How to Hide the “Uncategorized” Category in WooCommerce: A Comprehensive Guide
If you’re running an online store with WooCommerce, you might have encountered the default “Uncategorized” category. While it serves as a placeholder for products without a specific category, leaving it visible can affect the professional appearance of your shop. In this guide, we’ll explore how to effectively hide the “Uncategorized” category in WooCommerce, ensuring a cleaner, more organized storefront.
Why Hide the “Uncategorized” Category?
Before diving into the steps, let’s understand why you might want to hide this category:
- **Professional Appearance:** An uncategorized label can look unprofessional and might confuse customers.
- **Improved Navigation:** A clutter-free category list enhances user experience and helps customers find products more easily.
- **SEO Benefits:** Organizing products into relevant categories can improve your site’s SEO, making it easier for search engines to understand your product offerings.
Methods to Hide the “Uncategorized” Category
There are several methods to hide the “Uncategorized” category in WooCommerce. Let’s explore each one in detail.
1. Rename the “Uncategorized” Category
The simplest approach is to rename the “Uncategorized” category. This way, you can avoid leaving any product without a category.
#### Steps to Rename:
1. Navigate to WooCommerce Dashboard: Log in to your WordPress admin panel and go to Products > Categories.
2. Edit the “Uncategorized” Category: Locate the “Uncategorized” category and click on the Edit link.
3. Change the Name and Slug: Modify the name and slug to something more meaningful, such as “Miscellaneous” or “Other Products”.
4. Save Changes: Click the Update button to save your changes.
2. Use a Custom CSS Code
If you prefer to keep the “Uncategorized” category but hide it from the storefront, adding custom CSS can be a practical solution.
#### Add Custom CSS:
1. Access the Customizer: In your WordPress dashboard, go to Appearance > Customize.
2. Add Additional CSS: Navigate to the Additional CSS section.
3. Insert CSS Code:
.product-category.category-uncategorized { display: none; } 4. Publish the Changes: Click the Publish button to apply the CSS code.
3. Use a Plugin to Hide Categories
For those who aren’t comfortable with coding, using a plugin can be an easy alternative. Several plugins can help you hide specific categories in WooCommerce.
#### Recommended Plugin:
- **”WooCommerce Read more about How To Edit Thank You Page Woocommerce Product Categories Selection”**: This plugin allows you to hide categories from the shop page without any coding.
#### Steps to Use the Plugin:
1. Install and Activate the Plugin: Search for the plugin in Plugins > Add New, install, and activate it.
2. Configure the Plugin Settings: Go to the plugin settings and select the categories you want to hide.
3. Save Your Settings: Once configured, save your settings, and the “Uncategorized” category will be hidden from view.
4. Programmatically Hide the Category
For developers comfortable with PHP, you can hide the “Uncategorized” category using custom code in your theme’s `functions.php` file.
#### PHP Code to Hide Category:
add_filter('get_terms', 'hide_uncategorized_category', 10, 3); function hide_uncategorized_category($terms, $taxonomies, $args) { $new_terms = array(); if ( !in_array('product_cat', $taxonomies) || is_admin() ) return $terms; foreach ($terms as $key => $term) {
if (‘Uncategorized’ != $term->name) {
$new_terms[] = $term;
}
}
return $new_terms;
}
Important Considerations
- **Backup Your Site:** Always backup your website before making changes to your theme’s code or installing new plugins.
- **Test Changes:** After applying changes, check your website to ensure everything functions as expected.
- **SEO Implications:** If you rename or hide categories, update any internal links and sitemap entries to reflect these changes.
Conclusion
By following this comprehensive guide, you can easily hide the “Uncategorized” category in WooCommerce, enhancing both the aesthetic and functional aspects of your online store. Whether you choose to rename, use CSS, plugins, or custom code, each method provides a viable solution tailored to different skill levels and preferences. Keep your store organized and user-friendly, making it more appealing to both customers and search engines alike.