How to Change Return to Shop Link in WooCommerce? (Change Link or Text)

The “Return to Shop” link in WooCommerce appears prominently on the empty cart page. It redirects customers back to your shop, providing a straightforward way to continue browsing products. While its default functionality is useful, it may not align with your specific business goals.

Customizing this link can significantly improve user experience. For example, you might redirect shoppers to a category page instead of the general shop or send them to a promotional landing page. These small tweaks can help guide customers toward high-converting areas of your site.

From an SEO perspective, changing the “Return to Shop” link is an opportunity to boost internal linking. Redirecting users to relevant pages helps search engines better understand your site structure while keeping visitors engaged.

There are also common scenarios where such customization is essential. You might need to:

• Direct customers to a special sale page.
• Point users to a specific product collection.
• Adjust the link for seasonal campaigns or promotions.

Tailoring the “Return to Shop” link to meet your store’s goals ensures a smoother experience for shoppers and strengthens your site’s overall performance.

Preparing to Customize the Return to Shop Link

Before you change the “Return to Shop” link in WooCommerce, it’s crucial to prepare your store properly. Making direct changes without precautions can lead to broken functionality or lost edits after updates. Here’s how to ensure a smooth customization process.

Use a Child Theme or Custom Plugin

If you modify WooCommerce code directly in your theme files, your changes will likely be overwritten the next time the theme updates. To avoid this, always use a Child Theme or a Custom Plugin.

A Child Theme inherits the styles and functionality of your main theme but allows you to safely add or modify code.

Alternatively, using a plugin like Code Snippets is a great way to keep your customizations organized without touching theme files.

Back Up Your Store

Backing up your website is essential before making any code changes. Use a plugin like UpdraftPlus or your hosting provider’s backup tools to create a full backup of your WordPress site, including files and the database.

This way, you can quickly restore your store if something goes wrong.

How to Change Return to Shop Link in WooCommerce Without Plugin?

You can change the “Return to Shop” link in WooCommerce by adding a custom code snippet and without plugins. This method is lightweight, effective, and doesn’t require installing additional plugins. Follow these steps to implement the change.

Step 1: Locate the File for Customization

To begin, locate the functions.php file in your theme directory. Make sure you are working within a Child Theme to avoid losing your changes when the theme updates.

If you’re not using a Child Theme, create one or consider using a plugin like Code Snippets to manage your custom code safely.

Step 2: Add the Code Snippet to Change the Link

Once you’ve located the correct file, insert the following snippet. This code uses the woocommerce_return_to_shop_redirect filter to change the redirect URL.

Example 1: Redirect to Home Page

add_filter('woocommerce_return_to_shop_redirect', 'custom_return_to_shop_redirect');
function custom_return_to_shop_redirect() {
    return home_url(); // Redirects to the homepage.
}

Example 2: Redirect to a Custom URL

To send users to a custom page, such as a promotional or sales landing page or specific product category, use the page’s URL:

add_filter('woocommerce_return_to_shop_redirect', 'custom_return_to_specific_url');
function custom_return_to_specific_url() {
    return 'https://yourdomain.com/';
}

Visualizing the Changes

Here’s how the “Return to Shop” button works before and after the modification:

• Before: The button redirects users to the default WooCommerce shop page.
• After: It points to the custom URL you’ve defined, whether it’s the homepage, a category page, or a sales-specific landing page.

How to Change Return to Shop Text in WooCommerce?

The default “Return to Shop” text in WooCommerce is straightforward but might not align with your store’s tone or branding. Customizing this text can enhance the shopping experience and better reflect your messaging.

Whether you want it to say “Browse More Products” or “Back to Deals,” you can easily make this change using a WooCommerce filter.

Why Change the Default Text?

While the default label is functional, it may not encourage users to take action. Personalized text can:

• Match your store’s branding or tone.
• Provide clear direction, especially if the link leads to a specific category or promotion.
• Boost engagement by making the action more appealing.

