Problem with Product Visibility = Hidden

Hi @bigbugsy ,

Thanks for reaching out!

It seems like you’re experiencing an issue where products set to Hidden in the Visibility settings are still appearing in search results, is this correct?

This is certainly not the usual behavior as setting a product to Hidden should indeed remove it from both the shop page and search results.

This is also not something I am able to reproduce on my test site, as the Hidden products (whether set individually or in bulk) are not showing up in search results.

As a first step, please can you double check that the Visibility setting is set to Hidden and not Search, as this would explain the reason for these products showing up in search results:

If that looks good, please can you navigate to WooCommerce → Status → Tools, and doing the following:

• WooCommerce transients – Clear
• Expired transients – Clear
• Clear template cache – Clear

Next, please clear your browser cache and see if this resolves the issue.

Should the issue persist, please can you share a copy of your sites System Status Report which you can find via  WooCommerce → Status.

Select Get system report and then Copy for support. One you have this, please share the results with us here.

Cheers!

Hi there,

We haven’t heard back from you in a while, so I’m going to mark this as resolved – we’ll be here if you need any further help with this.

Cheers!

Hi Roxy,

Sorry for the delay in getting back to you. I’m still able to reproduce this problem after following the steps you mentioned.

The product…

https://wcsearch1.wpengine.com/product/test-produt/

..is set to Hidden.

It is hidden on the shop page:

https://wcsearch1.wpengine.com/shop/

But visible in search results…

https://wcsearch1.wpengine.com/?s=test

Here is the system status:

` WordPress Environment

WordPress address (URL): https://wcsearch1.wpengine.com<br>Site address (URL): https://wcsearch1.wpengine.com<br>WC Version: 8.0.1<br>REST API Version: ? 8.0.1<br>WC Blocks Version: ? 10.6.5<br>Action Scheduler Version: ? 3.6.1<br>Log Directory Writable: ?<br>WP Version: 6.3<br>WP Multisite: –<br>WP Memory Limit: 512 MB<br>WP Debug Mode: –<br>WP Cron: ?<br>Language: en_US<br>External object cache: ? Server Environment

Server Info: nginx<br>PHP Version: 7.4.33.3<br>PHP Post Max Size: 100 MB<br>PHP Time Limit: 43300<br>PHP Max Input Vars: 10000<br>cURL Version: 7.81.0<br>OpenSSL/3.0.2

SUHOSIN Installed: –<br>MySQL Version: 5.7.42-46-log<br>Max Upload Size: 50 MB<br>Default Timezone is UTC: ?<br>fsockopen/cURL: ?<br>SoapClient: ?<br>DOMDocument: ?<br>GZip: ?<br>Multibyte String: ?<br>Remote Post: ?<br>Remote Get: ? Database

