Magento 2 Sort By Position Not Working: 11 Steps To Fix The Issue

• What Is Magento 2 Sort By Position?

• Why Is Magento 2 Sort By Position Not Working?

• How To Fix The Magento 2 Sort By Position Not Working Issue

• What To Do If Sorting By Position Still Doesn't Work After Simple Fixes?

• How Can Third-Party Extensions Fix Sorting Issues In Magento 2?

• What Is The Impact Of Product Sorting On User Experience In Magento 2?

• What Are The Benefits Of Using A Module To Improve Sorting In Magento 2?

• FAQs

• Summary

What Is Magento 2 Sort By Position?

In Magento 2, the 'Sort by Position' feature helps control the order of products in a product listing. Each product has a position number that determines its rank on the category page or catalog.

Admins can customize this position by adjusting the sort order value in the product listing. The default product listing sort is based on the position number.

Why Is Magento 2 Sort By Position Not Working?

1. Incorrect Product Position

The product position in the admin panel can be incorrect. Check the position number for each product. Correct any wrong values to fix the order of products in the category.

2. Conflicting Third-Party Extensions

Some third-party extensions can block Magento's default sorting. These extensions may change the settings and cause sorting issues. Disable the conflicting extensions and test the sorting again. Make sure only compatible extensions are active. Also, check the dropdown menu to see if products appear in the correct order.

3. Elasticsearch Configuration Issues

Elasticsearch is important for sorting and searching. If it's not set up correctly, sorting may not work. Check your Elasticsearch settings and reindex the catalog. Ensure it works fine by testing the search and sorting. Proper Magento 2 Elasticsearch setup is important for Magento 2.3 and 2.4 versions.

4. Cache Issues

If you don't clear the cache, changes will not appear on the front end. Always clean the cache after adjusting sorting settings. You may also need to reindex to ensure changes appear. Check the cache status in the admin panel for the latest updates to the product listing.

5. Store View Mismatch

If the store view settings don't match the product position, sorting may fail. Ensure the store view and product position align. Double-check each product's position in the category. Correct store view settings help products appear in order on the front end.

6. Sorting Category Configuration

If the category settings are incorrect, sorting problems can occur. Make sure the category settings are correct and use the right attributes. Ensure the category allows 'sorting by position' without errors on the front end.

7. PHP Errors

PHP errors in your Magento setup can stop sorting from working. Look for any PHP-related errors in your logs. Misconfigured attributes or outdated PHP versions may cause these errors. Fixing these issues will help restore the sorting functionality in your store.

8. Attribute Misconfiguration

Sorting depends on correctly set attributes. If an attribute is missing or set wrong, sorting can break. Check the attribute settings in the admin panel. Make sure to enable the attribute for sorting.

How To Fix The Magento 2 Sort By Position Not Working Issue

Step 1: Check Category Product Position Settings

• Go to the Magento Admin Panel.

• Navigate to Catalog > Categories.

• Select the category where sorting by position is failing.

• Under Products in Category, verify the Position column.

• Ensure each product has a valid position value (e.g., 1, 2, 3).

• Save changes after updating positions.

Step 2: Verify Sorting Configuration

• Go to Stores > Configuration > Catalog.

• Under the Storefront section, find Product Listing Sort By.

• Select Position in the Product Listing Sort by dropdown.

• Confirm that Position is listed as an option in the Available Product Listing Sort By section.

• Add "Position" to Default Product Listing Sort By, if needed.

Step 3: Save Your Changes

• After selecting the sorting options, click Save Config in the top-right corner.

• It will apply the default sorting changes across your store.

Step 4: Clear Cache

• Go to System > Cache Management in the admin panel.

• Select all cache types listed and click Flush Magento Cache.

• Alternatively, clear the cache from the command line with:

  php bin/magento cache:clean

Step 5: Verify The Changes On Frontend

• Visit the storefront on your website.

• Navigate to any category page to check if sorting works as expected.

Step 6: Customize Sorting Programmatically (Optional)

• Open or create a custom module or theme.

• Add the following XML code to your catalog.xml file:

  <catalog>

  <default_sorting>position</default_sorting>

  </catalog>

• Run these commands to deploy static content and clear the cache:

  php bin/magento setup:static-content:deploy

  php bin/magento cache:flush

Step 7: Reindex Data

• Run the following command to reindex product data:

  php bin/magento indexer:reindex

• Clear the cache after reindexing:

  php bin/magento cache:flush

Step 8: Check For Custom Theme Or Module Conflicts

• Switch to the default Magento Luma theme.

• Temporarily disable third-party extensions with:

  php bin/magento module:disable Vendor_Module

• Test if sorting by position works.

• If it does, debug the conflicting theme or extension.

Step 9: Debug SQL Queries

• Check the catalog_category_product table in your database.

• You can add custom debugging in your module to identify issues related to sorting.

• Ensure position values exist and are correct for the category.

Step 10: Update Magento To The Latest Version

• Back up your store before updating.

• Update Magento using Composer with:

  php bin/magento setup:upgrade

  php bin/magento cache:flush

Step 11: Programmatic Fixes (If Necessary)

• Override the product collection query in a custom module:

  $collection->setOrder('position', 'ASC');

• Debug the layered navigation sorting methods if needed.