Steps to Customize the Text

You can use the gettext filter in WooCommerce to replace the default “Return to Shop” text. This approach is simple and doesn’t require editing WooCommerce core files.

Follow these steps:

1. Open the functions.php file in your Child Theme.
2. Add the following code snippet:

add_filter('gettext', 'custom_return_to_shop_text', 20, 3);
function custom_return_to_shop_text($translated_text, $text, $domain) {
    if ($domain === 'woocommerce' && $text === 'Return to shop') {
        $translated_text = 'Browse More Products'; // Replace with your desired text.
    }
    return $translated_text;
}

3. Save your changes and refresh your store’s empty cart page to see the updated text.

Example: Customizing for Specific Use Cases

• Promotional Focus: Change the text to “View Special Offers” if the button redirects to a sale page.
• Category Highlight: Use “Explore Our Best Sellers” if the link targets a high-performing product category.
• General Shopping: Keep it simple with “Continue Shopping” for a neutral tone.

Customizing the “Return to Shop” text is a small but impactful tweak. It makes your store feel more personalized and user-friendly, guiding shoppers more effectively toward their next action.

How to Remove Return to Shop Button WooCommerce?

In some cases, you may want to remove the “Return to Shop” button entirely from the empty cart page.

For stores with a single product offering, a subscription model, or alternative navigation methods, the button might not add any value and could even create confusion for customers.

Code Snippet to Hide the Button

You can use a simple CSS snippet or PHP code to remove the button, depending on your preference:

Option 1: Hide the Button with CSS

Add this code to your theme’s Additional CSS section under Appearance > Customize:

.woocommerce .return-to-shop {
    display: none;
}

This hides the button visually but keeps it in the page’s HTML.

Option 2: Remove the Button with PHP

To completely remove the button from the empty cart page, add this code snippet to your Child Theme’s functions.php file:

add_action('woocommerce_cart_is_empty', 'remove_return_to_shop_button');
function remove_return_to_shop_button() {
    remove_action('woocommerce_cart_is_empty', 'wc_empty_cart_message', 10);
}

This code ensures the button doesn’t load, removing it from the frontend entirely.

Removing the “Return to Shop” button can help streamline your site and align with your store’s goals.

By using either CSS or PHP, you can tailor the empty cart page to create a more focused shopping experience for your customers.

Common Issues and Troubleshooting

Customizing the “Return to Shop” link in WooCommerce is generally straightforward, but you may encounter a few common issues along the way. Here’s how to identify and fix them effectively.

1. Cache Issues

Changes to the “Return to Shop” link may not appear immediately due to caching. Cached pages can display outdated content, which can be frustrating when testing your modifications.

How to Fix It:

• Clear your site’s cache using your caching plugin (e.g., WP Rocket, W3 Total Cache).
• Clear your browser cache or use an incognito window to check for updates.
• If your hosting provider uses server-side caching, flush that cache from your hosting control panel.

2. Outdated WooCommerce

If your WooCommerce installation is outdated, the filters and methods used to customize the link may not work as expected. WooCommerce regularly updates its functionality, which can render older code incompatible.

How to Fix It:

• Update WooCommerce to the latest version under Dashboard > Updates.
• Ensure your theme and plugins are also updated to maintain compatibility.
• Review your code to confirm it matches the latest WooCommerce documentation.

3. Syntax Errors in Code

Small mistakes in your custom code, such as missing brackets or incorrect functions, can break your site or cause the link not to work.

How to Fix It:

• Double-check your code for errors. Use an IDE or code editor like Visual Studio Code that highlights syntax issues.
• Temporarily disable your custom code to identify whether it’s causing the problem.
• Use a staging site to test changes before applying them to your live store.

4. Plugin Conflicts

If you’re using a plugin to modify the “Return to Shop” link, other plugins might interfere with its functionality. For example, plugins that manage redirects or customize WooCommerce may override your settings.

