Understanding and Addressing the New Email Verification Step in WooCommerce on checkout page

Introduction

A recent update to WooCommerce has introduced a new feature that has left many users puzzled. Out of the blue, an email verification step appeared, preventing guests from accessing the checkout page without verifying their email. This unexpected change raised concerns among WooCommerce users, prompting a search for explanations and solutions.

The Problem

The core of the issue lies in the unexpected appearance of an email verification step in WooCommerce's checkout process. Users reported encountering a message stating, "To view this page, you must either login or verify the email address associated with the order." This message is linked with a class termed “woocommerce-form woocommerce-verify-email.” The confusion stems from the fact that this feature was not a part of the usual WooCommerce settings, and many were unaware of its activation.

Investigations and Findings

Upon investigation, it became clear that this issue primarily affected guest users, as logged-in users did not experience this additional step. After examining various settings and configurations, it was determined that this feature was not an option that could be toggled on or off within the standard WooCommerce settings.

Official Response and Solution

In response to the confusion and inconvenience caused, WooCommerce developers have provided an official reply. They clarified that this feature was a security enhancement introduced in a recent update. Fortunately, for those seeking to disable this feature, a simple solution is available. Users can add the following line to their theme’s functions.php file or through a code-adding plugin like Code Snippets:

add_filter( 'woocommerce_order_email_verification_required', '__return_false' );