How to Fix WooCommerce Checkout Fields Not Saving (2025 Guide)

WooCommerce checkout fields not saving is one of the most frustrating issues store owners face. Customers fill out billing details, shipping information, or custom checkout fields, only for the data to disappear after page reload, payment failure, or order submission. This not only breaks trust but also leads to abandoned carts, failed orders, and lost revenue.

The problem is more common than most people realize. It affects default WooCommerce fields, custom checkout fields added via code or plugins, and even fields created using page builders or checkout optimization tools.

In this in-depth guide, you’ll learn exactly why WooCommerce checkout fields don’t save and how to fix them permanently. We’ll cover plugin conflicts, validation errors, missing hooks, session problems, caching issues, AJAX failures, and real-world fixes used by professional WooCommerce developers.

Whether you’re a store owner, developer, or agency, this guide will help you fix the issue correctly without breaking your checkout.

What “WooCommerce Checkout Fields Not Saving” Actually Means

This issue can appear in several ways:

• Billing or shipping fields reset after clicking “Place order”

• Custom checkout fields show but don’t save to the order

• Data disappears when payment fails

• Checkout reloads and clears entered values

• Fields appear in checkout but not in admin order details

• Values save but don’t appear in emails

Each symptom points to a different underlying cause. Fixing it requires understanding how WooCommerce processes checkout data internally.

How WooCommerce Saves Checkout Data (Simplified)

When a customer submits checkout:

1. WooCommerce validates all fields

2. Data is temporarily stored in session

3. Payment gateway runs validation

4. Order is created

5. Checkout fields are saved as order meta

6. Order confirmation is generated

If any step fails, the data may not be saved.

Common Reasons WooCommerce Checkout Fields Don’t Save

1. Validation Errors Stop Data From Saving

WooCommerce will discard checkout data if any required field fails validation. Sometimes the error is hidden or not visible to the customer.

Examples:

• Required field marked incorrectly

• Custom validation logic returning false

• JavaScript validation error

2. Custom Checkout Fields Missing Save Hook

Adding fields visually is not enough. Many developers add checkout fields but forget to save them using the proper WooCommerce hooks.

Wrong assumption:

“If it shows on checkout, WooCommerce will save it automatically.”

That is not true.

3. AJAX Checkout Errors

WooCommerce checkout runs via AJAX. If the AJAX request fails, data will not persist.

Common causes:

• JavaScript errors

• Theme overriding checkout templates incorrectly

• Payment gateway conflicts

4. Caching or Optimization Plugins

Caching plugins can break checkout sessions.

Common offenders:

• Page caching enabled on checkout

• Minified or deferred JavaScript

• CDN caching POST requests

5. Plugin Conflicts

Plugins that commonly cause this issue:

• Checkout field editors

• Form builders

• Security plugins

• Payment gateways

• Multilingual plugins

6. Theme Overrides Breaking Checkout

Themes often override form-checkout.php incorrectly. Even a missing nonce can stop checkout fields from saving.

7. WooCommerce Session Not Working

WooCommerce relies on sessions to store checkout data temporarily. If sessions fail, fields reset.

Step-by-Step Fixes for WooCommerce Checkout Fields Not Saving

Fix 1: Enable WooCommerce Debug Mode

Before fixing anything, enable debugging to catch hidden errors. To catch hidden PHP and fatal errors that stop checkout data from saving, enable WordPress debug mode to find errors before making further changes.

Add this to wp-config.php:

Now test checkout and check /wp-content/debug.log.

Look for:

• PHP errors

• Undefined indexes

• Fatal plugin errors

Fix 2: Check for JavaScript Errors on Checkout Page

Open checkout page → Right-click → Inspect → Console.

If you see errors like:

• Uncaught TypeError

• Blocked by CORS

• jQuery is not defined

Those errors can prevent checkout fields from saving.

Fix by:

• Disabling JS minification

• Switching to default theme temporarily

• Updating conflicting plugins

Fix 3: Properly Save Custom Checkout Fields (Critical)

If you added custom fields, you must save them manually.

Example: Adding and Saving a Custom Checkout Field

Save Field to Order Meta

Without this hook, the field will never save. If you need to extend the checkout form beyond default fields, add custom checkout fields in WooCommerce the right way to ensure they save correctly and don’t break the checkout process.

