Removing the Reviews Section from Your WooCommerce Products: A Beginner’s Guide
So, you’ve got a fantastic WooCommerce store brimming with amazing products. But that “Reviews” tab under each product? Maybe it’s not quite working for you. Perhaps you’re just starting out and don’t have any reviews yet, or maybe you prefer to gather feedback through other channels. No problem! This guide will walk you through how to take the review section out of WooCommerce, step-by-step, in a newbie-friendly way.
Think of it like this: You’re opening a new restaurant. You might not want Discover insights on How To Make 4 Column View Mobile WordPress Woocommerce to prominently display a Yelp link on your menu before you’ve even served your first customer, right? You want to control the initial impression. Same idea here!
Why Remove the Reviews Section?
Before we dive into the “how,” let’s quickly cover the “why.” There are several legitimate reasons to consider removing the reviews section:
- Lack of Initial Reviews: A product page with zero reviews can sometimes be a deterrent. Customers might think the product is new, unpopular, or untested. Empty review sections can make your store look less credible.
- Alternative Feedback Channels: You might prefer to gather feedback through direct emails, surveys, or social media. This allows for more personalized and controlled interactions with your customers. Imagine you offer a custom-made service; direct communication is likely more valuable than public reviews initially.
- Preventing Spam or Negative Reviews: While moderation is possible, constantly policing the review section can be time-consuming. If you’re dealing with a sensitive product or industry, you might want to avoid potential negative or malicious reviews altogether.
- Streamlining the Product Page: A simpler, cleaner product page can sometimes improve conversions. Removing unnecessary elements can help customers focus on the key information: the product description, price, and call to action.
- Specific Niche Products: For products with very specific applications or requiring expert knowledge (e.g., specialized scientific equipment), general public reviews might not be helpful or relevant.
Method 1: Disabling Reviews Globally (The Easiest Way)
This method disables reviews for all products in your WooCommerce store. It’s the quickest solution if you want a blanket removal of reviews.
1. Navigate to WooCommerce Settings: In your WordPress dashboard, go to WooCommerce > Settings.
2. Click on the “Products” Tab: This tab contains the general settings related to your products.
3. Select the “General” Sub-tab: Make sure you are within the general subtab.
4. Disable Reviews: Look for the “Enable product reviews” checkbox. Uncheck this box.
5. Save Changes: Click the “Save changes” button at the bottom of the page.
That’s it! Now, go to one of your product pages. The “Reviews” tab should be gone.
Method 2: Disabling Reviews on a Per-Product Basis
This method allows you to selectively disable reviews for specific products. This is ideal if you want to keep reviews enabled for some products but not others.
1. Edit the Product: Go to Products > All Products in your WordPress dashboard and click “Edit” on the product you want to modify.
2. Scroll Down to the “Discussion” Meta Box: If you don’t see this meta box, click on “Screen Options” at the top-right of the page and check the “Discussion” box.
3. Uncheck “Allow Reviews”: In the “Discussion” meta box, uncheck the “Allow reviews” checkbox.
4. Update the Product: Click the “Update” button to save your changes.
Repeat these steps for each product where you want to disable reviews.
Method 3: Using Code (For the Slightly More Adventurous)
This method involves adding a small snippet of code to your theme’s `functions.php` file or a custom plugin. Use this method Discover insights on How To Export Cart From Wix To Woocommerce with caution as incorrect code can break your site. Always back up your site before making any code changes. If you are not comfortable with code, stick to Method 1 or 2 or hire a developer.
Here’s the code snippet you can use to remove the Reviews tab:
<?php add_filter( 'woocommerce_product_tabs', 'woo_remove_product_tabs', 98 );
function woo_remove_product_tabs( $tabs ) {
unset( $tabs[‘reviews’] ); // Removes the reviews tab
return $tabs;
}
?>
How to use this code:
1. Access Your `functions.php` File: You can access this file either through your WordPress theme editor (Appearance > Theme Editor) or using an FTP client. Be extremely careful when editing theme files directly.
2. Add the Code: Paste the code at the end of your `functions.php` file, before the closing `?>` tag (if present).
3. Save the Changes: Click “Update File” to save the changes.
Important Considerations:
* Child Theme: It’s *highly recommended* to use a child theme when making any code changes. This prevents your changes from being overwritten when the main theme is updated.
* Custom Plugin: Alternatively, you can create a custom plugin and add the code there. This is a more robust and organized approach.
* Backup: ALWAYS back up your site before making any code changes.
Method 4: CSS (Hiding, Not Removing)
This method uses CSS to *hide* the reviews tab. The tab and related content is still present in the HTML of the page, but it will not be displayed. This is useful if you want to re-enable the reviews later.
1. Identify the Reviews Tab’s CSS Class: Use your browser’s developer tools (right-click on the “Reviews” tab and select “Inspect”) to find the CSS class or ID associated with the tab. It might be something like `.woocommerce-tabs .reviews_tab`.
2. Add the CSS Code: Add the following CSS to your theme’s custom CSS (usually found under Appearance > Customize > Additional CSS):
.woocommerce-tabs .reviews_tab {
display: none !important;
}
#reviews {
display: none !important;
}
Replace `.woocommerce-tabs .reviews_tab` with the actual CSS class or ID you found. The `#reviews` is needed to hide the review content as well.
3. Publish: Click the “Publish” button to save the changes.
Why is this hiding and not removing? This is useful if you want to re-enable the reviews at a later date without having to re-add code or change settings. You simply remove the CSS code.
Choosing the Right Method
The best method for you depends on your specific needs and technical comfort level:
- Method 1 (Disable Globally): Best for a quick and simple solution to remove reviews from all products.
- Method 2 (Per-Product): Ideal for selective removal of reviews for specific products.
- Method 3 (Code): Suitable for developers or those comfortable with code. Offers the most flexibility but requires caution.
- Method 4 (CSS): Quick way to hide the reviews tab without permanently removing the underlying functionality. Easy to reverse.
By following these steps, you can easily remove the reviews section from your WooCommerce products and customize your store to better suit your business needs. Good luck!
