WooCommerce 11.0, set for release on July 28, will change the product_shipping_class taxonomy to private. This adjustment aligns shipping classes with their intended internal role for shipping calculations, rather than treating them as public-facing taxonomies.
What Changes?
The product_shipping_class taxonomy will no longer be publicly viewable or queryable. This means it won’t appear in public contexts like sitemaps or taxonomy archives, which could affect SEO and integrations that rely on public visibility.
Who May Be Affected?
Store owners and developers who have custom code that treats product_shipping_class as public need to review their implementations. If your code checks for public visibility or builds public-facing links, it may require updates to avoid functionality issues.
What Should Stores Do?
Most stores won’t need to take action, as the change primarily affects custom implementations. However, if your store relies on product_shipping_class being public, update your code accordingly to ensure compatibility with the new settings.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the release date for WooCommerce 11.0?
WooCommerce 11.0 is scheduled for release on July 28, 2026.
How will the change to product_shipping_class affect my store?
The product_shipping_class will no longer be publicly viewable, which may impact SEO and integrations that rely on public taxonomy.
What should I do if my code relies on product_shipping_class being public?
You should update your code to ensure it does not depend on the public visibility of product_shipping_class.