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How to Remove v=XXXX String From WordPress URLs

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Are you seeing a strange v=xxxx string in your WordPress URLs?

Recently, one of our readers asked us how to get rid of the v=xxxx string from their WordPress URLs. This string is made up of seemingly random letters and numbers added as a parameter to your permalinks.

In this article, we will show you how to easily remove the v=xxxx string from your WordPress URLs.

How to Remove v=xxxx string from WordPress URLs

Why Are You Seeing v=XXXX String in Your WordPress URLs?

This string appears on websites running an online store using WooCommerce. It is not a bug or an error, but an actual feature of the WooCommerce plugin.

String with letters and numbers added to WordPress URLs by WooCommerce

The purpose of this string is to help WooCommerce calculate tax and shipping based on a user’s geographic location. The string helps make the feature compatible with WordPress caching plugins like WP Super Cache or W3 Total Cache.

However, if you don’t need to calculate shipping and taxes based on different locations, then you probably accidentally enabled this feature.

Let’s take a look at how to easily disable it and remove the random v=xxxxxx strings from your WordPress URLs.

Removing v=xxxx String From WordPress URLs

First, you need to log in to your WordPress admin area and head to the WooCommerce » Settings page.

In the General tab, you need to scroll down to the ‘Default customer location’ option.

The default customer location setting in WooCommerce

It will be set to ‘Geolocate (with page caching support)’. You need to change it to either ‘No location by default’ or ‘Shop country/region’.

Finally, don’t forget to click on the ‘Save Changes’ button to store your settings.

If you are using a caching plugin, then you will need to clear your WordPress cache. After that, you can visit your website, and the geolocation string will disappear from your WordPress URLs.

How to Geolocate Default Location Without the URL String

You may also want to enable the ‘Geolocate’ setting to charge your customers shipping and taxes according to their locations. This will not show the v=xxxx string in your WordPress URLs.

Simply select the ‘Geolocate’ option in the ‘Default customer location’ dropdown.

Geolocate without caching

Keep in mind that this option is not compatible with static caching plugins. Plus, it will show incorrect shipping and tax information to users due to a previously-cached page.

Running WooCommerce without caching is not recommended because it will slow down your site’s speed and performance.

If you need to use Geolocate to calculate shipping and taxes on the fly, then for the time being, you will have to tolerate the ugly v=xxxx string in your WordPress URLs.

For more details, please see our guide to geolocation targeting in WooCommerce.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About the V=XXXX String in WordPress URLs

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about the v=xxxx string and geolocation in WooCommerce.

What is the v=xxxx string in WordPress?

WooCommerce creates the v=xxxx string to automatically calculate shipping and taxes for your customers around the world. The string is necessary if you are using a caching plugin on your WordPress website.

How do I use geolocation in WooCommerce?

To use geolocation in WooCommerce, you will need to go to WooCommerce » Settings » General and choose either ‘Geolocate’ or ‘Geolocate (with page caching support)’ from the ‘Default customer location’ dropdown.

Keep in mind that choosing ‘Geolocate (with page caching support)’ will add the v=xxxx string to your WordPress URLs. Additionally, selecting ‘Geolocate’ will not work if you are using a WordPress caching plugin.

How do I change my WordPress permalinks?

To set an SEO-friendly permalink structure for your WordPress website, you need to go to Settings » Permalinks. Here, we recommend that most sites choose the ‘Post name structure’ setting or create a ‘Custom’ structure.

For more details, please see our guide to SEO-friendly URL structures in WordPress.

We hope this article helped you learn how to remove the v=xxxx string from your WordPress URLs. You may also want to see our ultimate list of the most common WordPress errors and how to fix them, along with our expert picks for the best WooCommerce plugins to grow your online store.

If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

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Reader Interactions

64 CommentsLeave a Reply

  4. OMG!! Thanks a lot!! it freaks me out
    but the thing is that does the V### code affect web Search ranking?

    Reply

    • It does not affect your search rankings, it is for tracking user location.

      Reply

      Admin

  7. The problem is, I didnt know about this ulr change until I logged out of WP. Now I am unable to log back in. What do I do???

    Reply

    • Normally it should not and most SEO plugins can fix any issues that may pop up.

      Reply

      Admin

  10. OMG!!!!! This just made my day. I have been trying to figure this out since forever. thank you guys so mcuh !!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Reply

  11. Wow! worked like magic. I have been fruastrated for weeks trying to figure this out – I thought it was my Theme.
    Thank you for helping me out.

    Reply

  13. Ohhhh MG! I just “adopted” a website and no one knew why this was. They had a strange theme previously and had over 30 plugins. I’ve been searching files, scouring the waterfall, spent HOURS digging in FTP never once thought it was caused by this.
    THANK YOU SO MUCH!

    Reply

  14. Wow, it’s worked for me by switching Default customer location to geolocate. Thank you very much

    Reply

  18. Thanks for such informative article. By mistake, I switched the option for Geo-Location Caching and started this error. Thanks for this wonderful piece.

    Reply

  20. Wow! I’m very happy now , I never thought I would remove minemine, my mind is at rest now . Thank you so much boss.

    Reply

  23. Awesomeeeee! I’ve never thought that the ?v= parameters on all my pages came from woocommerce, I was struggling with w3 cache and other plugins and it was woocommerce! thanks!!!

    Reply

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