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Understanding and Addressing the Unminified JavaScript File in Mailchimp for WooCommerce

5 threads Sep 7, 2025 Plugin → Mailchimp for woocommerce

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If you've run a performance test on your WooCommerce site using tools like Google PageSpeed Insights, you may have encountered a warning about a render-blocking JavaScript file or a notice that a supposedly minified file isn't actually minified. A common file flagged in these reports is for the Mailchimp for WooCommerce plugin. This article explains the issue and what you can do about it.

The Problem: mailchimp-woocommerce-public.min.js

Users and performance tools have repeatedly identified a specific file within the Mailchimp for WooCommerce plugin:

/wp-content/plugins/mailchimp-for-woocommerce/public/js/mailchimp-woocommerce-public.min.js

Despite having .min.js in its filename—which typically indicates a minified version—the file contains unnecessary whitespace and comments. This can lead to two main issues:

  1. Performance Warnings: Performance audit tools may mark this file as unoptimized, which can negatively impact your overall performance score.
  2. Third-Party Optimization Conflicts: Some server-level optimization plugins or services are designed to skip files that already have .min in their name. Because this file is not truly minified, those services won't process it, leaving it unoptimized.
  3. Render-Blocking Resource: The script is also loaded in the <head> of the site by default, which can be flagged as a "render-blocking" resource that slows down how quickly your page is displayed.

Official Response and Plugin History

Based on community feedback from various sources, the development team behind Mailchimp for WooCommerce has acknowledged this issue on multiple occasions. They have confirmed that the file contains extra whitespace and have stated their intent to address it in a future plugin release. In one instance, a user reported that a fix for moving the script to the footer (to address the render-blocking issue) was staged for an upcoming release.

What You Can Do Now

While waiting for an official plugin update to fully resolve these issues, here are a few common workarounds the community uses:

1. Use a Caching or Optimization Plugin

Many comprehensive caching plugins have built-in features to minify and combine JavaScript files. You can often force these tools to process the Mailchimp script, even with its .min.js filename.

  • Look for settings like "Minify JavaScript," "Combine JavaScript files," or "Exclude scripts from minification."
  • You may need to explicitly add the Mailchimp script to a list of files to be minified if it is being skipped automatically.

2. Move the Script to the Footer

To tackle the "render-blocking" warning, you can try to defer the script's loading or move it to the footer. This should be done with caution, as it could potentially break functionality if the script is required early in the page load process.

  • Some optimization plugins offer an option to defer JavaScript or move specific scripts to the footer.
  • Advanced users can use code snippets to dequeue the default script and re-enqueue it in the footer. This requires testing to ensure no functionality is lost.

3. Monitor Plugin Updates

The most permanent solution will come from an update to the plugin itself. The Mailchimp for WooCommerce team has indicated that fixes for both the minification and script placement are in development for a future release. Keep your plugin updated to ensure you receive these optimizations when they are officially released.

Conclusion

The unminified JavaScript file is a known issue that has been recognized by the plugin's developers. Although it can affect performance scores, it is often a minor issue in terms of real-world impact. Utilizing a robust caching plugin is the most straightforward way to mitigate the problem until an official fix is deployed in a plugin update.

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