How to Set Up Site Search and Navigation

Go to Stores › Configuration › Catalog › Catalog › Catalog Search. In Search Engine, select the supported engine for your Magento version (Elasticsearch 7 for 2.4.0–2.4.3; OpenSearch or Elasticsearch for 2.4.4+).

Configure the connection fields (labels vary by version):

• Server Hostname
• Server Port
• Index Prefix
• Enable SSL/Use HTTPS
• Enable HTTP Authentication (if required)
• Username and Password (if your cluster requires authentication)
• Timeout

Click Test Connection (if available), then click Save Config, and flush caches when prompted.

In the same Catalog Search section:

• Set Minimum Query Length and Maximum Query Length
• Enable Search Suggestions = Yes to show "Did you mean" on the search results page, and set Search Suggestions Count (e.g., 5–10)
• Enable Search Recommendations = Yes to show "Related search terms" on the search results page, and set Search Recommendations Count
• Enable Search Autocomplete = Yes to show the dropdown while typing, and set Autocomplete Limit (also labeled "Maximum Number of Autocomplete Results" in some versions) to control how many items appear in the typing dropdown

Save.

Go to Marketing › SEO & Search › Search Synonyms. Select the Store View. Click Add Synonym Group. Enter comma-separated equivalents (e.g., tee, t-shirt, tshirt).

Also consider brand abbreviations (e.g., "NKB" → "Nike"), regional spellings ("colour" → "color"), and common misspellings to capture high-intent traffic. Save.

Go to Marketing › SEO & Search › Stop Words. Select the Store View. Click Add New Stop Word, add common words to ignore (e.g., the, and), and Save.

Go to Stores › Attributes › Product. Open high-intent attributes (e.g., Brand, SKU, Model). Under Storefront Properties, set Use in Search = Yes and raise Search Weight (e.g., 5–10 for Brand/SKU). Save each attribute.

In Stores › Attributes › Product, open attributes you want as filters (Brand, Size, Color). For each attribute you want as a filter:

• Catalog Input Type = Dropdown, Multiple Select, Visual Swatch, or Text Swatch
• Scope = Global
• Storefront Properties: Use in Layered Navigation = Filterable (with results)
• Optional: Use in Search Results Layered Navigation = Yes
• Save

Product data readiness checklist:

• Add the attribute to all relevant Attribute Sets (Stores › Attributes › Attribute Set)
• Ensure products in the category have non-empty values for the attribute in the current Store View
• Reindex Category Products and Product EAV

Optional global settings:

Go to Stores › Configuration › Catalog › Catalog › Layered Navigation. Set Price Navigation Step Calculation (Automatic or Manual), Price Navigation Step, and Display Product Count = Yes to show counts next to filters. Save.

Go to Catalog › Categories. Select a main category. Under Display Settings, set Is Anchor = Yes. Save. Repeat for key categories.

Do:

• Create or reorganize 6–10 top-level categories under your store's root category
• For each category: set Is Active = Yes and Include in Menu = Yes
• Add 1–2 levels of subcategories where needed
• Use the Position field to control order
• If you create a new root category, assign it at Stores › All Stores › (Your Store) › Root Category so it appears in the store's top navigation
• Save

Still in Catalog › Categories, for each major category under Display Settings, set Display Mode to Products Only or Static Block and Products. Under Display Settings, set Default Product Listing Sort By and Available Product Listing Sort By.

Save.

Ensure cron is running and indexers are set to Update by Schedule. If needed, go to System › Tools › Index Management, select the relevant indexers, choose Reindex Data, and Submit.

Then go to System › Cache Management and refresh Page Cache and Block HTML Output (or Flush Magento Cache if unsure).

• On the storefront, perform searches for Brand, SKU, and a descriptive term. Check search suggestions ("Did you mean") and confirm relevant products appear
• Type the first 2–3 letters of a popular query and confirm the autocomplete dropdown shows up to the configured Autocomplete Limit
• Open a major category and apply 2–3 filters (Brand, Price, Size). Clear filters and repeat

After sufficient traffic (often within 24–72 hours), go to Reports › Marketing › Search Terms to analyze search term performance. To manage redirects or terms, go to Marketing › SEO & Search › Search Terms. Add synonyms or adjust attribute Search Weight as needed.

Create high-impact redirects for common navigational queries:

• "sale" → /sale
• "gift card" → /gift-card
• "new" → /new-arrivals
• "clearance" → /outlet

For navigational or support queries (e.g., "returns", "size chart"), create Search Term entries with Redirect URLs to the appropriate CMS pages or category landing pages to improve conversion and reduce support contacts.