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# How to require a date before checkout or add-to-cart


# How to require a date before checkout or add-to-cart

Make scheduling mandatory — block checkout (or add-to-cart) until the customer picks a date, so no order arrives without one.

|| Available on all plans.



## Overview

For stores where the schedule is essential, **Date requirement** forces customers to choose a date before they can proceed. Pair it with [Auto-Recovery](#) as a safety net for any edge cases.

|| This changes the customer flow for new orders only; existing orders are unaffected.



## Before you start

* The widget is displayed on the correct page: **cart page** for "require before checkout", **product page** for "require before add-to-cart".



## Require a date before checkout

Requirement: the widget is displayed on the **cart page**.

### How to set it up

Go to **Widget display → Date requirement** and enable the option.

![Require before checkout](IMAGE_URL_STEP_1)

||| We recommend removing the dynamic **"Buy now"** button. If it's enabled, DingDoong automatically disables it while this option is active. Direct payment methods (Apple Pay, PayPal) are also disabled until the customer selects a schedule.



## Require a date before add-to-cart

Requirement: the widget is displayed on the **product page**.

### How to set it up

Go to **Widget display → Date requirement** and enable the option.

![Require before add-to-cart](IMAGE_URL_STEP_2)

||| The "Buy now" button and direct payment methods are disabled until the customer selects a date and time.



## Note for customized themes

If you use a non-default Shopify theme, use **manual block**: enter your checkout button selector and direct-payment selector. The logic is the same — those buttons stay disabled until a schedule is selected.



## Common scenarios

### Schedule is mandatory for every order

Require before checkout on the cart page — the most common setup.

### Per-product scheduling required

Require before add-to-cart on the product page.

### Mandatory + safety net

Require a date, and also enable [Auto-Recovery](#) to catch any order that still slips through.



## Configuration options

| Option | Page required | Effect |
| ---- |
| Require before checkout | Cart page | Blocks checkout until a date is chosen; disables Buy now / express pay |
| Require before add-to-cart | Product page | Blocks add-to-cart until a date is chosen |



## Tips & Best practices

|| Remove the dynamic "Buy now" button from your theme when requiring a date — it's the most common way customers bypass scheduling.

| Test with Apple Pay/PayPal enabled to confirm they're correctly disabled until a date is chosen.



## Troubleshooting

### Customers still check out without a date?

Confirm the widget is on the right page (cart for checkout, product for add-to-cart) and that "Buy now" is removed or being disabled. On custom themes, set the manual block selectors.

### The requirement disabled my express buttons permanently?

They're disabled only until a date is selected; once chosen, they re-enable.



## FAQ

### How do I turn the requirement off?

Disable the Date requirement option in Widget display.

### Does this work on the checkout page position?

Use the checkout block's "Allow app to block checkout" — see [Show the date picker on the checkout page](#).



## Related articles

* [Where can you display the date picker?](#) — Set the right position first *(Widget Appearance & Placement)*
* [Auto-Recovery: recover orders with missing dates](#) — Safety net for no-date orders *(Auto-Recovery)*



||| If you need further assistance, feel free to reach out to us via live chat or email at contact@omegatheme.com. We're happy to help!