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# Pre-select the first available date

# Pre-select the first available date

Have the widget automatically select the earliest available date/time for customers — reducing clicks and speeding up checkout.

|| This feature requires the **Smart** plan or above.



## Overview

When enabled, the date picker comes with the **first available slot** already selected, so customers can check out immediately without choosing a date (they can still change it). Great for stores where most customers are happy with the soonest option.

|| Pre-selecting a date doesn't lock it — customers can pick a different date if they want.



## Before you start

* You're on the Smart plan or above.
* Your scheduling rules (prep/cut-off, blackout, limits) are set, since they determine what "first available" is.



## How to enable it

Here's how, step by step:

<!-- EDITOR: thay IMAGE_URL_STEP_N bằng URL ảnh screenshot (kéo-thả ảnh vào Crisp editor hoặc dùng link CDN có sẵn) -->

### Step 1: Open the widget design (General)

Go to **Widget display → Design → General** and find the **Pre-selected** option.

![Step 1: Open Pre-selected](IMAGE_URL_STEP_1)

### Step 2: Turn on "first available slot"

Tick the option to pre-select the first available date/time, then save.

![Step 2: Enable first available slot](IMAGE_URL_STEP_2)



## How it looks on the storefront

The widget loads with the earliest valid date (and time slot) already chosen; customers can keep it or change it.

![Pre-selected date on storefront](IMAGE_URL_STOREFRONT)



## Common scenarios

### Speed up same-day stores

Pre-select so most customers check out in one click with the soonest slot.

### Reduce abandoned scheduling

If customers often forget to pick a date, pre-selecting ensures one is always set.



## Configuration options

| Option | Description | Plan | Notes |
| ---- |
| Pre-select first available slot | Auto-selects earliest valid date/time | Smart+ | Customer can still change it |



## Tips & Best practices

|| Pre-select pairs well with — but is different from — [requiring a date](#): pre-select fills a default; require forces a choice. Use pre-select for speed, require for must-have scheduling.

| Make sure your prep/cut-off rules are correct, since they decide what "first available" is.



## Troubleshooting

### No date is pre-selected?

Confirm you're on Smart+, the option is on, and at least one valid date exists under your rules.

### It pre-selects a date I don't want offered?

That date is "first available" per your rules — adjust prep/cut-off, blackout, or limits to change it.



## FAQ

### Can customers still change the pre-selected date?

Yes — it's a default, not a lock.

### How do I turn it off?

Untick the pre-selected option in Widget design → General.



## Related articles

* [How to require a date before checkout or add-to-cart](#) — Force a choice instead of defaulting *(Widget Appearance & Placement)*
* [Prep time & cut-off time](#) — Defines the first available date *(Schedule & Availability)*



||| 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!