Filters

Featured links

1. Shopify documentation on storefront filtering
2. Shopify documentation on Search and Discovery filters
3. Shopify documentation on tag formats
4. Search & Discovery app
5. Shopify documentation on adding filters with Shopify Search & Discovery
6. Shopify documentation on metafields
7. Shopify documentation on metaobjects
8. Shopify documentation on visual filters
9. Shopify documentation on metafield definitions
10. Shopify documentation on editing filters

In the Align Shopify theme, filters help customers narrow blog posts, collection products, and search results. Blog filters use post tags, while product filters are managed in Shopify and can use standard product data, product options, metafields, and metaobjects.

For help with Align theme settings, use Company XYZ support.

Blog filtering

Blog filters let visitors narrow posts by selecting tag-based options directly on a blog page.

Enable blog filters

1. In Shopify admin, go to Online Store → Themes → Customize.
2. Open the Blog template you want to edit. The same setup applies to any blog template.
3. Select the Blog content section.
4. Turn on Enable filters.
5. Add at least one filter group.

Create filter groups

Filter groups are the headings shown in the filter interface, such as “Topics,” “Guides,” or “News.”

1. In Blog content → Filters, select Add filter group.
2. Enter a Group title.
3. Set Filter by to Tags.
4. Add the tags to include in the group.
5. Choose whether the group starts open or collapsed. Collapsed groups can keep the page tidy when several groups are present.

Tags come directly from blog posts. Each listed tag must exist on at least one post, or the option will not return results. For tag-format guidance, see Shopify documentation on tag formats

Tag matching is case-insensitive, but spacing and characters must match. For example, News and news match, but tag 1 and tag_1 do not.

How blog filters behave

Selecting a tag updates the visible posts immediately. When visitors select multiple tags, only posts containing all selected tags are shown.

Selections are reflected in the URL, so filtered views can be shared or bookmarked.

Troubleshoot blog filters

If an option appears but returns no posts:

1. Confirm that the tag exists on at least one post.
2. Check the tag’s spacing and special characters for an exact match.
3. Remove typos or extra spaces from the filter group’s tag list.

Product filtering

Product filters help customers refine collection pages and search results by availability, product type, price, color, or other relevant attributes. Only filters and values that apply to the current collection or search results are displayed.

Use the Search & Discovery app to create, organize, and customize product filters. It also provides controls for search results and product recommendations. See customize filters with the app for the complete Shopify workflow.

For current setup steps, see Shopify documentation on adding filters with Shopify Search & Discovery

Check theme support

Product filtering requires an Online Store 2.0 theme. To check support in Shopify, go to Online Store → Navigation and review Collection and search filters.

If filtering is unsupported, filters can still be created, but they will not appear in the storefront. Some unsupported third-party themes might not display a compatibility message.

Display product filters

Themes that support filtering provide a section setting for activating or deactivating filters. In Align, review the relevant collection and search templates in Online Store → Themes → Customize after creating filters in Search & Discovery.

In platform-developed themes, this setting appears in the Product grid section on collection pages and the Search results section on the search page. After a customer selects an option, the product list updates automatically to show matching results.

Product filter sources

You can select up to 25 filters. Standard filters are available to all stores, while custom filters can reflect the specific structure of your catalog.

Standard filters

Standard sources include availability, price, vendor, product type, and tags.

Note

The price filter appears only when customers shop in the store’s primary currency.

Product option filters

Product option filters are based on variants. For example, products with size variants can provide a Size filter.

Because options are variant-level filters, several selected values can still return one product when that product has matching variants.

Metafield and metaobject filters

Metafields can provide catalog-specific filters, such as an age range for toys. Metaobjects can support visual filters with customer-friendly colors or images.

Supported custom-filter value types include:

• Single line text
• Single line text lists
• Decimal
• Integer
• True or false
• Metaobject reference
• Metaobject reference lists

A metafield must have a metafield definition before it can be selected as a filter. After setup, choose it while editing filters. For a guided setup, see adding custom filters with metafields

Tip

Use the Bulk Editor to update metafields and other product attributes across many products.

Create and edit product filters

1. In the Search & Discovery app, go to Filters and select Add filter.
2. Choose the filter source to make available to customers.
3. Optionally rename the customer-facing Label. Learn more about renaming filters
4. Optionally change the relationship between selected values. Learn more about filter behavior
5. Optionally combine similar values into one customer-facing choice. Learn more about grouping filter values
6. Select Save.

Drag filters on the Filters screen to change their storefront order.

Changing a filter’s label does not rename its source. For example, renaming a filter based on a product option does not change that option’s name on product pages.

Filter values

Only values relevant to the current collection or search results appear to customers. Each filter can show up to 100 values on the storefront; grouping similar values can reduce the number shown.

The app can display up to 1,000 values for a filter. Values not visible there can still appear on the storefront when the storefront filter remains within its 100-value limit. Different sorting rules apply depending on the value format.

