WooCommerce Checkout Not Working: How to Fix It

Fix it in order, most likely cause first

1. Check the browser console for errors. Open your browser's developer tools (F12 on most browsers) and look at the Console tab while on the checkout page. A JavaScript error here often points directly at the script or plugin causing the problem.
2. Confirm your payment gateway isn't the issue. Check the status page of whichever gateway you use, such as Stripe, PayPal, or PayFast, for any reported outages. Also confirm your API keys are correct and haven't expired.
3. Exclude the cart and checkout pages from caching. Most caching plugins, including WP Rocket and LiteSpeed Cache, have a setting to exclude dynamic pages like the cart and checkout from caching. A cached checkout page is one of the most common causes of this exact problem.
4. Check WooCommerce > Status for warnings. WooCommerce's built-in Status page flags outdated templates, missing pages, and some known plugin conflicts directly, often pointing straight at the cause.
5. Isolate the conflict by deactivating non-essential plugins. If the above steps don't resolve it, work through plugins one at a time the same way you would for any plugin conflict, deactivating and checking the checkout after each one.

When to stop and get help

If this is a live store actively taking orders, test any fix on a staging copy of the site first if you have one. A change made directly on a live checkout can cost you working functionality on top of the bug you started with, so treat it carefully rather than quickly.

Related reading

• WordPress Plugin Conflict: How to Find and Fix It