WC Database Version: 8.0.1<br>WC Database Prefix: wp_<br>Total Database Size: 2.86MB<br>Database Data Size: 1.19MB<br>Database Index Size: 1.67MB<br>wp_woocommerce_sessions: Data: 0.02MB + Index: 0.02MB + Engine InnoDB<br>wp_woocommerce_api_keys: Data: 0.02MB + Index: 0.03MB + Engine InnoDB<br>wp_woocommerce_attribute_taxonomies: Data: 0.02MB + Index: 0.02MB + Engine InnoDB<br>wp_woocommerce_downloadable_product_permissions: Data: 0.02MB + Index: 0.06MB + Engine InnoDB<br>wp_woocommerce_order_items: Data: 0.02MB + Index: 0.02MB + Engine InnoDB<br>wp_woocommerce_order_itemmeta: Data: 0.02MB + Index: 0.03MB + Engine InnoDB<br>wp_woocommerce_tax_rates: Data: 0.02MB + Index: 0.06MB + Engine InnoDB<br>wp_woocommerce_tax_rate_locations: Data: 0.02MB + Index: 0.03MB + Engine InnoDB<br>wp_woocommerce_shipping_zones: Data: 0.02MB + Index: 0.00MB + Engine InnoDB<br>wp_woocommerce_shipping_zone_locations: Data: 0.02MB + Index: 0.03MB + Engine InnoDB<br>wp_woocommerce_shipping_zone_methods: Data: 0.02MB + Index: 0.00MB + Engine InnoDB<br>wp_woocommerce_payment_tokens: Data: 0.02MB + Index: 0.02MB + Engine InnoDB<br>wp_woocommerce_payment_tokenmeta: Data: 0.02MB + Index: 0.03MB + Engine InnoDB<br>wp_woocommerce_log: Data: 0.02MB + Index: 0.02MB + Engine InnoDB<br>wp_actionscheduler_actions: Data: 0.02MB + Index: 0.11MB + Engine InnoDB<br>wp_actionscheduler_claims: Data: 0.02MB + Index: 0.02MB + Engine InnoDB<br>wp_actionscheduler_groups: Data: 0.02MB + Index: 0.02MB + Engine InnoDB<br>wp_actionscheduler_logs: Data: 0.02MB + Index: 0.03MB + Engine InnoDB<br>wp_commentmeta: Data: 0.02MB + Index: 0.03MB + Engine InnoDB<br>wp_comments: Data: 0.02MB + Index: 0.09MB + Engine InnoDB<br>wp_links: Data: 0.02MB + Index: 0.02MB + Engine InnoDB<br>wp_options: Data: 0.11MB + Index: 0.03MB + Engine InnoDB<br>wp_postmeta: Data: 0.02MB + Index: 0.03MB + Engine InnoDB<br>wp_posts: Data: 0.05MB + Index: 0.06MB + Engine InnoDB<br>wp_termmeta: Data: 0.02MB + Index: 0.03MB + Engine InnoDB<br>wp_terms: Data: 0.02MB + Index: 0.03MB + Engine InnoDB<br>wp_term_relationships: Data: 0.02MB + Index: 0.02MB + Engine InnoDB<br>wp_term_taxonomy: Data: 0.02MB + Index: 0.03MB + Engine InnoDB<br>wp_usermeta: Data: 0.02MB + Index: 0.03MB + Engine InnoDB<br>wp_users: Data: 0.02MB + Index: 0.05MB + Engine InnoDB<br>wp_wc_admin_notes: Data: 0.06MB + Index: 0.00MB + Engine InnoDB<br>wp_wc_admin_note_actions: Data: 0.05MB + Index: 0.02MB + Engine InnoDB<br>wp_wc_category_lookup: Data: 0.02MB + Index: 0.00MB + Engine InnoDB<br>wp_wc_customer_lookup: Data: 0.02MB + Index: 0.03MB + Engine InnoDB<br>wp_wc_download_log: Data: 0.02MB + Index: 0.03MB + Engine InnoDB<br>wp_wc_orders: Data: 0.02MB + Index: 0.11MB + Engine InnoDB<br>wp_wc_orders_meta: Data: 0.02MB + Index: 0.03MB + Engine InnoDB<br>wp_wc_order_addresses: Data: 0.02MB + Index: 0.06MB + Engine InnoDB<br>wp_wc_order_coupon_lookup: Data: 0.02MB + Index: 0.03MB + Engine InnoDB<br>wp_wc_order_operational_data: Data: 0.02MB + Index: 0.03MB + Engine InnoDB<br>wp_wc_order_product_lookup: Data: 0.02MB + Index: 0.06MB + Engine InnoDB<br>wp_wc_order_stats: Data: 0.02MB + Index: 0.05MB + Engine InnoDB<br>wp_wc_order_tax_lookup: Data: 0.02MB + Index: 0.03MB + Engine InnoDB<br>wp_wc_product_attributes_lookup: Data: 0.02MB + Index: 0.02MB + Engine InnoDB<br>wp_wc_product_download_directories: Data: 0.02MB + Index: 0.02MB + Engine InnoDB<br>wp_wc_product_meta_lookup: Data: 0.02MB + Index: 0.09MB + Engine InnoDB<br>wp_wc_rate_limits: Data: 0.02MB + Index: 0.02MB + Engine InnoDB<br>wp_wc_reserved_stock: Data: 0.02MB + Index: 0.00MB + Engine InnoDB<br>wp_wc_tax_rate_classes: Data: 0.02MB + Index: 0.02MB + Engine InnoDB<br>wp_wc_webhooks: Data: 0.02MB + Index: 0.02MB + Engine InnoDB Post Type Counts

attachment: 1<br>page: 7<br>post: 2<br>product: 1<br>wp_navigation: 1<br>wp_template: 2 Security

Secure connection (HTTPS): ?<br>Hide errors from visitors: ? Active Plugins (1)

WooCommerce: by Automattic – 8.0.1 Inactive Plugins (0) Dropin Plugins (2)

advanced-cache.php: advanced-cache.php<br>object-cache.php: Memcached Redux Must Use Plugins (5)

Force Strong Passwords - WPE Edition: by Jason Cosper – 1.8.0<br>WP Engine Cache Plugin: by WP Engine – 1.1.4<br>WP Engine Seamless Login Plugin: by WP Engine – 1.6.1<br>WP Engine Security Auditor: by wpengine – 1.0.11<br>WP Engine System: by WP Engine – 5.0.1 Settings

API Enabled: –<br>Force SSL: –<br>Currency: USD ($)<br>Currency Position: left<br>Thousand Separator: ,<br>Decimal Separator: .<br>Number of Decimals: 2<br>Taxonomies: Product Types: external (external)<br>grouped (grouped)<br>simple (simple)<br>variable (variable)

