How to Hide a Product on WooCommerce

Hello there, do you have a woocommerce WordPress website, and want to know how to hide a product in woocomerce WordPress site? Then, you are just on the right page…

Have you ever found yourself with products you don’t want everyone to see just yet on your website? Maybe you’re preparing for a big launch, or you have some exclusive products for your VIP customers. Whatever your reason, controlling product visibility is a powerful tool in your e-commerce arsenal that many store owners overlook.

As a web designer who’s built dozens of WooCommerce stores, I often see clients struggling with managing their product visibility. Sometimes, you need to hide products from your shop page, and there are plenty of good reasons why. Firsthand strategic product visibility can transform your customer experience and boost your sales.

In this post, I will walk you through more reasons and show you exactly how to hide a product on woocomerce WordPress site. So grab your coffee, water, or any other you love, and let’s dive into how to hide a product on WooCommerce!

12 Smart Reasons to Hide Products on Your WooCommerce WordPress Store

Hiding a product isn’t about being secretive; it’s about strategic store management. Here are some common scenarios where hiding a product makes perfect sense:

1. It’s Out of Stock – If a product isn’t available right now, you might prefer to hide it instead of showing an “Out of Stock” message. Nobody likes clicking “Add to Cart” only to find an item is out of stock. Hiding the product prevents disappointment and keeps your customers happy.
2. You’re Running an Exclusive or Private Sale – Maybe you have special products for VIP customers, wholesale buyers, or members only. Hiding them from the general public keeps things organized. So, if you have special products for VIP members or wholesale clients, hide them from the general public and make them available through exclusive channels.
3. It’s Seasonal or Limited-Time Only – If you sell holiday items, summer collections, or limited-edition products, you probably don’t want them visible all year round. So, if you are selling seasonal items, you can hide them when they’re out of season and bring them back when the time is right.
4. You’ve Discontinued the Product – If you no longer sell a product but still want to keep it in your system for future reference, hiding it is a simple solution. Hide it to avoid confusion and direct customers to your current offerings.
5. You’re Preparing for a Product Launch – If a new product isn’t ready yet, you might want to keep it hidden until the official release. Nothing builds excitement like anticipation. Hiding products until your official launch date creates buzz and gives you time to perfect your listings before the big reveal.
6. It’s Not Selling Well – Sometimes, a product underperforms, and you need time to rethink pricing, marketing, or strategy. Instead of removing it completely, just hide it for now.
7. You Sell Wholesale or B2B Only – You might have products that are only available to certain customers, such as members of a loyalty program or wholesale customers. Hiding the product from the general shop page allows you to make it available only to the intended customers and avoid price confusion.
8. You’re Updating the Product Info – If you’re making changes to the description, images, or pricing, hiding the product prevents customers from seeing incomplete or incorrect details.
9. It’s a Test or Sample Product – Sometimes, you create test listings to check pricing, display, or system functionality. No need for customers to see those!
10. It’s Part of a Special Offer or Bundle – If a product is only available as part of a package deal, you can hide the individual components to encourage bundle purchases and avoid customers buying them separately.
11. Digital Delights: If you sell digital products or services, a traditional shop page listing might not be the best approach. Hide them and link directly to dedicated landing pages for better conversions.
12. Promotional Powerhouse: Using a product in a giveaway or contest? Hide it from the shop to avoid regular purchases during the promotion period.

Now that you know why you might want to hide a product, let’s go step by step through how to do it in WooCommerce.

How to Hide a Product on WooCommerce WordPress Site

WooCommerce gives you several ways to hide products, depending on your needs. Here’s how you can do it:

Method 1: Hide a Product from the Shop Page

1. Go to Your WordPress Dashboard.
2. Click on “Products” → “All Products”.
3. Find the product you want to hide and click “Edit”.
4. Scroll down to the “Catalog Visibility” section (under the “Publish” box).
5. Click “Edit” next to “Catalog visibility.”
6. Select “Hidden” and click “OK.”
7. Click “Update” to save changes.

Here is the step by step video instruction

Alternative Method Quick Edit (The Fastest Way)

Hover over the product and click “Quick Edit.” Change Visibility.
In the Quick Edit panel, you’ll see a “Visibility” dropdown menu. Select “Hidden.”
Update: Click the “Update” button. Voila! Your product is now hidden from the shop page.

💡 This hides the product from the shop page but keeps it accessible via direct link.

Method 2: Hide a Product from Search Results

If you don’t want the product to show up in WooCommerce search results:

1. Follow the steps above to find “Catalog Visibility.”
2. Select “Hidden” instead of “Shop and search results.”
3. Click “Update.”

🚀 Now, the product won’t appear in search results either!

Method 3: Hide a Product for Specific Customers

If you want only certain customers (e.g., wholesale clients) to see a product:

1. Install a plugin like WooCommerce Catalog Visibility Options or WooCommerce Wholesale Prices.
2. Set product visibility based on user roles (e.g., only wholesale buyers can see it).
3. Save your settings.

💡 Perfect for exclusive sales and B2B stores!

FAQs About Hiding Products in WooCommerce

1. Can customers still buy a hidden product?
Yes! If they have the direct link, they can still access and buy it. If you want to block purchases, set the product status to “Draft” or “Private.”

2. How do I hide a category instead of a single product?
Go to Appearance → Customize → WooCommerce → Product Catalog and set categories to “Hidden.” Or use a plugin like WooCommerce Protected Categories.

3. What happens if I hide all my products?
Your shop page will appear empty! Make sure to keep at least a few products visible for a good customer experience.

4. Will Google still index hidden products?
Yes, unless you also hide them from search engines using an SEO plugin like Yoast SEO (set it to “No Index” under advanced settings).

5. Will hidden products still appear in search results?

It depends on your SEO settings. Generally, hidden products shouldn’t appear in search results. If they do, you might need to adjust your SEO plugin settings.

6. Can I still link directly to a hidden product?
Yes! You can still access and share the direct link to the product page, even if it’s hidden from the shop. This is perfect for exclusive promotions or sharing with specific clients.

7. Can I hide multiple products at once?
Yes, you can use the bulk edit feature in the Products section to hide multiple products simultaneously. Select the products, choose “Edit” from the “Bulk actions” dropdown, and then change the visibility.

8. What about variations?
You can hide individual variations of a product using the same methods described above.

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Tips for Hiding Products Like a Pro

1. Use Tags and Categories: Organize your products with tags and categories to make hiding and managing them easier.
2. Create a Sense of Exclusivity: Use hidden products for VIP customers or special promotions to make them feel valued.
3. Test Before Launching: Hide upcoming products to test their listings and ensure everything is perfect before going live.
4. Monitor Performance: Use analytics to track how hidden products perform when accessed via direct links or special campaigns.

Hire The Best & Affordable Web Designer

If you’re feeling overwhelmed or just want to make sure your WooCommerce site is optimized for maximum sales, I’m here to help! As a web designer specializing in e-commerce, I can help you create a seamless, high-converting online store that works for your business.

Let’s chat! Click here to schedule a free consultation and let’s turn your website into a sales powerhouse.

Conclusion: Should You Hide Products in Your WooCommerce Store?

Absolutely! Hiding products isn’t just about cleaning up your shop—it’s a strategic move to improve customer experience, control visibility, and manage your inventory better. Whether you’re keeping seasonal products out of sight, running exclusive sales, or preparing for a big launch, WooCommerce makes it easy to control what customers see.

By following these steps and tips on how to hide a product on woocommerce WordPress site, you’ll not only improve your shop page but also create a more engaging and profitable online store. Happy selling!