---
title: "How to Create Dropdown Filter for Custom Posts with Custom Fields in Elementor? (ACF, Pods, Metabox)"
url: https://theplusaddons.com/docs/create-dropdown-filter-for-custom-posts-with-custom-fields-in-elementor/
date: 2023-09-14
modified: 2026-09-28
lang: en
author: "Aditya Sharma"
description: "A dropdown filter packs many options into a single compact control, which suits long option lists better than a wall of checkboxes or radio buttons. The WP Filters widget's Drop..."
image: https://theplusaddons.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/How-to-Create-Dropdown-Filter-for-Custom-Posts-with-Custom-Fields-in-Elementor_-ACF-Pods-Metabox-1024x536.jpg
word_count: 250
---

# How to Create Dropdown Filter for Custom Posts with Custom Fields in Elementor? (ACF, Pods, Metabox)

## 

- WP Filters uses the Drop Down sub-type as a single-select control, and it renders as a collapsed select list instead of a wall of checkboxes or radio buttons.
- The Plus Addons for Elementor Pro requires Elementor free to be installed and active, and the WP Filters widget is enabled from The Plus Addons > Widgets by turning on its toggle.
- WP Filters lets the Select Type be Taxonomy, ACF, PODs, Toolset or Metabox connection, then uses a specific taxonomy or field key to populate the dropdown.

A dropdown filter packs many options into a single compact control, which suits long option lists better than a wall of checkboxes or radio buttons.

The WP Filters widget's **Drop Down** sub-type is single-select, like Radio Button, but renders as a collapsed select list.

For the full settings tour of the **WP Search Filters** widget, see [WP Search Filters Widget Settings Overview](https://theplusaddons.com/docs/wp-search-filters-widget-settings-overview/).

***Requirement - This widget is a part of The Plus Addons for Elementor Pro, make sure it's installed & activated to enjoy all its powers.***

[LIVE WIDGET LINK](https://theplusaddons.com/elementor-builder/grid-builder/?utm_source=tpae&utm_medium=docs&utm_campaign=text#Ajaxfilters)

## Before You Start

- **Prerequisite:** [Elementor](https://wordpress.org/plugins/elementor/) (free) installed and active.- **Edition:** WP Search Filters is a **Pro** widget - it requires The Plus Addons for Elementor Pro to be installed and active.- **Widget to enable:** go to **The Plus Addons > Widgets**, search for **WP Filters** and turn its toggle on.- A custom post type with either a taxonomy or a custom-field plugin storing the values.

## Steps

Add the WP Filters widget, set **Filter Type** to **WP Filter**, then set **Select Source** to **Drop Down**.

![WP Filter Type set to Drop Down](https://theplusaddons.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/wp-search-filters-filter-type-dropdown.webp)

Set **Select Type** to Taxonomy, ACF, PODs, Toolset or Metabox connection, then choose the specific taxonomy or field key that populates the dropdown.

## Settings Overview

| Setting | What it does | Default |
| ------- | ------------ | ------- |
| WP Filter Type | Set to Drop Down for a compact single-select list. | - |
| Select Type | Taxonomy, ACF, PODs, Toolset or Metabox connection. | - |
| Placeholder Text | Label shown before a value is selected. | Select Source |

## Related Docs

- [How to Create Radio Button Filter for Custom Posts with Custom Fields in Elementor?](https://theplusaddons.com/docs/create-radio-button-filter-for-custom-posts-with-custom-fields-in-elementor/)- [How to Create Alphabetical Filter for Custom Post Types in Elementor?](https://theplusaddons.com/docs/create-alphabetical-filter-for-custom-post-types-in-elementor/)

## Frequently Asked Questions

**Q: What do I need before creating a dropdown filter for custom posts with custom fields in Elementor?**
A: Elementor free has to be installed and active, and WP Search Filters is a Pro widget, so The Plus Addons for Elementor Pro must also be installed and active. The setup also needs a custom post type plus either a taxonomy or a custom-field plugin that stores the values you want to filter by. That matters because the dropdown can only populate from real data sources, not from empty post types or missing field keys.

**Q: Why is the dropdown filter better than checkboxes or radio buttons for long option lists?**
A: A dropdown filter keeps many choices inside one compact control, which is why it fits long option lists better than a wall of checkboxes or radio buttons. The WP Filters widget’s Drop Down sub-type is still single-select, like Radio Button, but it renders as a collapsed select list. That makes it cleaner when space is tight and the list would otherwise dominate the layout.

**Q: How do I connect a dropdown filter to ACF, Pods, Toolset, or Metabox fields?**
A: The key step is setting Select Type to the source that matches your data, then choosing the specific taxonomy or field key that fills the dropdown. The page says Select Type can be Taxonomy, ACF, PODs, Toolset, or Metabox connection. That means the filter is only as accurate as the field key or taxonomy you point it at, so picking the wrong source will leave you filtering the wrong content.

**Q: What should I do if the WP Filters widget does not appear in Elementor?**
A: The widget has to be enabled first inside The Plus Addons > Widgets by searching for WP Filters and turning its toggle on. Since WP Search Filters is a Pro widget in The Plus Addons for Elementor Pro, missing activation is another common blocker. If it still does not show up, the usual issue is one of those two prerequisites not being active rather than the tutorial steps themselves.

**Q: Is there a simpler way to build this kind of filter without using checkboxes or radio buttons?**
A: The Drop Down sub-type is the simpler layout choice when you want one compact control instead of multiple visible options. It still behaves like a single-select filter, so it works well when users should pick one taxonomy term or one custom field value at a time. For a different visual style with single-choice behavior, the related Radio Button filter tutorial is the closest alternative.

**Q: Where can I find the settings reference for this filter widget?**
A: The settings reference is [WP Search Filters Widget Settings Overview](https://theplusaddons.com/docs/wp-search-filters-widget-settings-overview/), which covers how the widget’s options are organized. The page also points to a LIVE WIDGET LINK for testing and related docs for Radio Button and Alphabetical filters. That helps when you want to compare dropdown behavior against other filter styles before locking in your layout.