How to hide or show out-of-stock products in your store search
In your AlFinder dashboard, open Search, then Customize search content. Untick Show products that are out of stock to hide sold-out items, keep it ticked to show them as usual, or keep it ticked and turn on Show in-stock products first so available items always come first.
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- Search › Customize search content
Why out-of-stock products need a decision
A shopper searches, clicks the first result and finds it sold out. That is a lost moment, and if it happens often, they stop trusting your search. A sold-out product sitting at the top of a search also hides products you could sell right now.
Hiding sold-out items is not always right either. Some products are worth seeing even when unavailable: pre-orders, limited perfume releases that will be restocked, or a popular phone shoppers want to follow. That is why you get three options, not one switch.
Your three options
Both settings sit in the same screen, and the second only works when the first is on. If sold-out products are hidden, every result is already in stock, so there is nothing left to reorder.
- Hide: untick Show products that are out of stock. Sold-out products disappear from search.
- Show as usual: keep it ticked. Sold-out products rank like any other product, which suits pre-orders.
- In stock first: keep it ticked and turn on Show in-stock products first. Your full range stays visible, but available products always come before sold-out ones, even when a sold-out product matches the search better.
Which option fits your store
In stock first is a safe default for most stores: nothing disappears, and shoppers see what they can buy right now at the top. Hiding suits stores where sold-out items rarely come back, such as one-off fashion pieces or seasonal groceries. Showing as usual suits stores that sell on pre-order.
This setting changes search only. Recommendations have their own setting, Show out of stock products in recommendations, in the Recommendations section of the dashboard. If an item will never come back, hide it under Hidden Products instead.
How to set it up
- 1In the dashboard sidebar, open Search, then Customize search content.
- 2To hide sold-out products, untick Show products that are out of stock.
- 3To keep them but rank them last, leave that option ticked and turn on Show in-stock products first.
- 4Click Save changes, then search for a product you know is sold out to check where it appears.
Common questions
Why can't I turn on Show in-stock products first?
It needs Show products that are out of stock to be ticked. With sold-out products hidden, every result is already in stock, so there is nothing to move.
Will a sold-out product I boosted with a merchandising rule still come first?
Not when Show in-stock products first is on. Available products always come before sold-out ones, and your boosts then decide the order within each group.
Does this setting affect my recommendations?
No. It applies to search. Recommendations have a separate option, Show out of stock products in recommendations, in the Recommendations section.
Do I need to update anything when a product is restocked?
No. These settings follow each product's stock status, so a restocked product goes back to normal without any change on your side.
