> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.uselayers.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Merchandising rule not applying

> Fix a merchandising rule that doesn't change a collection page: match the rule's sort order to the collection default, check the rule's status, and rule out theme overrides.

A merchandising rule only reorders a collection when a shopper browses that collection **with the sort order the rule is tied to**. Most "my rule does nothing" reports come from a mismatch between the rule's sort order and the sort order the collection page actually loads with.

## How Layers picks the sort for a collection page

When a shopper opens a collection without choosing a sort, Layers uses the first default it finds:

1. The collection's own **Default Sort Order**.
2. The store default (the sort order with the **Default** badge on **Sort Orders**).

If the shopper picks a different option from the sort dropdown, that option wins for the rest of their visit.

A merchandising rule doesn't change which sort order a collection uses. It extends one sort order: its pins and expressions are layered on top of that sort, and the rule is ignored whenever the shopper is on any other sort. For the full priority order, see [Merchandising rules](https://docs.uselayers.com/platform/merchandising.md#merchandising-architecture).

## Checklist

**1. Compare the rule's sort order with the collection default**

Open the rule and note the sort order in the **Settings** tab. Then go to **Catalog** → **Collections**, open the collection, and check its **Default Sort Order**. If the collection has no default, check which sort order has the **Default** badge on **Sort Orders**.

If the two differ, for example a rule built on **Newest** while the collection defaults to **Best Selling**, the rule never applies to shoppers who don't change the sort. Fix it one of two ways:

* Change the rule's sort order in the **Settings** tab to match the collection default.
* Change the collection's **Default Sort Order** to the sort the rule uses.

See [How to set a default sort order](https://docs.uselayers.com/shopify-integration/metaobjects-metafields/app-metafields.md#how-to-set-a-default-sort-order) and [Store default](https://docs.uselayers.com/platform/sorting.md#store-default).

**2. Check the rule's status**

On **Merchandise** → **Merchandising Rules**, the **Status** column must show **Published**. **Draft** rules and **Ended** rules (end date passed) don't serve, and **Scheduled** rules wait for their start date. See [Publication states](https://docs.uselayers.com/platform/merchandising/scheduling.md#publication-states).

**3. Check the rule's conditions**

A rule with contextual conditions only applies to shoppers who match them, such as a specific UTM source, audience, or country. Open the **Conditions** tab and confirm you are testing as a matching shopper. If several rules target the same collection and sort, see [Multiple rules per collection](https://docs.uselayers.com/platform/merchandising/multiple-rules.md) for which one wins.

**4. Preview the live storefront**

Use **Preview** from the rule's overflow menu to open the collection with the rule applied. If the preview looks right but the live page doesn't, continue with the next step. See [Preview](https://docs.uselayers.com/platform/merchandising/preview.md).

**5. Rule out a theme-level default sort**

Some themes send their own default sort with every collection request, for example from a theme setting or hard-coded value. When that happens, the theme's sort wins over the collection and store defaults you set in Layers. Ask your developer to remove the theme default so the Layers default applies, or build the rule on the sort the theme sends.

## Does Shopify's manual collection sort carry over?

No. Layers doesn't read the product order you set with Shopify's **Manually** sort option on a collection. To hand-place products on a Layers-powered collection page, create a merchandising rule for that collection and its default sort order, then pin the products. See [Create a merchandising rule](https://docs.uselayers.com/help/merchandising/create-merchandising-rule.md).

If your theme has a setting that lists selected collections straight from Shopify (some Layers theme integrations offer this for drop or launch pages), those collections follow Shopify's sort instead, and Layers merchandising rules don't apply to them.

## Next steps

* [Pinned products not appearing](https://docs.uselayers.com/help/troubleshooting/pins-not-showing.md)
* [Create a merchandising rule](https://docs.uselayers.com/help/merchandising/create-merchandising-rule.md)
* [Sort orders](https://docs.uselayers.com/platform/sorting.md)