WooCommerce Shop Page Not Showing Products? Here’s What’s Wrong
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- What Is the WooCommerce Shop Page?
- Common Signs of a Problem
- Why Is the WooCommerce Shop Page Blank?
- How to Fix a Blank WooCommerce Shop Page
- When to Contact a WooCommerce Expert
- Conclusion
Introduction
Running an online store is exciting until problems show up. One common issue many store owners face is the WooCommerce shop page showing blank. This can be confusing and frustrating. You visit your shop page expecting to see products, but instead, there’s nothing—just a blank screen.
This issue can directly affect your business. Customers can’t see products, which means no sales. It also makes your store look broken or untrustworthy.
The good news? This problem is usually easy to fix. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced user, you can follow the steps in this article.
In this article, we’ll explain why your WooCommerce shop page is blank. We’ll also cover how to fix it, step by step. You’ll learn both basic and advanced solutions. Our goal is to help you get your shop page working again quickly.
What Is the WooCommerce Shop Page?
The shop page is one of the most important parts of your store. It’s the main place where all your products are listed. When customers click “Shop” in your menu, this is the page they see.
By default, WooCommerce uses a specific page to show your products. You can set this page in your settings. If this page is not set or configured correctly, it may not display anything.
Themes and plugins can also change how this page looks or works. Sometimes, they create problems without you knowing. Understanding how the shop page functions helps you find and fix issues faster.
Common Signs of a Problem
You might notice a few different signs when your shop page isn’t working:
- The page loads but shows no products.
- The page is completely white or blank.
- Products show in the admin area but not on the site.
- The issue started after an update or new plugin installation.
These signs often mean something is misconfigured or conflicting with WooCommerce.
Knowing the symptoms helps you find the cause faster. It also saves time when reaching out for help.
Why Is the WooCommerce Shop Page Blank?
When your WooCommerce shop page shows blank, it’s not random. There’s always a reason behind it. Below are the most common causes behind a shop page that doesn’t display products or appears empty.
- Shop Page Is Not Assigned
WooCommerce needs to know which page to use as the shop page. If no page is assigned, your products won’t appear. This can happen after installing WooCommerce or changing pages.
Sometimes, the setting resets after an update. When the shop page is missing in settings, WooCommerce has no place to show products.
- Theme Conflicts
Not all themes support WooCommerce correctly. Some themes override default templates. Others remove or break product listings.
If your theme is outdated or poorly coded, the shop page may not load. It might also hide sections without warning.
Theme updates can also trigger this issue. A new version may change how templates behave.
- No Published or Visible Products
Your products may exist but not be published. Draft or private products won’t display. Also, if the product visibility is set to “hidden,” it won’t show.
Out-of-stock items might also be hidden if that setting is enabled. So, the page looks blank even though products exist.
- Plugin Conflicts
WooCommerce works with many plugins. But not all plugins play nice. Some may block product listings or override how pages work.
This is especially true with page builders, filter tools, or optimization plugins. Even a single conflicting plugin can stop products from showing.
- Broken or Incorrect Permalinks
Permalinks control how your URLs are structured. If the permalink setup breaks, your pages might not load correctly.
This can make the shop page look blank. Sometimes, it shows a 404 error instead of the actual content.
Changes to permalink settings or server rules can cause this problem.
- Wrong Page Template
WooCommerce shop pages need the correct page template to work. If your shop page is using a blog or contact page template, it won’t display products.
Some themes allow changing page templates manually. Others override them without your knowledge.
- Shortcode Issues
If you’re using a shortcode like [products], it must be correct. A missing or broken shortcode can result in an empty page.
Page builders may remove or break shortcodes during edits. Also, if the shortcode is placed incorrectly, it won’t show anything.
- Custom Code or Theme Hooks
Some users or developers add custom functions to functions.php. While useful, this can break WooCommerce output.
Hooks or filters can block product loops or remove the shop content completely. One small mistake in code can result in a blank page.
- Caching or CDN Issues
Your site may show an outdated or broken version of the shop page. This is often caused by browser cache, plugin cache, or a CDN like Cloudflare.
When the cached version is faulty, the page may appear empty. Even after fixing the real issue, the cache still shows a blank page.
