Running a Shopify store comes with its fair share of challenges, and one of the most common is managing product variants. Customers can get frustrated when they see options that are out of stock or unavailable. It not only clutters your product pages but also makes the shopping experience confusing.
Luckily, you don’t need to be a coding expert to fix this. With the right approach, you can Shopify hide unavailable variants effortlessly, keeping your product pages clean, professional, and customer-friendly. This simple tweak can make a big difference in conversions and overall customer satisfaction.
In this article, we’ll cover what unavailable variants are, why hiding them matters, the easiest ways to hide them without code, and best practices to optimize your Shopify store for better sales and customer experience.
Understanding Unavailable Variants in Shopify
In Shopify, a variant is considered unavailable when:
- Its inventory count reaches zero.
- It’s unpublished or archived.
- It represents a combination of attributes that doesn’t exist (for example, a size-color combination that you don’t actually sell).
By default, Shopify will still display all variants, whether available or not. This means a customer could click on a variant only to discover it cannot be purchased. That experience is frustrating and can make your store seem disorganized.
Why You Should Hide Unavailable Variants
Leaving unavailable variants visible on your product pages may seem harmless, but it can have real consequences for your business:
- Confusing Customers: Shoppers waste time selecting options they cannot buy, which may cause frustration.
- Lower Conversion Rates: Out-of-stock variants can discourage buyers from completing a purchase.
- Higher Bounce Rates: If customers perceive your product page as cluttered or difficult to navigate, they may leave your store entirely.
- Perception of Poor Store Maintenance: Displaying unavailable variants gives the impression that your store isn’t well-maintained.
Hiding unavailable variants streamlines the shopping experience. Customers only see the options they can actually purchase, making the buying process smoother and faster. This simple adjustment can directly contribute to higher sales and improved customer satisfaction.
Methods to Hide Unavailable Variants Without Coding
Now, let’s break down the most effective ways to shopify and hide unavailable variants without touching code.
1. Use Shopify’s Native Inventory Settings
Shopify offers built-in features to manage your product inventory. Here’s how you can use them:
- Enable Inventory Tracking: Shopify allows you to track stock levels for each variant. This ensures your store knows when a variant is out of stock.
- Disable Backorders: Uncheck the option “Continue selling when out of stock.” This prevents customers from purchasing items that aren’t available.
While these settings help prevent overselling, there’s a limitation. Shopify will still display sold-out variants in dropdown menus or swatch selectors; they just won’t be purchasable. So, your customers can see the variant, but they can’t buy it. That’s where apps come in to give a more polished solution.
2. Use Third-Party Apps to Hide Variants
The easiest way to hide unavailable variants without code is to use Shopify apps designed for this purpose. Several popular options include:
- Camouflage: Camouflage allows you to hide, disable, or strike through sold-out variants. It works with most free and premium Shopify themes, making it a hassle-free solution.
- HiVar: HiVar automatically hides or disables sold-out variants on your product pages. It’s compatible with free themes and many paid Shopify themes.
- Easify Product Options: Easify lets you show only relevant variants based on the customer’s selection. It automatically hides options that aren’t available, streamlining the shopping experience.
These apps require no coding knowledge and can be set up within minutes. For Shopify store owners who want a simple, scalable solution, they’re often the best choice.
3. Modify Theme Code (Optional for Advanced Users)
If you or your developer is comfortable with coding, you can edit your Shopify theme to hide unavailable variants. Here’s a high-level overview:
- Go to Online Store > Themes > Actions > Edit Code.
- Find your product template file (usually named product-template.liquid).
- Add logic to hide variants that are out of stock before they appear in the dropdown or swatch selector.
This method provides full control over how unavailable variants appear (or don’t appear) but requires a solid understanding of Shopify’s Liquid templating language and JavaScript. For store owners without coding experience, using an app is usually a safer and faster option.
Best Practices for Managing Variants
Simply hiding unavailable variants isn’t enough. To get the most out of your Shopify store, follow these best practices:
- Regularly Update Inventory: Make sure your inventory levels are accurate. Apps or manual updates can help prevent customers from seeing outdated options.
- Use Clear Naming Conventions: Your variant names should clearly describe the attribute. Avoid confusing labels that could mislead customers.
- Test Product Pages: Regularly check that unavailable variants are properly hidden and that your shopping experience is seamless.
- Communicate Stock Status: Even when variants are hidden, it’s useful to let customers know when popular options are temporarily unavailable. Some apps offer notifications or back-in-stock alerts.
By following these practices, you create a more polished, professional, and user-friendly store. Customers will appreciate the clarity and simplicity, which can increase loyalty and repeat purchases.
Benefits of Hiding Unavailable Variants
When done correctly, hiding unavailable variants offers multiple advantages:
- Improved Customer Experience: Shoppers only see what’s available, making it easier to make purchasing decisions.
- Higher Conversion Rates: Reducing friction in the buying process encourages more completed orders.
- Reduced Customer Support Requests: Fewer questions about unavailable products mean less workload for your support team.
- Professional Store Appearance: Clean, uncluttered product pages signal that your store is well-managed and trustworthy.
Even small changes like hiding unavailable variants can have a significant impact on your store’s overall performance.
Final Thoughts
Unnecessary variants clutter product pages and frustrate customers. By taking the time to shopify hide unavailable variants, you streamline the shopping experience, reduce confusion, and boost conversions.
Whether you choose to leverage Shopify’s native inventory settings, install a user-friendly app, or work with a developer to modify your theme, there are solutions for every skill level. Hiding unavailable variants isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s about improving usability, increasing sales, and presenting a professional, customer-focused store.