Taxonomies: Product Visibility: exclude-from-catalog (exclude-from-catalog)<br>exclude-from-search (exclude-from-search)<br>featured (featured)<br>outofstock (outofstock)<br>rated-1 (rated-1)<br>rated-2 (rated-2)<br>rated-3 (rated-3)<br>rated-4 (rated-4)<br>rated-5 (rated-5)

Connected to WooCommerce.com: –<br>Enforce Approved Product Download Directories: ?<br>HPOS feature screen enabled: –<br>HPOS feature enabled: –<br>Order datastore: WC_Order_Data_Store_CPT<br>HPOS data sync enabled: – WC Pages

Shop base: #7 - /shop/<br>Cart: #8 - /cart/<br>Checkout: #9 - /checkout/<br>My account: #10 - /my-account/<br>Terms and conditions: ? Page not set Theme

Name: Twenty Twenty-Three<br>Version: 1.2<br>Author URL: https://www.ads-software.com<br>Child Theme: ? – If you are modifying WooCommerce on a parent theme that you did not build personally we recommend using a child theme. See: How to create a child theme<br>WooCommerce Support: ? Templates

Overrides: – Admin

Enabled Features: activity-panels<br>analytics<br>product-block-editor<br>coupons<br>core-profiler<br>customer-effort-score-tracks<br>import-products-task<br>experimental-fashion-sample-products<br>shipping-smart-defaults<br>shipping-setting-tour<br>homescreen<br>marketing<br>mobile-app-banner<br>navigation<br>onboarding<br>onboarding-tasks<br>remote-inbox-notifications<br>remote-free-extensions<br>payment-gateway-suggestions<br>shipping-label-banner<br>subscriptions<br>store-alerts<br>transient-notices<br>woo-mobile-welcome<br>wc-pay-promotion<br>wc-pay-welcome-page

Disabled Features: minified-js<br>new-product-management-experience<br>product-variation-management<br>settings<br>async-product-editor-category-field

Daily Cron: ? Next scheduled: 2023-08-12 13:42:20 +00:00<br>Options: ?<br>Notes: 68<br>Onboarding: completed Action Scheduler

Complete: 5<br>Oldest: 2023-08-11 13:43:28 +0000<br>Newest: 2023-08-11 13:45:40 +0000

Failed: 1<br>Oldest: 2023-08-11 13:44:38 +0000<br>Newest: 2023-08-11 13:44:38 +0000

Pending: 1<br>Oldest: 2023-08-12 13:43:28 +0000<br>Newest: 2023-08-12 13:43:28 +0000 Status report information

Generated at: 2023-08-11 13:46:52 +00:00<br>`

Hi @bigbugsy ,

Hmm, this is very strange as it is not something I am able to reproduce on my end using either the Twenty Twenty-Three theme, or the Storefront theme.

Does the issue persist if you upgrade WooCommerce to its latest version [8.0.1]?

I understand that this is a new install however can you see if clearing any server-side caching makes any difference?

What happens if you delete the test product, and then create a new product with the same visibility settings? Does the same issue occur?

Also, can you check if this is the case for various product types (simple, variable, downloadable), as well as the behavior on various browsers?

Lastly, can you see if there any any fatal errors being generated within WooCommerce → Status → Logs that may give us some clues as to what may be causing this unusual behavior.

Looking forward to your response!

One thing that comes to mind, when you are attempting to reproduce, it is important that you name the product with the same keyword you are searching for – so the search will actually find it.

For example, name the product “Test” then use “/?s=test” to search the site for test…

I was previously using WooCommerce 8.0.1. I updated to 8.0.2 and the problem persists.

Clearing server-side cache does not resolve the issue.

Switching from Twenty Twenty-Three to Storefront does not resolve the issue.

I will leave the site on Storefront now.

I deleted the original test product and created three new test products:

• Simple Product Test
• Variable Product Test
• Downloadable Test

All three were set to Visibility = Hidden using the bulk editor on the All Products page.

If I do a Quick Edit on each individual product, I can see Visibility = Hidden.

All three are visible on the search results:

https://wcsearch1.wpengine.com/?s=test

I tested in Chrome, Firefox, and Edge and the results are the same.

There are no errors in WooCommerce → Status → Logs or in my server logs.

Thank you

Hello @bigbugsy,

Thank you for reaching out!

Turns out this doesn’t have to do with the fact you’re importing these products. Hidden products, in general, can be found if the search is not limited to products only.

I’ve created a report for the developers to review here. Until there’s more feedback on the matter, a simple solution would be to use the top search bar. This will restrict the search to only products.

Link to image: https://d.pr/i/dCh8cr

Let us know if you have any other questions. :?)