How do you guys find any products in the new admin search (lack of) functionality?

Shopify Discussion

Topic summary

Primary issue: The updated Shopify admin makes it hard to find and manage products. Users can no longer filter a product list by both collection and tag at the same time, and tag searches return no results when a manual collection filter is applied. Spaces in collection or tag names reportedly break search. Smaller thumbnails also reduce scannability.

Impact: Stores with large catalogs struggle to organize inventory, apply seasonal updates, or prepare sales efficiently, making the native interface feel impractical.

Suggested approaches:

  • Use Shopify’s bulk editor or export/import via CSV for batch changes (acknowledged as clunky for complex filtering).
  • Consider third-party product management tools with advanced filtering and bulk tagging; one user cites Toriut.com as helpful.
  • Create temporary automated collections driven by tag rules as a workaround when manual collection filtering blocks tag searches.
  • Provide direct feedback to Shopify to advocate for improved admin filtering/search.

Status: No resolution. The thread centers on workarounds and external tools; core admin limitations remain unresolved.

Summarized with AI on December 13. AI used: gpt-5.
1

We have numerous products and have them added to some manual collections. Now we don’t have the ability to filter the product list to a collection and then a tag. It is one or the other and since the collection is a manual one, you have to filter to that and typing the tag in the search bar returns no results.

First they reduced the thumbnails so small that we can’t tell one item from another, and then they remove almost all filtering functionality. What do you guys use to manage your inventory and products because the shopify interface is becoming useless for us.

And don’t get me started on the fact that if you have a space in the collection name or tag that it breaks the search completely. How do stores with thousands of items manage their products or edit them for seasons or sales?

2

I completely understand your frustration—Shopify’s product and collection management can feel limiting, especially when dealing with a large inventory. The issues with filtering by tags or collections, along with search limitations, are pain points many store owners encounter.

For stores with thousands of products, streamlined tools can make a huge difference in managing inventory, preparing for seasonal changes, or organizing sales. While there are several approaches to tackle these challenges, here are a few ideas that might help:

  1. Use Bulk Editors: Shopify’s bulk editor (or even exporting products to CSV for editing) can save time, though it’s admittedly not the most intuitive process for detailed filtering.

  2. Third-Party Tools: There are apps specifically designed to enhance product management. For example, I’ve found tools like Toriut.com particularly helpful. It provides advanced filtering and tagging options, making it easier to manage products in bulk. It can significantly simplify tasks like updating seasonal tags or managing manual collections. It could be worth exploring whether a tool like this suits your workflow.

  3. Workarounds for Collection/Tag Filters: If you’re sticking with the Shopify interface, creating temporary automated collections with rules based on tags can sometimes help. It’s not ideal, but it might offer a bit more flexibility.

  4. Feedback to Shopify: The Shopify team often takes feedback seriously, especially if enough merchants voice similar concerns. I’d encourage you to share these points with them directly, as they do occasionally improve the admin UI.

You’re definitely not alone in this struggle. Hopefully, these suggestions point you in a direction that helps alleviate some of the pain points!