Group similar values

Grouping combines several source values into one customer-facing value. For example, “onyx,” “ebony,” and “midnight” could appear together as “Black.”

1. In the Search & Discovery app, go to Filters.
2. Select Add filter, or open an existing filter.
3. Choose the filter source.
4. In the Values table, select the values to combine. Use search or Show more when needed.
5. Select Create group.
6. Enter the single group name customers will see.
7. Select Done, then Save.

If a value is unavailable in the table, use the control for adding another value and enter it manually. A filter group can contain up to 50 unique values, and a store can have up to 1,000 filter groups.

Sort filter values

Values are normally sorted in ascending alphabetical or numerical order. Values containing a number and a shared word are grouped naturally; for example, age values sort as:

1. 2 months
2. 6 months
3. 2 years
4. 3 years

Filters named “Size” use a custom order for common sizing terms, placing values such as XS before S.

For your own order, create a single line text metafield with preset choices. The choice order becomes the storefront order, allowing sequences such as “Novice,” “Intermediate,” and “Professional.”

Handle empty values

Empty values can be hidden, moved to the end, or left in their default order. Hiding or deprioritizing them helps customers focus on choices that currently return products.

1. In the Search & Discovery app, go to Settings.
2. In Filters, choose one option:
   • Hide removes empty values and hides a filter when all its values are empty.
   • Show at the end moves empty values below available choices.
   • Show in default order retains the normal sorting logic.
3. Select Save.

Exclude unwanted values

For precise control, use a metafield containing only the values intended for storefront filtering. This is often preferable when product tags also support automated collection conditions or admin product-list filtering

A single line text metafield type or list type can replace a product-tag filter source.

Visual filters

Visual filters can pair values with colors or pattern images. When a filter uses a metaobject, Display options controls whether customers see text, swatches, or both.

Swatch requirements

A swatch setup requires:

1. A metaobject with at least one supported text field, such as single line text, decimal, integer, or true or false.
2. At least one color field or image file field. List fields are not supported for the visual.
3. A product or variant metafield that references the metaobject.
4. Both the metaobject and referencing metafield enabled for storefront access

The metaobject tutorial provides additional setup guidance.

Configure a visual filter

1. In the Search & Discovery app, go to Filters.
2. Add a filter or open an existing one.
3. Select a filter with a metaobject reference.
4. Select Display options.
5. Choose the metafield used for the value Label.
6. If Show swatch is enabled, select a color field for Swatch color, an image field for Swatch pattern, or both.
7. Disable Show swatch to display labels only.

Note

Themes often prioritize a swatch image over its color. When both are configured, the color typically acts as a fallback when no pattern image is available.

Filter behavior

Selections from different filters use AND logic. Choosing “Red” from Color and “8” from Size returns products that satisfy both choices.

Values within the same filter use OR logic by default. Choosing “Red” and “Green” from Color returns products matching either value. Product tag, metafield list, and metaobject reference list filters can instead use AND logic.

To customize this behavior:

1. In the Search & Discovery app, go to Filters and select Add filter.
2. Choose the filter source.
3. In Logic, select the relationship applied between values.
4. Select Save.

See customize filter behavior for more detail.

Filter translations

Filter labels, values, and groups can be translated into supported languages. A translation app such as Translate & Adapt can manage this content. When a translation is unavailable, the default language is used.

Product-tag filters appear only in the default language, and vendor values always use the default language. Other values are based on translated product and variant content.

Inconsistent translations can create multiple values for the same concept. For example, translating “Brown” as both “Brun” and “Marron” causes both values to appear. Standardize translated product content to keep one value.

Filter values do not support extra language instances configured for specific markets. Values use the general language translation, although filter labels and groups can support market-specific translations.

Limitations

1. Collections with more than 5,000 products do not display filters. Consider splitting a large collection into smaller automated collections and linking them through drop-down navigation menus
2. Searches with more than 100,000 results do not display filters.
3. A storefront filter can display up to 100 values. Use value grouping when more possibilities exist.
4. The app can display up to 1,000 values per filter. Metafield filters can show fewer because only a limited number of metafields are checked for unique values.
5. Each filter group can contain up to 50 unique values, with up to 1,000 groups across selected filter settings.
6. Vendor and tag values cannot be translated. Tag filters appear only in the default language, and vendor values always use that language.
7. Filter-value translations use published store languages and do not display market-specific translations configured through Markets
8. The price filter does not appear for currencies other than the store’s default currency.

Usage notes

1. Match blog tags carefully. Verify spacing and special characters whenever a blog filter returns no posts.
2. Choose focused product filters. Prioritize attributes that meaningfully help customers narrow a collection or search.
3. Consolidate similar values. Group synonyms and near-identical options before they approach display limits.
4. Test filter logic. Confirm that AND or OR behavior produces the combinations customers expect.
5. Review translations. Keep translated product values consistent so equivalent choices do not appear as separate filters.