If you’re using the Checkout Field Editor for WooCommerce to add required custom fields during checkout, you’ve likely seen it work perfectly with standard payment methods. But when customers pay using Express checkout methods like Apple Pay or Google Pay, you may notice that these required fields are skipped entirely even though they’re set as ‘required.
This can be confusing, especially when those fields are essential for processing orders and collecting data. In this article, we’ll explain why this happens, what the current behavior is, and what you should be aware of when using express checkout methods alongside custom checkout fields.
What’s Happening Behind the Scenes?
Apple Pay and Google Pay, when enabled on WooCommerce, function using what’s known as an Express Checkout flow. This flow is intentionally designed to streamline the checkout process, often with a one-tap payment option that completes the purchase using previously stored customer information.
Unlike traditional payment methods that follow the full WooCommerce checkout process, Express Checkout:
- Bypasses the standard checkout page.
- Uses a popup or overlay interface triggered by the browser or mobile device.
- Collects only essential order information, such as name, email, shipping, and billing addresses.
Because of this streamlined flow, the standard WooCommerce checkout form never loads, which means any custom fields added using our plugin—or any plugin that depends on the standard checkout form—won’t be displayed or processed.
What is the Express Checkout?
Express Checkout is a fast and simplified payment method that lets customers complete purchases quickly by using saved payment and shipping details. It skips the full checkout form, reducing the number of steps required to place an order.
Understanding Express Checkout vs. Standard Checkout
Express checkout methods like Apple Pay and Google Pay are designed for speed and convenience, which creates a fundamentally different checkout experience:
Standard WooCommerce Checkout:
- Loads the full checkout page with all your carefully configured custom fields
- Processes through multiple form steps
- Validates all required fields before payment
Express Checkout:
- Bypasses the standard checkout page entirely to maximize speed
- Uses browser/device popups with only the most essential fields
- Collects basic information (name, email, addresses) that’s already stored
- Completes payment in one tap for ultimate convenience
Since express checkout never loads the standard WooCommerce checkout form, any custom fields—regardless of which plugin adds them—won’t be displayed or processed. This affects all checkout customization plugins currently available, not just ours.
Why Custom Fields Are Skipped?
The Checkout Field Editor for WooCommerce is a plugin that helps to add/edit/remove custom fields to the WooCommerce checkout form, allowing store owners to collect additional information for instance GST numbers, delivery instructions, or consent checkboxes, etc. The plugin gives you a complete freedom of customization on the checkout page. These fields appear on the standard WooCommerce checkout page.
However, when a customer uses Apple Pay or Google Pay:
- The WooCommerce checkout page is skipped entirely.
- The express flow collects only a minimal set of fields supported by the payment gateway.
- Custom fields—even required ones—are not part of the flow and are not captured.
This results in orders coming through without the expected additional information.
Is This a Plugin Issue?
No. This is not an issue specific to our plugin. Express Checkout provide functionality that enables customers to jump to the last step of the checkout flow.
This behavior is tied to how Express Checkout methods are integrated into WooCommerce. These flows are designed to prioritize speed and convenience over form flexibility. As a result, the system doesn’t provide a mechanism to include or validate custom fields that exist only in the standard WooCommerce checkout form.
What You Can Do
While Express Checkout improves conversion by reducing friction, it’s important to balance convenience with the need for custom data. Here are a few things you can consider:
Restrict Express Checkout for Certain Products
If certain fields are critical (e.g., license numbers or delivery instructions), you may want to:
- Disable Apple Pay/Google Pay for specific products using conditional rules or payment gateway settings.
Final Thoughts
Express Checkout methods like Apple Pay and Google Pay are powerful tools that improve conversion rates and streamline the buying process. However, due to the way they integrate into WooCommerce—bypassing the standard checkout page—they do not display or process custom fields added via plugins like Checkout Field Editor.
This behavior is a result of the current express flow structure, not a malfunction of the plugin. We recommend reviewing how and when you require custom checkout information and considering complementary strategies when using express checkout options.
If you have further questions or need help configuring your store to work around this limitation, feel free to reach out to our support team.
THANK YOU!