The symptom
- Checkout shows "You must be logged in to checkout" or mandatory password fields.
- WooCommerce → Settings → Accounts & Privacy → *Enable guest checkout* is unticked.
Why it matters
Baymard’s research consistently finds ~25% of abandonments cite forced account creation. Shoppers arriving from an AI recommendation are first-time visitors with no relationship to you — friction sends them to the next store in the answer.
How to check it yourself
- WooCommerce → Settings → Accounts & Privacy.
- Test checkout in a private window.
How to fix it
- Tick *Enable guest checkout* and *Allow customers to create an account during checkout* (optional, unticked by default).
- Offer account creation on the thank-you page instead ("save your details for next time").