---
title: "How to Show Blog Posts Based on Custom Query in Elementor?"
url: https://theplusaddons.com/docs/show-blog-posts-based-on-custom-query-in-elementor/
date: 2023-08-28
modified: 2026-09-27
lang: en
author: "Aditya Sharma"
description: "The built-in Content Source controls (category, tags, order, include/exclude) cover most listings, but some require logic those controls can't express - a meta-value comparison, for example. Dynamic Listing's Custom Query..."
image: https://theplusaddons.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/How-to-Show-Blog-Posts-Based-on-Custom-Query-in-Elementor_-1024x536.jpg
word_count: 317
---

# How to Show Blog Posts Based on Custom Query in Elementor?

## 

- Dynamic Listing accepts raw query arguments through Custom Query, so it goes beyond built-in Content Source controls like category, tags, order, and include/exclude.
- The Plus Addons for Elementor Pro is required for Dynamic Listing, and the widget does not appear in the free plugin.
- Custom Query ID only works when a developer writes the PHP filter that reacts to it, because setting the ID alone does not change the query.

The built-in Content Source controls (category, tags, order, include/exclude) cover most listings, but some require logic those controls can't express - a meta-value comparison, for example.

Dynamic Listing's **Custom Query** option accepts raw query arguments so you can go beyond the built-in filters.

For the full settings tour of the **Dynamic Listing** widget, see [Dynamic Listing Widget Settings Overview](https://theplusaddons.com/docs/dynamic-listing-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-listing/dynamic-listing/?utm_source=tpae&utm_medium=docs&utm_campaign=text)

## Before You Start

- **Prerequisite:** [Elementor](https://wordpress.org/plugins/elementor/) (free) installed and active.- **Edition:** Dynamic Listing is a **Pro** widget - it needs The Plus Addons for Elementor Pro installed and its license activated. It will not appear in the free plugin.- **Widget to enable:** go to **The Plus Addons > Widgets**, search for **Dynamic Listing** and turn its toggle on.

## Steps

- Add the **Dynamic Listing** widget to the page, with **Post Type** set to `post`.- Under **Content Layout**, turn on **Custom Query**.

![Custom Query popover toggle turned on](https://theplusaddons.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/dynamic-listing-custom-query-toggle.webp)

Enter an identifier in **Custom Query ID** - this ties the widget instance to a custom query filter you register in code (via the plugin's documented `WP_Query` argument filter hook), letting a developer inject extra query arguments for that specific widget.

![Custom Query ID field](https://theplusaddons.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/dynamic-listing-custom-query-id.webp)

## Settings Overview

| Setting | What it does | Default |
| ------- | ------------ | ------- |
| Custom Query | Enables the Custom Query ID hook-in point. | Yes |
| Custom Query ID | Identifier a developer's filter hook matches against. | (empty) |

## Limitations

- This requires a developer to actually write the PHP filter that reacts to the Custom Query ID - setting the ID alone in the panel does not change the query by itself.

## Related Docs

- [How to Create Elementor Loop with Custom Post Query?](https://theplusaddons.com/docs/create-elementor-loop-with-custom-post-query/)- [How to Order Custom Post Types by Date in Elementor?](https://theplusaddons.com/docs/order-custom-post-types-by-date-in-elementor/)

## Not verified

So you know exactly what has and has not been checked:

- A real PHP filter callback reacting to a Custom Query ID was not written/tested in this pass - only that the ID field itself saves and persists.

## Frequently Asked Questions

**Q: What do I need before using a custom query in Elementor listings?**
A: Elementor free has to be installed and active, and the Dynamic Listing widget needs The Plus Addons for Elementor Pro with its license activated. The widget is part of the Pro set, so it will not appear in the free plugin. In practice, that means the custom query workflow only makes sense once the widget itself is available inside Elementor and enabled under The Plus Addons > Widgets.

**Q: Why would I use Custom Query instead of the built-in content source filters?**
A: Custom Query is for cases where category, tags, order, include, and exclude are not enough. The page calls out meta-value comparison as the kind of logic built-in controls cannot express. The Plus Addons for Elementor, The Plus Addons, Plus Addons for Elementor, POSIMYTH provides this hook-in point so a developer can pass raw query arguments when the normal listing filters are too limited.

**Q: How do I make a blog listing use a custom query in Elementor?**
A: The key setup is to add the Dynamic Listing widget, set Post Type to post, and turn on Custom Query under Content Layout. Then enter a Custom Query ID so the widget instance can be matched by a developer-written filter hook. That ID is just the connection point; the actual query change happens in code through the plugin's documented WP_Query argument filter hook.

**Q: Why isn't my custom query changing the posts in the listing?**
A: The usual snag is that the Custom Query ID only saves an identifier. It does not alter the query by itself. A PHP filter callback has to react to that ID and inject extra WP_Query arguments for that specific widget instance. If that callback is missing, the listing stays on its default query even though the field looks configured.

**Q: Can I use this setup for anything beyond basic category or tag filtering?**
A: This setup is meant for more advanced logic than standard taxonomy filters. The page specifically points to raw query arguments and mentions meta-value comparison as an example of what becomes possible. That makes it a better fit when you need a developer-controlled filter condition rather than a simple content source rule inside Dynamic Listing.

**Q: What should I read next if I need more control over Dynamic Listing queries?**
A: The most relevant follow-up is [Dynamic Listing Widget Settings Overview](https://theplusaddons.com/docs/dynamic-listing-widget-settings-overview/), which covers the full settings tour for the widget. For related query workflows, [How to Create Elementor Loop with Custom Post Query?](https://theplusaddons.com/docs/create-elementor-loop-with-custom-post-query/) and [How to Order Custom Post Types by Date in Elementor?](https://theplusaddons.com/docs/order-custom-post-types-by-date-in-elementor/) are the closest matches on this page.