How to Disable the “Add to Cart” Button in WooCommerce: A Comprehensive Guide

WooCommerce is a powerful plugin for transforming your WordPress site into a fully-functional e-commerce platform. However, there might be scenarios where you need to disable the “Add to Cart” button for specific products or categories. Whether you’re temporarily out of stock, want to create a catalog without selling online, or have other reasons, this guide will help you achieve your goal seamlessly.

Why Disable the “Add to Cart” Button?

Disabling the “Add to Cart” button in WooCommerce can be useful in various situations:

• **Out of Stock**: Prevent customers from purchasing items that are currently unavailable.
• **Catalogue Mode**: Explore this article on How To Edit Order Received Page Woocommerce Showcase your products without immediate purchase options.
• **Pre-launch Products**: Display upcoming products to generate interest without selling them yet.
• **Exclusive Products**: Limit purchase options to certain user roles or members.

Methods to Disable the “Add to Cart” Button

There are several methods to disable the “Add to Cart” button in WooCommerce. Let’s explore these options:

1. Use a WooCommerce Plugin

One of the simplest ways to disable the “Add to Cart” button is by using a dedicated plugin. Here’s how you can do it:

• **Install and Activate**: Search for a plugin like “YITH WooCommerce Catalog Mode” from the WordPress repository and install it.
• **Configure Settings**: Navigate to the plugin settings and enable the catalog mode. This typically disables the “Add to Cart” button site-wide or per selected category.
• **Customize**: Some plugins allow you to customize the message or action when the button is disabled.

2. Code Snippet to Disable for Specific Products

If you prefer a more hands-on approach, you can disable the button using a custom code snippet. Here’s how:

• **Access Functions.php**: Go to your WordPress dashboard and navigate to Appearance > Theme Editor. Open the `functions.php` file of your active theme.
• **Add the Code**: Insert the following code to disable the “Add to Cart” button for specific product IDs:

 add_filter( 'woocommerce_is_purchasable', 'carter_disable_add_to_cart', 10, 2 ); 

function carter_disable_add_to_cart( $is_purchasable, $product ) {

// Define product IDs that you want to disable the add to cart button for

$disabled_product_ids = array( 123, 456 );

if ( in_array( $product->get_id(), $disabled_product_ids ) ) {

return false;

}

return $is_purchasable;

}

• **Save Changes**: After adding the code, save your changes. The “Add to Cart” button will now be disabled for the specified products.

3. Disable for Out of Stock Products

WooCommerce provides a built-in option to automatically disable the “Add to Cart” button for out-of-stock items:

• **Stock Management**: Go to WooCommerce > Settings > Products > Inventory.
• **Enable Stock Management**: Ensure that the “Enable stock management” option is checked.
• **Hide Out of Stock Items**: Check the box labeled “Hide out of stock items from the catalog.”

4. Use CSS for a Quick Solution

For a quick and temporary solution, you can use CSS to hide the “Add to Cart” button:

• **Go to Customize**: In your WordPress dashboard, navigate Learn more about How To Make A Woocommerce Site to Appearance > Customize > Additional CSS.
• **Add the CSS Code**:

 /* Hide Add to Cart Button */ .woocommerce .add_to_cart_button { display: none !important; } 

• **Publish**: Click on the “Publish” button to apply the changes.

Conclusion

Disabling the “Add to Cart” button in WooCommerce can be a strategic move to manage product availability and customer interactions. Whether you choose to use a plugin, add custom code, or apply CSS, each method offers flexibility to suit different needs. By implementing these solutions, you can ensure a better shopping experience for your customers while maintaining control over your product offerings.

Remember, always back up your site before making any changes to the code, and test thoroughly to ensure everything functions as expected. With these steps, you can confidently manage your WooCommerce store’s functionality and design.