How to Filter Custom Search Verticals in SharePoint Online
Question details
Configure a custom search vertical in SharePoint Online to display correctly filtered results instead of defaulting to standard search outcomes.
- Product
- SharePoint Online
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- A newly created custom search vertical returns the same results as default verticals and fails to apply selected document filters.
- Observed behavior
- The custom search vertical ignores the chosen filters and mirrors default search results because it is not connected to a distinct result source.
Ensure you have SharePoint Administrator privileges in your Microsoft 365 environment to create and manage search result sources in the admin center.
Configure a Separate Result Source for the Custom Vertical
Assigning a dedicated result source ensures your custom search vertical applies the specific filters rather than inheriting the default Local SharePoint Results.
By default, SharePoint Online uses the Local SharePoint Results source for queries. To make a custom vertical display filtered content (like specific documents), you must build a new result source in the admin center and link it to your search results page.
Go to the SharePoint Online admin center. In the left-hand navigation menu, select 'Search', and then click on 'Result sources'.
Click 'New Result Source'. Select 'Local SharePoint' as the protocol and 'SharePoint Search Results' as the type, then configure the query to include the filtered content you want for your custom vertical.
Navigate to the SharePoint site where you want to add the custom search vertical. Click to edit the search results page.
Select the 'Change query' option. From the list of available sources, select the newly created custom result source instead of the default.
Save your page changes. Perform a search query and click your custom search vertical to confirm that it now displays the filtered, expected results.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my custom search vertical show the exact same results as the default search?
This occurs when the custom search vertical has not been assigned a specific result source. Without a dedicated result source configured in the admin center, SharePoint defaults to the 'Local SharePoint Results', bypassing your intended custom filters.
What protocol should I select when creating a new result source for site documents?
For standard custom search verticals targeting content stored within your own SharePoint environment, you should select 'Local SharePoint' as the protocol and 'SharePoint Search Results' as the type.
How do I test if my SharePoint custom search vertical is working correctly?
After changing the query on your search results page to use the newly created result source, save the page and perform a search relevant to your filters. Click on the custom vertical tab and verify that only the targeted content appears.
