# How to Change WordPress Search Results to Only Show WooCommerce Products
Are you tired of your WordPress search showing irrelevant blog posts and pages when customers search for products on your WooCommerce store? A cluttered search experience can significantly hurt conversions. This article will guide you through effectively limiting your WordPress search results to display only your WooCommerce products, providing a cleaner and more efficient shopping experience for your customers.
Understanding the Problem: Why Standard WordPress Search Isn’t Ideal for WooCommerce
The default WordPress search function indexes all content types – posts, pages, and WooCommerce products. When a customer searches for “blue shirt,” they might get a mix of blog posts mentioning blue shirts, pages about your company’s history, and *finally* the actual blue shirts listed in your WooCommerce store. This is confusing and frustrating. Optimizing your search to show only WooCommerce products is crucial for improving user experience and boosting sales.
Methods to Restrict WordPress Search to WooCommerce Products
There are several ways to achieve this, ranging from simple plugins to custom code solutions. We’ll cover both approaches:
Method 1: Using a WooCommerce Search Plugin
The easiest and often most effective solution is using a dedicated WooCommerce search plugin. Many plugins are available, offering advanced features like:
- Improved Search Relevance: These plugins often provide better search algorithms than the default WordPress search.
- Autocomplete Suggestions: Offer real-time suggestions as the customer types, improving the search experience.
- Filtering and Faceting: Allow customers to filter results by price, category, attributes, and more.
- Product Synonym Management: Handle variations in product names and descriptions.
- WooCommerce Products Filter: Known for its extensive filtering options.
- Ajax Search for WooCommerce: Provides a fast and dynamic search experience.
- YITH WooCommerce Ajax Search: Offers advanced features and customization options.
Popular plugins include:
Installation and Setup: Most plugins involve a simple installation through your WordPress dashboard (Plugins > Add New). Follow the plugin’s specific instructions for configuration. This usually involves activating the plugin and configuring its settings according to your needs.
Method 2: Custom Code Solution (Advanced Users)
For users comfortable with PHP and WordPress code, a custom solution offers more control. This involves modifying your WordPress search functionality to target only WooCommerce products. Warning: Modifying core files directly is risky; always back up your website before making any code changes. Consider using a child theme for safer modifications.
This code snippet can be added to your theme’s `functions.php` file or a custom plugin:
function woocommerce_only_search( $query ) {
if ( $query->is_search ) {
$query->set( 'post_type', 'product' );
}
return $query;
}
add_filter( 'pre_get_posts', 'woocommerce_only_search' );
This code snippet filters the main query and sets the post type to ‘product’, ensuring only WooCommerce products are displayed during search.
Method 3: Using a Search Form Shortcode (Intermediate Users)
This is a less intrusive method than modifying the functions.php file. You can use a shortcode to only display a search that’s limited to products. This requires some knowledge of shortcodes in WordPress and likely the use of a plugin that supports such functionalities. However, this will leave the standard WordPress search function untouched.
Conclusion: Choosing the Right Approach
Choosing the right method depends on your technical skills and desired level of customization. For most users, a WooCommerce search plugin offers the easiest and most effective solution, providing a range of features and ease of use. If you’re comfortable with coding, the custom code method offers greater control but requires more technical expertise and carries a higher risk of errors. Consider carefully before modifying your core files. Remember to always back up your website before implementing any significant changes. Improving your WooCommerce search functionality will dramatically enhance your customer experience and potentially lead to higher sales.
