> ## 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.

# Fix unexpected search results

> Match a search problem, such as SKUs not found, the wrong products first, or a query that should go to a page, to the Layers tool that fixes it.

Most search problems have a specific tool that fixes them. Find your symptom below, make the change, then check the result with [Search preview](https://docs.uselayers.com/platform/ranking-relevancy.md#search-preview) before shoppers see it.

## Symptoms and fixes

| Symptom | What to check | Tool |
| :- | :- | :- |
| Searching a SKU, style number, or barcode returns nothing or the wrong product | The field holding the code is searchable, with enough keyword weight for exact matches to win | [Attribute options](https://docs.uselayers.com/platform/attributes/attribute-options.md#searchable-attributes), [Searching on variant barcodes](https://docs.uselayers.com/platform/attributes/catalog-attributes.md#searching-on-variant-barcodes) |
| A product's exact name doesn't come first | Keyword matching carries enough weight against AI matching for this kind of query | [Tune signal weights](https://docs.uselayers.com/help/ranking-relevancy/tune-signal-weights.md) |
| One query, such as "clearance" or "gift", should show a specific set of products | A ranking rule scoped to that query that filters, pins, or boosts the right products | [Create a ranking rule](https://docs.uselayers.com/help/ranking-relevancy/create-ranking-rule.md) |
| Results ignore store-wide guidance, such as "favor core styles over accessories" | Guidance written once for every AI step | [Search instructions](https://docs.uselayers.com/platform/search-instructions.md) |
| A query should open a collection or page instead of results | A redirect for queries with that meaning | [Semantic redirects](https://docs.uselayers.com/platform/semantic-redirects.md) |
| Products or pages that shouldn't be searchable appear | A hidden content rule or an excluded tag | [Hidden products](https://docs.uselayers.com/platform/hidden-products.md), [Search excluded tags](https://docs.uselayers.com/help/configuration/configure-search-behavior.md#search-excluded-tags) |
| Sold-out products crowd the top | Out-of-stock visibility and demotion | [Out-of-stock product visibility](https://docs.uselayers.com/help/configuration/configure-search-behavior.md#out-of-stock-product-visibility) |
| Too many loosely related products appear | How strictly Layers filters out low-relevance results | [Result relevancy filtering](https://docs.uselayers.com/platform/ranking-relevancy.md#result-relevancy-filtering) |

## Before you change anything

* **Reproduce the query.** Run it in **Search preview** and note which products appear and in what order.
* **Check the product data.** If a product doesn't contain the words shoppers use, no setting can match it. Add the terms to its title, description, tags, or a searchable metafield.
* **Change one thing at a time.** Rules, weights, and instructions interact. Make one change, preview, then decide on the next.

## Next steps

* [Ranking and relevancy](https://docs.uselayers.com/platform/ranking-relevancy.md)
* [Configure search behavior](https://docs.uselayers.com/help/configuration/configure-search-behavior.md)
* [Contact support](mailto:support@uselayers.com) if a query still returns the wrong products