Step 1: Log in to WordPress admin dashboard

Step 2: Go to Appearance > Theme Editor to open the WordPress Theme Editor

Step 3: Open the functions.php file

Select functions.php file from the list of files on the right side of the screen to open it on the text editor in the middle of the screen.

Step 4: Copy the following PHP code snippet


/**
* Change the default country on the checkout page
*/

add_filter( 'default_checkout_billing_country', 'change_default_checkout_country' );

function change_default_checkout_country() {
return 'US'; // Put Country code here
}

The above code will set the default country to US in the checkout form. You can change this to any other country you wish. We will show you how to do it later.

Step 5: Add the code snippet to functions.php

Now go to the WordPress Theme Editor where you have the functions.php file opened right now.

Click anywhere on the code and scroll down to the bottom of the file.

Paste the above code snippet at the end of the functions.php file.

How to change the country alpha code

As we said earlier, the above code set US as the default country. If you want to set any other country as the default country, all you need to do is replace the alpha country code of US to the alpha code of your desired country in the second last line of the code. Here are a few examples.

The alpha code of UK is GB. So, if you want to set the default country to UK, the code will like the following.


/**
* Change the default country on the checkout page
*/

add_filter( 'default_checkout_billing_country', 'change_default_checkout_country' );

function change_default_checkout_country() {
return 'US'; // Put Country code here
}

You can find the alpha-2 code of any county here.

Summary

When most of the orders come from one particular country, it is good idea to set that country as the default country in checkout form. It helps customers to complete the process quickly.