sometimes be tricky. Using a child theme is essential.

#### 4. Plugin Solution

If you’re not comfortable editing code, there are plugins that can help you manage header elements, including the WooCommerce cart bar. Search the WordPress plugin repository for terms like “WooCommerce header customization” or “remove WooCommerce cart.”

Advantages: Easy to use, no coding required.

Disadvantages: Adds another plugin to your website, which can potentially impact performance. You’re relying on the plugin developer for updates and compatibility.

Conclusion: Customizing Your WooCommerce Header

Removing the WooCommerce cart bar from your header is a simple but effective way to customize your online store’s appearance and improve the user experience. Whether you choose to use theme options, CSS, code snippets, or a plugin, the key is to select the method that best suits your technical skills and website requirements. Remember to always back up your website before making any significant changes, especially when modifying theme files. By following the steps outlined in this article, you’ll be well on your way to achieving the perfect look for your WooCommerce store!