Woocommerce How To Show More Than 4 Latest Products

WooCommerce: Showing Off More Than Just 4 Latest Products

So you’ve got a fantastic WooCommerce store, packed with awesome products. But are you really showcasing all that you have to offer? By default, WooCommerce often limits the number of “latest products” displayed on your homepage or in product feeds to a measly 4. This can be a major missed opportunity! This article is for beginners who want to easily understand how to show more than 4 latest products in WooCommerce. We’ll break it down step-by-step, with real-life examples and the reasoning behind each change.

Why Displaying More Products Matters

Think of your online store like a physical store. Would you only display your four best items in the window? Of course not! You’d want to show a variety to attract different customers. The same applies online. Here’s why showcasing more products is a good idea:

• Increased Visibility: The more products you show, the more chances a customer has to find something they like.
• Improved User Experience: Offering more choice prevents shoppers from feeling limited.
• Boosted Sales: More products visible = more potential purchases. Plain and simple.
• Better SEO: More content on your page, especially if you’re showing unique items, can improve your search engine ranking.

Imagine you’re selling clothing. If you only show 4 t-shirts, someone looking for jeans might leave immediately. But if you display 12 products, including jeans, pants, and jackets, their chances of finding something they want increases significantly.

Method 1: Customizing the WooCommerce Shortcode

WooCommerce uses shortcodes to display content, and the `[products]` shortcode is often used for showing latest products. This is the easiest method to understand. We’ll show you how to modify this.

1. Find the Shortcode: Locate the shortcode on the page where you want to display the products. It might look something like this:

[products limit=”4″ columns=”4″]

2. Adjust the `limit` Attribute: The `limit` attribute controls the number of products displayed. Change the value of `limit` to your desired number. For example, to show 12 products:

[products limit=”12″ columns=”4″]

3. Understanding the `columns` Attribute: The `columns` attribute controls how many products are displayed per row. In the example above `columns=”4″` means 4 products will be in a row. Experiment with this value to get the layout you want.

Real-Life Example:

Let’s say you have a jewelry store. You want to display 8 of your latest necklaces. You would use the following shortcode:

[products limit=”8″ columns=”4″ category=”necklaces”]

This will display 8 necklaces, arranged in 2 rows of 4. Note that we added `category=”necklaces”` to only show necklaces, if you have other products on your site.

Reasoning:

By modifying the `limit` attribute, you’re directly telling WooCommerce how many products to retrieve and display. It’s the most straightforward way to control the product count. The `columns` attribute allows you to fine-tune the layout and responsiveness.

Method 2: Using WooCommerce Settings (For Specific Page Templates)

Sometimes, your theme uses specific WooCommerce templates that allow you to control the product count directly within the WordPress admin panel. This depends on your theme.

1. Check Your Theme Options: Look for a section related to WooCommerce settings in your theme options (usually under Appearance -> Customize or a dedicated “Theme Options” panel).

2. Find Product Display Settings: Within the WooCommerce settings, look for options like “Shop Page Display,” “Product Archive Display,” or similar terms.

3. Adjust Products Per Page: You should find a setting that controls the number of products displayed per page. Change this value to your desired number.

Real-Life Example:

You are using the Astra theme and it has WooCommerce settings under Appearance -> Customize -> WooCommerce -> Product Catalog. There, you find an option called “Products per page”. You change the value to 16.

Reasoning:

This method relies on your theme providing specific settings for WooCommerce. If your theme offers these settings, it’s the most convenient way to control the product count without writing any code. It’s theme-dependent, so it might not always be available.

Method 3: Customizing WooCommerce Template Files (Advanced)

This method is for more advanced users who are comfortable working with PHP code. It involves modifying the WooCommerce template files directly. Be very careful with this method! It is best practice to create a child theme before making these changes to avoid losing your customizations when the theme is updated.

1. Create a Child Theme (Highly Recommended!): Never edit the parent theme directly.

2. Locate the Relevant Template File: The file you need to modify depends on where you want to display the products. Common files include:

• `archive-product.php`: For the main shop page.
• `content-product.php`: For individual product listings within the shop.
• Check your theme’s documentation for any custom template files.

3. Copy the Template to Your Child Theme: Copy the file from the parent theme to the same directory structure in your child theme. For example, if the file is in `wp-content/themes/your-theme/woocommerce/archive-product.php`, copy it to `wp-content/themes/your-child-theme/woocommerce/archive-product.php`.

4. Modify the `woocommerce_product_loop()` Function: Inside the template file, look for the `woocommerce_product_loop()` function or the related code that handles the product loop. You’ll likely find arguments related to `posts_per_page` or `number` to control the product count.

// Example of modifying the query args
$args = array(
'post_type'      => 'product',
'posts_per_page' => 12, // Change this to your desired number
'orderby'        => 'date',
'order'          => 'DESC',
);

$loop = new WP_Query( $args );

if ( $loop->have_posts() ) {

woocommerce_product_loop_start();

while ( $loop->have_posts() ) {

$loop->the_post();

wc_get_template_part( ‘content’, ‘product’ );

}

woocommerce_product_loop_end();

} else {

echo __( ‘No products found’ );

}

wp_reset_postdata();

Real-Life Example:

You want to show 15 products on your main shop page. You create a child theme, copy `archive-product.php` to your child theme, and modify the `$args` array within the file to set `’posts_per_page’ => 15`.

Reasoning:

This method offers the most control but requires coding knowledge. By modifying the template files, you can customize the product display logic to your exact needs. It’s essential to use a child theme to avoid losing your changes during theme updates.

Important Considerations:

• Performance: Displaying too many products at once can slow down your website. Consider using pagination (splitting the products across multiple pages) if you have a large number of products.
• Responsiveness: Ensure your product grid looks good on all devices (desktop, tablet, mobile). The `columns` attribute in the shortcode can help with this.
• Caching: If you’re using a caching plugin, clear the cache after making changes to ensure the new product count is displayed correctly.

Conclusion:

Displaying more than 4 latest products in WooCommerce is a simple yet effective way to improve your online store’s visibility, user experience, and sales. Choose the method that best suits your technical skills and theme setup. Remember to consider performance and responsiveness when deciding how many products to display. Good luck, and happy selling!