- WooCommerce or Theme Update
Updates can sometimes break things. A WooCommerce update may conflict with your theme or plugins.
After an update, changes in templates or functions may cause the shop page to fail. This is especially common with custom-built sites or older themes.
How to Fix a Blank WooCommerce Shop Page
Now that you know the possible causes, let’s look at the solutions. Below are simple and effective steps to fix a blank WooCommerce shop page. You don’t need to be a developer to try most of these.
- Assign the Shop Page in WooCommerce Settings
Sometimes, the shop page is not set correctly. WooCommerce won’t know where to show products.
Here’s how to check:
- Go to WooCommerce > Settings > Products
- Under “Shop page,” choose your correct shop page
- Save changes
If this page is missing or unassigned, your products won’t appear.
- Switch to a Default Theme
Your current theme may be causing the issue. To test this, switch to a default theme like Storefront or Twenty Twenty-One.
Steps to try:
- Go to Appearance > Themes
- Activate a default theme
- Visit the shop page and check if it works
If it shows products now, your theme is the problem.
- Make Sure Products Are Published and Visible
If there are no visible products, the page will look empty.
Check these:
- Products should be set to “Published.”
- Visibility should be set to “Public”
- Stock status should not be “Out of stock”
- Product categories should be assigned if filters are used
Also, make sure products are not hidden via catalog visibility.
- Disable All Plugins Except WooCommerce
A conflicting plugin may be blocking the shop page. Try disabling all plugins except WooCommerce.
Steps to follow:
- Go to Plugins > Installed Plugins
- Deactivate all other plugins
- Check the shop page again
If the page works, one of the plugins is the cause.
- Reset Your Permalinks
Broken permalinks can make shop pages go blank or return errors.
To reset:
- Go to Settings > Permalinks
- Click Save Changes (no need to change anything)
This refreshes the permalink structure and may fix the issue.
- Clear Cache and CDN
Cached content may be showing an outdated or broken page.
Be sure to:
- Clear your browser cache
- Clear the plugin cache (if using cache plugins)
- Clear CDN cache (e.g., Cloudflare or server-level cache)
After clearing it, reload the page and test again.
- Rebuild the Shop Page
If the shop page is still broken, try recreating it.
Steps:
- Create a new page and name it “Shop.”
- Add the [products] shortcode (optional)
- Set this page as your shop in WooCommerce settings
This helps if the original page template is damaged
- Check for Custom Code or Template Overrides
If you’ve added custom code, remove it temporarily. Check your theme folder for /woocommerce template overrides. They may not be compatible with your current WooCommerce version.
- Use Developer Tools (Optional)
If you’re comfortable, enable WP_DEBUG in your wp-config.php file. This will show any hidden errors. You can also use plugins like Query Monitor to find deeper issues.
These steps should fix most blank shop page issues. If not, you may need help from a developer or a WooCommerce expert.
When to Contact a WooCommerce Expert
Sometimes, you try everything, and the problem remains. That’s when it’s time to reach out for expert help.
Here are a few signs you need a developer or WooCommerce professional:
- You’ve followed all steps, but the shop page is still blank.
- You’re not sure how to check custom code or theme files.
- There are errors in the debug log that you don’t understand.
- You recently had a custom feature or plugin built.
- Your theme uses advanced templates or a page builder.
In these cases, guessing may do more harm than good. A skilled developer can quickly find the issue and fix it safely.
At WooHelpDesk, we specialize in WooCommerce support. If your store is facing display issues, product problems, or custom code errors, we can help.
Conclusion
A blank WooCommerce shop page can be frustrating, but it’s usually fixable. Most of the time, the issue is small—like a missing setting or a plugin conflict.
Let’s recap the key points:
- Make sure your shop page is assigned correctly.
- Check that products are published and visible.
- Look out for theme or plugin conflicts.
- Clear the cache and reset permalinks regularly.
- Avoid editing code unless you know what you’re doing.
If none of these steps work, don’t panic. Help is available.
Need expert support? Contact WooHelpDesk for fast, friendly assistance.
Keep your store running smoothly and stay ahead of issues with regular checks and backups.
