---
title: Restricting Checkout and Cart Access for Unverified Users
description: Restrict WooCommerce checkout to verified customers and stop guests adding to cart with the Pro Blocking options in Email Verification.
url: "https://wpfactory.com/docs/restrict-checkout-access/"
updated: "2026-09-26"
category: How to
tags:
  - Email Verification for WooCommerce
---

# Restricting Checkout and Cart Access for Unverified Users

To restrict WooCommerce checkout to verified customers, turn on **Block checkout** at **WPFactory > Email Verification** (also reachable at **WooCommerce > Settings > Email Verification**) > **Blocking** in [Customer Email Verification for WooCommerce](https://wpfactory.com/item/email-verification-for-woocommerce/). It stops logged-in users who have not verified their email from placing an order. To also stop guests, add **Block adding products to cart**. Both are Pro features.

![Block checkout and Block adding products to cart options](https://wpfactory.com/wp-content/uploads/12.1.png)

## Options reference

| Label | Option ID | Default | Free/Pro |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Block checkout | `alg_wc_ev_block_checkout_process` | No | Pro |
| Block checkout error notice | `alg_wc_ev_block_checkout_process_notice` | "You need to log in and verify your email to place an order." | Pro |
| Block adding products to cart | `alg_wc_ev_block_guest_add_to_cart` | No | Pro |
| Custom redirect URL | `alg_wc_ev_block_guest_add_to_cart_custom_redirect_url` | Empty | Pro |
| Add-to-cart error notice | `alg_wc_ev_block_guest_add_to_cart_notice` | Built-in text with a register link | Pro |

## Step-by-step

1. Go to **WPFactory > Email Verification** (also reachable at **WooCommerce > Settings > Email Verification**) and open the **Blocking** sub-tab.
2. Enable **Block checkout**, **Block adding products to cart**, or both.
3. Edit the matching error notices.
4. Click **Save changes**.
5. Test with an unverified customer account and with a logged-out browser.

## What the customer sees

### Block checkout

A logged-in, unverified customer can fill in the checkout form, but clicking **Place order** shows the error notice and no order is created. Guests are **not** affected by this option, because they have no account to verify. The notice is processed for shortcodes.

### Block adding products to cart

Any visitor who is not logged in is stopped from adding products to the cart and sees the notice, which supports the `%myaccount_url%` placeholder. Set **Custom redirect URL** to send them to a page such as your registration page; leave it empty to stay on the same page. Logged-in customers are not affected.

## Common variations

- **Verify guests without an account (free):** **General > Guest users** adds a verification link under the billing email so guests confirm their address at checkout. It works with the classic checkout only. See [How to Verify Guest Users at Checkout](https://wpfactory.com/docs/woocommerce-verify-guest-users-checkout/).
- **Require an account for every order:** combine **Block checkout** with WooCommerce's own setting that disables guest checkout.
- **Only paying customers get activated:** see [Activate Accounts Only for Paying Customers](https://wpfactory.com/docs/activate-accounts-on-payment/).
- **Hide the order confirmation page too:** **Advanced > Block thank you page** (Pro).

## If it does not work

- **Guests can still check out:** expected. Use one of the guest options above.
- **An unverified customer can still order:** check whether their role is in **General > Ignore user roles**, or whether the account predates the plugin while **Pre-plugin users** is off. Both count as verified.
- **The options are greyed out:** you are on the free version.

## FAQ

### Does Block checkout stop guest orders?

No. It only checks logged-in users. Use **Block adding products to cart** or guest verification for visitors without an account.

### Can customers verify without leaving checkout?

Guests can, with the free **Guest users** option, which sends a verification email from under the billing email field.

### Can I show different text to different customers?

The notices accept shortcodes, including `[alg_wc_ev_translate]` for per-language text on WPML sites.

### Ready to set this up?

Checkout and add-to-cart blocking are Pro features of [Email Verification](https://wpfactory.com/item/email-verification-for-woocommerce/). If you are still on the free version, upgrading unlocks them along with the rest of the Pro toolkit. [Get Email Verification Pro](https://wpfactory.com/item/email-verification-for-woocommerce/).

Need a hand? Our team answers every ticket on the [Email Verification support forum](https://wpfactory.com/support/item/email-verification-for-woocommerce/).

Related articles

- [Restricting Logins for Unverified Users in WooCommerce](https://wpfactory.com/docs/restrict-unverified-logins/)
- [How to Delete Unverified Users in WooCommerce](https://wpfactory.com/docs/woocommerce-delete-unverified-users/)
- [How to Restrict Unverified Users with the Blocking Settings](https://wpfactory.com/docs/control-user-access/)
- [How to Verify Users via the REST API](https://wpfactory.com/docs/email-verification-rest-api-verify-endpoint/)
- [Managing User Verification from the Admin Panel](https://wpfactory.com/docs/manage-user-verification/)

 

[![Email Verification for WooCommerce](https://wpfactory.com/wp-content/uploads/Email-Verification-for-WooCommerce.webp)](https://wpfactory.com/item/email-verification-for-woocommerce/)