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Cart Actions: What Happens After Add to Cart

Control what happens after customers add a product with options to their cart. Choose between keeping them on the product page, sending them to the cart, or taking them directly to checkout.

Updated this week

Overview

The Cart Action setting controls customer behavior immediately after they click "Add to Cart" on products with options. This affects the shopping experience and can influence conversion rates.
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Available Cart Actions

Stay on Page (Default)

What it does: Customer remains on the product page after adding to cart
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Best for:

  • Encouraging customers to continue shopping

  • Stores with many products to browse

  • When you want customers to add multiple items

  • Products that are commonly purchased together

Customer Experience:

  • Success message appears: "✔ Added to cart" with a "Go to Cart" link

  • Cart icon/badge updates with new item count

  • Customer can immediately add more items or quantities

  • Theme's cart drawer/notification may also appear (theme-dependent)

Example Use Case: A clothing store where customers typically browse multiple items before checking out.

Go to Cart

What it does: Redirects customer to /cart immediately after adding to cart
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Best for:

  • When you want customers to review their selections

  • Products with complex options that need verification

  • Encouraging cart review before checkout

  • Stores using cart upsells or cross-sells

Customer Experience:

  • Immediately taken to the cart page

  • Can review all items, options, and prices

  • Can adjust quantities or remove items

  • Clear path to checkout from cart

Example Use Case: A furniture store where customers need to verify custom dimensions and finishes before proceeding.

Go to Checkout

What it does: Redirects customer to /checkout immediately after adding to cart
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Best for:

  • Single-product purchases

  • High-ticket items

  • Reducing checkout friction

  • When cart abandonment is a concern

  • Service-based products

Customer Experience:

  • Fastest path to purchase

  • Skips cart page entirely

  • Reduces clicks to complete purchase

  • Best for focused, intent-driven shoppers

Example Use Case: A professional service booking where customers typically purchase one service at a time.

How to Configure Cart Actions

Using the Theme Editor

  1. Go to Online Store > Themes in Shopify admin

  2. Click Customize on your active theme

  3. Navigate to a product page

  4. Click on the Product Options app block

  5. Find the After Adding to Cart setting

  6. Select your preferred action:

    • Stay on Page

    • Go to Cart

    • Go to Checkout

  7. Click Save

Important Considerations

Theme Compatibility

Cart Drawer/Notification

  • Many themes show a cart drawer or notification when items are added

  • This appears BEFORE the redirect happens

  • "Stay on Page" works best with themes that have cart drawers

  • "Go to Cart" and "Go to Checkout" may briefly show the cart drawer before redirecting

Ajax Cart

  • Modern themes use Ajax to add items without page reload

  • Product Options works with all Ajax cart implementations

  • The cart action setting works alongside your theme's cart behavior

Cart Badge Updates

Regardless of cart action selected:

  • The cart icon badge updates with the new item count

  • This happens automatically

  • Works with all Shopify themes

Testing Different Actions

Best Practice:

  1. Test each cart action with your actual products

  2. Monitor conversion rates for each setting

  3. Consider your typical customer journey

  4. Survey customers about their preference

  5. A/B test if you have the traffic

Related Articles
How to add "Save for Later" to shopping cart?
Setting Required Options
Storefront Layouts for Product Options
Cart & Checkout Display Settings
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