Metafields: Seo Hidden (seo.hidden)

Store Design

Topic summary

Goal: Hide active products from on-site search while keeping them published. The user attempted to create a Shopify metafield named seo.hidden but saw a “key already taken” warning (screenshot provided). Metafields are custom data fields managed under Settings > Custom data.

Guidance offered:

  • Verify an existing metafield with the same namespace/key under Settings > Custom Data > Products (check both pinned and unpinned, including Unstructured product metafields).
  • Try saving the metafield even if the UI warns the key is taken.
  • Alternatives: use the Search Veil app to hide products from search; or implement a code-based approach by tagging products to exclude and modifying the theme’s search template to filter them out (theme/app specifics required).

Outcome: The original poster confirmed they were able to publish the metafield despite the duplicate warning, resolving the issue. No further action items or open questions. The app/code alternatives remain optional approaches if needed.

Summarized with AI on December 23. AI used: gpt-5.
3

Hi @hshepherd have you tried to save it even if it is saying that the field and namespace is already taken? Aren’t you able to save it? If not then have you checked your “Unstructured product metafields” and see if the same key is available there if it’s available then you can use it, if not then you can go move to other option, by editing the search code, and add product tag.

So in second option you need to edit your search code, along with that add the product tag on all the products that you need to hide and fetch the information in the search code so that it will not show in the search page.

Providing the exact code is not possible without looking into your theme code files and what all 3rd party apps you are using.

If you will unable to implement the same then I’m happy to do this for you, let me know. I can implement the code changes so that this will work well for you.

Hopefully it will help you. If yes then Please don’t forget hit Like and Mark it as solution!

Best Regards

Sahil

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