Predictive search theme settings
The Predictive search theme settings let Split search results match product SKUs, barcodes and tags as well as titles, types and vendors.
Applies to: Split 5.1.0 and later. Added in: Split 5.1.0. Last checked: 2026-10-13 against Split 5.1.0.
Predictive search shows results in the search drawer while the customer types: suggested searches, products, collections, articles and pages. These settings add more product fields for the search to match.
Where to find it: Theme settings → Predictive search
What predictive search looks through
- By default, Shopify matches the product title, product type, variant title and vendor.
- The search drawer opens from the search icon in the header. On the search results page the icon is a link to the page instead. See Drawers.
- The results come from Shopify's predictive search. Split shows them; it does not decide which products match or in which order. This is controlled by Shopify, not by Split.
Search by SKU, barcode and tag
Turn on any of these to let customers find a product by more than its name:
- Search by SKU matches the SKU of any variant.
- Search by barcode matches the barcode (ISBN, UPC, GTIN) of any variant.
- Search by tag matches the product tags.
When one of them is on, Split asks Shopify to search the title, product type, variant title and vendor plus the fields you turned on. These settings change only the predictive results in the search drawer, not the full search results page.
Why does search not find a product?
Usually because the product is not available to the Online Store, or the words the customer typed are in a field that is not searched. Check that the product is active and published to the Online Store sales channel. If customers search by SKU, barcode or tag, turn on the matching setting above.
Synonyms, boosted products and filters are set in Shopify's Search & Discovery app, not in the theme. See Shopify's Search & Discovery documentation.
All Predictive search settings
Every setting in this group, with its type and default.
By default, predictive search looks through product title, type, variant title and vendor.
You can extend it with additional options below.
Search by SKU (checkbox, default: off): Lets predictive search in the search drawer match the SKU of any variant. The full search results page is not affected.
Search by barcode (checkbox, default: off): Lets predictive search in the search drawer match the barcode (ISBN, UPC, GTIN) of any variant. The full search results page is not affected.
Search by tag (checkbox, default: off): Lets predictive search in the search drawer match product tags. The full search results page is not affected.
Related pages
- Search page: the full search results page.
- Drawers: the search drawer.
- Header section: where the search icon is.
SEO and performance theme settings
The SEO and performance theme settings of Split control the microdata schema, collection names in product breadcrumbs, drawer scrollbars and link preloading.
Social theme settings
The Social theme settings add the links to your social profiles, email and phone that Split shows as icons, plus one custom network with its own icon.