Fix 4: Validate Custom Fields Properly

If validation fails, WooCommerce clears the checkout.

Always return clear, valid input, or the checkout will reset.

Fix 5: Display Saved Fields in Admin Orders

Sometimes data saves but looks missing because it’s not displayed.

Fix 6: Disable Checkout Page Caching

A poorly optimized site can slow down checkout scripts and break sessions, so apply WordPress optimization tips to keep WooCommerce checkout fast, reliable, and error-free.

Never cache these pages:

• Cart

• Checkout

• My Account

If using WP Rocket, LiteSpeed, or W3 Total Cache:

• Exclude /checkout/

• Disable JS delay for checkout

• Disable HTML caching for logged-in users

Caching breaks sessions and causes fields not to save. Slow-loading checkout pages can also trigger script timeouts and AJAX failures, so optimize WordPress images without losing quality to keep WooCommerce checkout fast and stable.

Fix 7: Test Plugin Conflicts the Right Way

Disable plugins in this order:

1. Checkout field plugins

2. Payment gateways

3. Security plugins

4. Optimization plugins

5. Multilingual plugins

Test checkout after each step. If you suspect a plugin conflict and cannot access the WordPress dashboard, disable WordPress plugins without admin access to identify the plugin causing checkout fields to fail.

Fix 8: Switch to Default WooCommerce Theme

Temporarily switch to Storefront.

If the issue disappears:

• Your theme overrides checkout incorrectly

• Compare form-checkout.php with WooCommerce default

Fix 9: Fix WooCommerce Sessions Not Working

Add this to your hosting configuration if sessions fail:

Also ensure:

• Cookies are enabled

• HTTPS is active

• No server-side session blocking

Fix 10: Payment Gateway Is Clearing Fields

Some gateways reload checkout on failure.

Solution:

• Enable “Save payment data”

• Update gateway plugin

• Test with Cash on Delivery

If COD works but Stripe or PayPal doesn’t, the issue is gateway-specific.

Fix 11: Fields Save but Not in Emails

If checkout data is saving but customers are not receiving order confirmations, fix WooCommerce not sending emails to ensure billing and order details reach both customers and admins. WooCommerce emails don’t automatically include custom fields.

Real-World Checklist to Fix Checkout Fields Not Saving

• Debug mode enabled

• No JavaScript errors

• Custom fields saved using hooks

• Validation returning true

• Checkout page not cached

• No plugin conflicts

• Theme checkout template correct

• Sessions working

• Payment gateway tested

Why This Issue Hurts Conversions

Once checkout issues are resolved, you can further improve conversions by using top WooCommerce plugins to increase sales without breaking checkout functionality.

When checkout fields don’t save:

• Customers lose trust

• Forms feel broken

• Abandoned carts increase

• Support tickets spike

Fixing this issue directly improves:

• Conversion rate

• Customer satisfaction

• Order completion rate

When to Get Professional WooCommerce Help

If:

• The issue happens only on live site

• Multiple plugins are involved

• Custom checkout logic exists

• Orders are failing silently

Then it’s time for expert help.

At WPThrill, we specialize in fixing WooCommerce checkout issues fast, without downtime, and without breaking your store. If your checkout is still broken and orders are failing, get emergency WordPress support to fix WooCommerce checkout issues quickly without risking lost sales.

FAQs

Why are my WooCommerce checkout fields clearing after page reload?

This usually happens due to validation errors, JavaScript issues, or caching interfering with WooCommerce sessions.

Do custom checkout fields save automatically in WooCommerce?

No. Custom fields must be saved manually using woocommerce_checkout_update_order_meta.

Can caching plugins cause checkout fields not to save?

Yes. Caching checkout pages can break sessions and prevent fields from persisting.

Why do checkout fields save but not show in admin orders?

The data may be saved as order meta but not displayed. You must add custom admin display hooks.

Can payment gateways reset checkout fields?

Yes. Some gateways reload checkout on failure and clear session data.

Is this issue theme-related?

Often yes. Themes that override WooCommerce checkout templates incorrectly can break field saving.