How to Fix It:

• Deactivate other plugins one by one to identify conflicts.
• Check the plugin documentation or support forums for compatibility notes.
• If conflicts persist, consider switching to a code-based solution.

5. Reverting Changes

If the customization doesn’t work as expected or you need to restore the default behavior, reverting changes is straightforward.

How to Revert Changes:

• For Code Edits: Remove the custom code from your Child Theme’s functions.php file or disable the snippet in your Code Snippets plugin.
• For Plugins: Deactivate or uninstall the plugin handling the customization.
• Reset to Default: In WooCommerce settings, ensure the “Return to Shop” button redirects to the default shop page by removing custom configurations.

Best Practices for Avoiding Issues

• Always test changes on a staging site before applying them to your live store.
• Keep backups of your site so you can quickly restore it if something goes wrong.
• Document your changes, especially if you’re working with a team or managing multiple sites.

By addressing these common issues proactively, you can ensure that your changes to the “Return to Shop” link in WooCommerce work smoothly and effectively.

Benefits of Customizing the Return to Shop Button Link and Text

Customizing the “Return to Shop” link in WooCommerce is more than a design tweak—it’s a strategic move that can enhance user experience, improve SEO, and boost sales.

Redirecting users to the right page can create a smoother shopping journey and guide them toward products or categories you want to highlight.

1. Improved User Experience (UX)

A well-placed “Return to Shop” link makes navigation easier and more intuitive for customers. By directing users to a targeted page, you eliminate confusion and help them continue shopping without distractions. For example:

• Redirecting to a Best Sellers or Special Offers page can capture their interest right away.
• Sending them to a category that matches their preferences increases the likelihood of engagement.

Even major platforms like Amazon use similar strategies. When a customer’s cart is empty, Amazon encourages them to explore “Today’s Deals,” offering an immediate value-driven alternative. This approach keeps customers engaged and increases the chances of conversion.

2. SEO Benefits

Redirecting the “Return to Shop” link to a targeted page can positively impact your SEO strategy. Here’s how:

• Internal Linking: Sending users to specific categories or landing pages improves internal link distribution, helping search engines better understand your site structure.
• Reduced Bounce Rate: Redirecting to high-performing pages reduces bounce rates, as users are more likely to stay and browse.
• Keyword Optimization: Linking to a page optimized for specific keywords, like “best deals” or “top products,” can improve rankings for those terms.

When done correctly, this change not only enhances user experience but also aligns with your SEO goals, giving search engines a clearer view of your site’s intent and relevance.

3. Real-World Use Cases

Customizing the “Return to Shop” link gives you control over where your customers go next. Here are some practical examples:

• Highlight Promotions: Redirect users to a landing page for seasonal sales or limited-time discounts, increasing urgency and conversions.
• Promote Specific Categories: If a particular product line is performing well, redirecting to that category can boost visibility and sales.
• Encourage Exploratory Shopping: Use the link to take customers to a curated page of “Trending Products” or “Recently Added Items,” keeping their attention on fresh content.

These small adjustments can make a big difference in how customers interact with your store, turning an empty cart into an opportunity to re-engage and drive sales.

Conclusion

Customizing the “Return to Shop” link in WooCommerce is a simple yet powerful way to enhance your store’s user experience, improve SEO, and drive customers toward high-converting pages.

Whether you’re redirecting to a specific category, a promotional page, or even removing the button entirely, tailoring this feature can make your store more intuitive and effective.

Have you tried modifying the “Return to Shop” link? Share your experience or any challenges you’ve faced in the comments below. If you need additional guidance, don’t hesitate to ask—your feedback helps create more helpful content for WooCommerce store owners like you.

Looking for more ways to optimize your WooCommerce store? Explore our other customization guides to unlock your store’s full potential and deliver an exceptional shopping experience for your customers. Start building a store that works exactly the way you want!