---
title: "How to Search Posts by Custom Field in Elementor?"
url: https://theplusaddons.com/docs/search-posts-by-custom-field-in-elementor/
date: 2024-01-02
modified: 2026-09-28
lang: en
author: "Aditya Sharma"
description: "A keyword that only exists in a custom field - a product code, a specification, an internal reference - is invisible to a search that only checks title and content...."
image: https://theplusaddons.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/How-to-Search-Posts-by-Custom-Field-in-Elementor_-1024x536.jpg
word_count: 196
---

# How to Search Posts by Custom Field in Elementor?

## 

- Search Bar widget extends keyword matching into ACF field values when its ACF Filters toggle is turned on in the Generic Filters section.
- The Plus Addons for Elementor Pro requires Elementor free to be installed and active before the Search Bar widget is enabled.
- Posts with searchable values stored in an ACF field become searchable after the user adds the Search Bar widget and turns on ACF Filters.

A keyword that only exists in a custom field - a product code, a specification, an internal reference - is invisible to a search that only checks title and content.

The Search Bar widget's **ACF Filters** toggle, inside its Generic Filters section, extends the keyword match into ACF field values.

For the full settings tour of the **Search Bar** widget, see [Search Bar Widget Settings Overview](https://theplusaddons.com/docs/search-bar-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/ajax-search-bar/?utm_source=tpae&utm_medium=docs&utm_campaign=text)

## Before You Start

- **Prerequisite:** [Elementor](https://wordpress.org/plugins/elementor/) (free) installed and active.- **Edition:** Search Bar 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 **Search Bar** and turn its toggle on.- Posts with a searchable value stored in an ACF field.

## Steps

Add the Search Bar widget, open **Generic Filters** in the Standard Search section, and turn on **ACF Filters**.

![ACF Filters toggle inside Generic Filters](https://theplusaddons.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/search-bar-acf-filters-toggle.webp)

## Settings Overview

| Setting | What it does | Default |
| ------- | ------------ | ------- |
| ACF Filters | Includes ACF custom field values in the keyword match. | Off |

## Related Docs

- [How to Search Custom Post Types by Custom Taxonomy in Elementor?](https://theplusaddons.com/docs/search-custom-post-types-by-custom-taxonomy-in-elementor/)

## Frequently Asked Questions

**Q: Why are custom field values not showing up in Elementor search results?**
A: Searches that only check the post title and content will miss keywords stored in custom fields, like a product code, specification, or internal reference. The Plus Addons for Elementor, The Plus Addons, Plus Addons for Elementor, POSIMYTH adds the Search Bar widget’s ACF Filters toggle so those ACF field values can be included in the keyword match. That matters when the searchable term lives in metadata instead of the main post body.

**Q: What do I need before searching posts by custom field in Elementor?**
A: Elementor free must be installed and active, and The Plus Addons for Elementor Pro has to be installed and active because Search Bar is a Pro widget. The page also says the posts need a searchable value stored in an ACF field. If any of those pieces are missing, there is nothing for the search to match against, so the custom-field search will not return useful results.

**Q: How do I make Elementor search include ACF custom fields?**
A: The key setting is ACF Filters inside the Search Bar widget’s Generic Filters section under Standard Search. Turning that toggle on extends the keyword match into ACF field values instead of limiting it to title and content. In practice, this is the switch that makes hidden metadata searchable, which is why it matters for product codes and internal references.

**Q: Is there a way to search posts by custom field without writing code?**
A: The Search Bar widget from The Plus Addons for Elementor does that from inside the Elementor editor, so no code is needed. Its ACF Filters toggle expands search into ACF custom field values, which is useful when you want users to find posts by data stored outside the main content area. For a full walkthrough of the widget’s controls, see [Search Bar Widget Settings Overview](https://theplusaddons.com/docs/search-bar-widget-settings-overview/).

**Q: What kind of content works best with ACF Filters in Elementor search?**
A: Posts with searchable values stored in an ACF field are the right fit. That includes cases where the important keyword is a product code, specification, or internal reference rather than something visible in the title or body. The Plus Addons for Elementor, The Plus Addons, Plus Addons for Elementor, POSIMYTH built this around keyword matching, so it helps most when your users already know an exact term they want to look up.

**Q: What should I check if ACF Filters still does not find my post?**
A: First check that Search Bar is actually enabled under The Plus Addons > Widgets, because the widget has to be turned on before its settings matter. Then confirm that ACF Filters is enabled in Generic Filters and that the post really has a searchable value saved in an ACF field. If you want to compare this setup with another filtering approach, [How to Search Custom Post Types by Custom Taxonomy in Elementor?](https://theplusaddons.com/docs/search-custom-post-types-by-custom-taxonomy-in-elementor/) covers a different search path.