{"id":2398,"date":"2025-05-02T15:06:01","date_gmt":"2025-05-02T12:06:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/plumrocket.com\/learn\/?p=2398"},"modified":"2025-05-02T18:55:14","modified_gmt":"2025-05-02T15:55:14","slug":"magento-2-layered-navigation-how-to-set-up-customize","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/plumrocket.com\/learn\/manage-layered-navigation","title":{"rendered":"Magento 2 Layered Navigation: How to Set Up & Customize"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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What is Layered Navigation in Magento 2? It\u2019s a feature that adds filters to category and search pages, helping customers quickly narrow down large catalogs. This improves usability, reduces bounce rates, and makes it easier for shoppers to find what they need. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, configuring Magento’s default layered navigation isn’t always straightforward. Setting up attributes correctly, managing display options, and optimizing performance can sometimes feel complex. Furthermore, the standard functionality might lack the advanced features needed for a truly seamless shopping experience, such as AJAX loading (filtering without page reloads).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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For truly smooth, fast, and flexible filtering, the default setup often isn\u2019t enough. The <\/span>Magento Layered Navigation extension<\/span><\/a> is built to elevate the customer\u2019s filtering experience\u2014delivering precision, speed, and ease where it matters most.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

In this post, we\u2019ll cover how to effectively set up and manage Magento 2\u2019s default layered navigation and enhance it with advanced features using the Layered Navigation & Product Filter extension.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Managing Default Magento 2 Layered Navigation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Magento 2 provides built-in tools to manage the basic layered navigation functionality. Here\u2019s how to handle the common tasks:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to Enable Layered Navigation in Magento 2<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

By default, layered navigation is usually active if you have filterable attributes configured. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To manage its core settings:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Step-by-step guide:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. Navigate to Stores > Settings > Configuration<\/strong> in your Magento Admin Panel.<\/li>
  2. In the left-side panel, expand Catalog and click on Catalog<\/em>.<\/li>
  3. Expand the Layered Navigation<\/em> section.<\/li>
  4. Ensure “Display Product Count” is set to Yes<\/em> if you want customers to see how many products match each filter option.<\/li>
  5. Set “Price Navigation Step Calculation” to your preferred method (Automatic, Manual, or Automatic (equalize price ranges)).<\/li><\/ol>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
    \"How<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    To make attributes available for layered navigation, you must configure them individually:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n

    Step-by-step guide:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    1. Go to Stores > Attributes > Product<\/strong>. <\/li>
    2. Select an attribute, go to Storefront Properties<\/li>
    3. Set “Use in Layered Navigation” to Filterable (with results)<\/em> or Filterable (no results)<\/em>.<\/li>
    4. Remember to clear the Magento cache after making configuration changes.<\/li><\/ol>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
      \"How<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      Using these steps effectively serves to enable layered navigation in Magento 2 by making sure the system is configured and attributes are designated as filterable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      How to Disable Layered Navigation in Magento 2<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      There is no single toggle or setting in the Magento 2 admin panel to fully disable layered navigation. However, in this section, we\u2019ll walk through the various methods you can use to effectively turn it off or remove its impact from your storefront.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Method 1: Disable Layered Navigation via Attribute Settings<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

      If you need to completely disable layered navigation across your Magento store (which is generally not recommended for usability), the most straightforward way is to prevent each attribute from being used in layered navigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      To disable Layered Navigation in Magento 2, follow these steps:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n

      Step-by-step guide:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      1. Go to Stores > Attributes > Product<\/strong>.<\/li>
      2. For each attribute currently used in layered navigation, edit it.<\/li>
      3. Go to Storefront Properties.<\/li>
      4. Change “Use in Layered Navigation” to No<\/em>.<\/li>
      5. Save the attribute and clear the cache.<\/li>
      6. Repeat for all filterable attributes.<\/li><\/ol>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
        \"Method<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

        This effectively disables layered navigation in Magento 2 by removing the filter options. Alternatively, theme customizations or developer intervention might be required for a more complete removal from the layout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Method 2: Disable Layered Navigation for Specific Categories<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

        Magento doesn’t offer a direct toggle to enable layered navigation for just one category while disabling it elsewhere (without customizing the theme). However, you can control its behavior on a per-category basis using the “Is Anchor”<\/strong> setting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        An “Anchor” category tells Magento to include products from its direct subcategories when displaying the product list and generating layered navigation filters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        If a category is set to Is Anchor = Yes<\/strong>, its layered navigation will display filter options based on all<\/em> filterable products within that category and<\/em> all its anchor subcategories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        If a category is set to Is Anchor = No<\/strong>, it will typically only display products directly assigned to it, and the layered navigation will only reflect those products (or might not display effectively if there are few products directly assigned).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        How to Set a Category as an Anchor:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        \n

        Step-by-step guide:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        1. Navigate to Catalog > Categories<\/strong>.<\/li>
        2. Select the category you want to configure from the category tree on the left.<\/li>
        3. Expand the Display Settings section.<\/li>
        4. Find the Is Anchor<\/strong> dropdown menu.<\/li>
        5. Set it to Yes <\/em>to enable layered navigation that includes products from subcategories. Set it to No <\/em>if you only want products directly assigned to this category considered (which often results in limited or no layered navigation).<\/li>
        6. Click Save<\/em>.<\/li>
        7. Clear the Magento cache (System > Tools > Cache Management<\/strong>).<\/li><\/ol>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
          \"Method<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

          Method 3: Hiding via Theme Customization<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

          This is another method to remove the Magento layered navigation <\/strong>from category pages. It directly modifies your theme’s layout files to prevent the layered navigation block from being rendered on pages like category views. It’s a more permanent solution for globally hiding the navigation across your site (or specific page types).<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

          Magento uses layout XML files to define the structure of every page on your storefront. These files dictate which blocks (like the header, footer, product list, layered navigation, etc.) are displayed and where they are positioned within containers. To hide a block globally, you essentially tell Magento not to include its definition in the relevant layout file(s).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          \n

          If diving into theme XML feels complex or you need more specific layout adjustments, our<\/span> Magento custom development<\/span><\/a> team can handle these customizations for you. Let us tailor your theme precisely to your requirements.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

          Step 1: Create or Use a Child Theme<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

          Never edit core Magento files or parent theme files directly.<\/strong> Doing so will cause your changes to be lost during Magento or theme updates. You should always make customizations within a child theme that inherits from your parent theme. If you don’t have one, you’ll need to create it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          Step 2: Locate the Target Layout File<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

          The primary layout file controlling the standard category page view is catalog_category_view.xml<\/code>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          Step 3: Override the Layout File<\/h5>\n\n\n\n