If you’re trying to switch off or disable account creation in WooCommerce it’s most likely because you’re getting bombarded by Spam registrations that are ultimately trying to find vulnerabilities in your website.
If you haven’t enabled Google reCAPTCHA on your WooCommerce Account Registration AND Login Page you should do so right now. I talk about reCAPTCHA and your options in our WooCommerce Security Guide.
However, if you don’t make it a requirement that every customer needs to create an account at checkout in WooCommerce, the whole registration form is a little pointless to be honest.
The idea that someone creates an account for “faster checkout” with you next time is COMPLETELY FLAWED.
Most browsers, applications, PCs, iPhones and tablets all operate with password, login detail, address and even credit card storage mechanisms.
Meaning the checkout forms are pre-filled not because they have an account with your eCommerce store, but because they’ve chosen to allow their device and it’s browser to make shopping easy EVERYWHERE not just on your website.
I find it slightly narcissistic the level of “importance” store owners believe there is in allowing the creation of accounts – get over it people it’s the 21st Century and there’s plenty of other software out there that’s operating at a way higher level than your site. You’re a passenger, not the driver in this technological landscape, accept it and enjoy the ride.
How to Disable Customer Account Creation in WooCommerce
To disable WooCommerce Account Creation for customers, simply go to WooCommerce > Settings > Accounts & Privacy. Then untick all of the options related to customer Account Creation. Leave “Allow customers to place orders without an account” under the Guest Checkout ticked of course. You’ve now disabled customer account creation in WooCommerce.
Here’s a helpful screenshot of what you’ll see when disabling account creation in WooCommerce settings:
As you’ll see in the above screenshot EVERYTHING is unticked APART FROM “Allow customers to place orders without an account”
Essentially this is “enabling guest checkout in WooCommerce”
But at the same time it’s:
DISABLING account creation during checkout
Disabling account creation on the My Account page (which is where you’ll be getting your registration spam from)
The other 2 options are irrelevant relating to creating usernames and passwords when it comes to switching off account creation in WooCommerce.
Why you should disable account creation on WooCommerce My Account Page
If you allow any old user to create an account on the My Account page, these “customers” are people who’ve never actually purchased from your store.
In the majority of cases, especially when selling physical products there is ABSOLUTELY no reason why someone would want to create an account on your website OTHER than if they have bad intentions – bots and malware beware.
Google reCAPTCHA v2 and v3 are good – but ultimately if a feature adds NO VALUE to your store, switch it off is our working principle.
Allowing people to register for accounts on the My Account page is inviting malware and security breaches that don’t need to be sophisticated.
Forget your nice hosted security plugin or your off-site Web Application Firewall for WooCommerce – you’ve just left the door wide open to spammy signups with no purpose other than to seek out vulnerabilities or overwhelm your database.
What’s the value of WooCommerce account creation in this decade?
We say next to zero – with most applications, browsers and devices storing key user information such as names, addresses, email address, passwords, credit card details – why the hell would someone want to create an account so YOU could store them too?
Think about it
Be smart
Protect yourself AND your customers!
