12 Possible WooCommerce checkout errors & steps to fix them

1. Cart Empty Message on Checkout:

Issue: Customers see the “Your cart is empty” message on the checkout page.
Solution Steps:

• Check if products are added to the cart.
• Disable caching plugins temporarily.
• Verify that the cart page shortcode [woocommerce_cart] is correctly added to your cart page.

2. Missing Shipping or Payment Methods:

Issue: Shipping or payment methods are not displaying at checkout.
Solution Steps:

• Navigate to WooCommerce settings > Shipping and ensure shipping methods are enabled and configured.
• Go to WooCommerce settings > Payments and enable your preferred payment gateways.

3. JavaScript Conflicts:

Issue: JavaScript conflicts causing errors during the checkout process.
Solution Steps:

• Disable all non-WooCommerce plugins.
• Switch to a default WordPress theme (e.g., Twenty Twenty-One).
• Enable plugins and switch back to your theme one by one to identify the conflicting element.

4. Billing/Shipping Address Not Updating:

Issue: Customers can’t update or save their billing or shipping addresses.
Solution Steps:

• Disable custom address-related plugins temporarily.
• Test with a default WordPress theme to rule out theme conflicts.
• Verify WooCommerce settings under WooCommerce > Settings > General and ensure fields are not disabled.

5. Error Messages on Payment Submission:

Issue: Error messages appear when customers submit their payment information.
Solution Steps:

• Double-check payment gateway settings for accuracy.
• Ensure that you’re using the latest version of the payment gateway plugin.
• Verify SSL is properly configured to ensure secure payment submission.

6. Checkout Page Not Loading Properly:

Issue: The checkout page doesn’t load properly, or elements are missing.
Solution Steps:

• Clear your browser cache and cookies.
• Temporarily deactivate any non-WooCommerce plugins and test.
• Switch to a default theme to determine if your theme is causing the issue.

7. Tax Calculation Issues:

Issue: Incorrect or missing tax calculations on the checkout page.
Solution Steps:

• Check WooCommerce tax settings under WooCommerce > Settings > Tax.
• Ensure product tax classes are assigned correctly.
• Verify that tax rates are set up accurately.

8. Failed Orders:

Issue: Orders are failing during the checkout process.
Solution Steps:

• Double-check payment gateway settings, API keys, and credentials.
• Inspect credit card details for errors or inconsistencies.
• Review server logs for error messages that might shed light on the issue.

9. SSL and Security Warnings:

Issue: SSL or security warnings appear on the checkout page.
Solution Steps:

• Ensure your SSL certificate is properly installed and configured.
• Update any insecure links in your website’s content, including images and scripts.
• Use the “Better Search Replace” plugin to update HTTP links to HTTPS.

10. Slow Loading Checkout Page:

Issue: The checkout page takes too long to load.
Solution Steps:

• Install a caching plugin like W3 Total Cache or WP Super Cache.
• Compress and optimize images to reduce page load time.
• Use a content delivery network (CDN) to distribute resources and speed up delivery.

11. Expired Sessions or Cart Emptied:

Issue: Customers’ sessions expire or their carts are emptied unexpectedly.
Solution Steps:

• Adjust session timeout settings in WooCommerce > Settings > Products > Display.
• Disable caching for cart and checkout-related pages.
• Verify if a caching plugin is interfering with sessions.

12. Custom Fields or Plugins Not Working:

Issue: Custom checkout fields or third-party plugins integrated with the checkout process are not functioning.
Solution Steps:

• Disable third-party plugins temporarily and test the checkout process.
• Ensure that the custom fields are properly added using hooks or hooks provided by a relevant plugin.
• Verify compatibility of custom fields with your current theme and WooCommerce version.