What To Do If Sorting By Position Still Doesn't Work After Simple Fixes?

The extended commands provide a more detailed and comprehensive debugging method. They are helpful when simple fixes do not work.

1. Reindexing All Indexers With Specific Status Checks

The php bin/magento indexer:reindex reindexes all the data. But you'll need to check the status of all indexers before reindexing. It will show which ones need reindexing.

Check the status of all indexers php bin/magento indexer:status

Reindex all indexers php bin/magento indexer:reindex

If you only want to reindex a specific indexer (e.g., `catalog_product_price`): php bin/magento indexer:reindex catalog\_product\_price </pre>

2. Clearing Cache For All Types

A common approach is to use the php bin/magento cache:clean command. But, when issues persist, a more detailed command may help.

Clear all cache types (in Magento 2) php bin/magento cache:clean

To clean specific cache types, you can do the following: php bin/magento cache:clean block\_html php bin/magento cache:clean collections php bin/magento cache:clean config

3. Debugging Via Custom Logs Or Overriding Product Collection

You can add custom debugging in your module to identify issues related to sorting. These codes will log the SQL query for the product collection. It will help trace any issues related to sorting orders.

In your custom module's controller or helper use

Psr\\Log\\LoggerInterface;

class DebuggingExample
{
    protected $logger;

    public function \_\_construct(LoggerInterface $logger)
    {
        $this\-\>logger \= $logger;
    }

    public function logProductSorting($collection)
    {
        $this\-\>logger-\>info('Product Sorting by Position');
        $this\-\>logger-\>info('Current Sort Order: ' . $collection-\>getSelect()-\>\_\_toString());
    }
}

Use this in the place where the product collection is being loaded.

4. Fixing SQL Query Manually If Position Is Not Working

If your position still doesn't work correctly, you can manually update the position column for the products in the database.

Find products with a missing or incorrect position value
SELECT \* FROM catalog\_category\_product WHERE position IS NULL OR position \= 0;

\-- Update position values (replace with appropriate values)
UPDATE catalog\_category\_product
SET position \= 10
WHERE entity\_id \= YOUR\_PRODUCT\_ENTITY\_ID;

\-- You can also update multiple rows at once with conditions
UPDATE catalog\_category\_product
SET position \= 10
WHERE category\_id \= YOUR\_CATEGORY\_ID;

5. Custom SQL For Sorting Issues In Category

Check how Magento stores the position values in the catalog_category_product table with:

Check all product positions within a category
SELECT \* FROM catalog\_category\_product WHERE category\_id \= YOUR\_CATEGORY\_ID ORDER BY position;

\-- To reset or reindex position values for products in a category
UPDATE catalog\_category\_product
SET position \= (SELECT COUNT(\*) FROM catalog\_category\_product WHERE category\_id \= YOUR\_CATEGORY\_ID)
WHERE category\_id \= YOUR\_CATEGORY\_ID; 

6. Re-Enable Product Visibility If It Is Missing (Programmatically)

Sorting by position can fail because products are not visible in the store. You can reset product visibility programmatically:

Update product visibility programmatically (if hidden)
$product \= $this\-\>\_objectManager-\>create('Magento\\Catalog\\Model\\Product')-\>load($productId);
$product-\>setVisibility(\\Magento\\Catalog\\Model\\Product\\Visibility::VISIBILITY\_BOTH);
$product-\>save(); 

7. PHP Custom Override For Product Collection Sorting

If you are overriding Magento product collection and need to sort by position programmatically, use this command:

Magento\\Catalog\\Model\\ResourceModel\\Product\\CollectionFactory;

class CustomSortByPosition
{
    protected $collectionFactory;

    public function \_\_construct(CollectionFactory $collectionFactory)
    {
        $this\-\>collectionFactory \= $collectionFactory;
    }

    public function sortProductsByPosition()
    {
        $collection \= $this\-\>collectionFactory-\>create();
        $collection-\>addAttributeToSort('position', 'ASC');  // Sort products by position

        foreach ($collection as $product) {
            // Process sorted products
            echo $product-\>getName() . "\\n";
        }
    }
} 

8. Full Reindex Via Command (For Forced Full Reindex)

If the problem persists, you can try a forced full reindex:

php bin/magento indexer:reset

php bin/magento indexer:reindex

It will reset and reindex all Magento indexers. It will ensure everything is reprocessed.

9. Contact Support

If none of the above steps work, contact Magento support or a developer. Screenshot the issues to help them troubleshoot them.

How Can Third-Party Extensions Fix Sorting Issues In Magento 2?

1. Extra Sorting Options

Third-party extensions like Improved Sorting by Amasty offer more sorting options than Magento by default. It provides each customer with a suitable sorting option. It improves customers' experience by giving them more ways to find products.

2. Custom Sorting Rules

Magento 2 Category Sort By Extension - Rating, Price, Newest by Weltpixel lets you create custom sorting rules. You can order products by top posts, sales, or newest. It helps sort products according to your store's needs.

3. Bulk Sorting

Improved Product Sorting for Magento 2 by Mageplaza extension helps you go to the catalog and sort large product lists in bulk. You can quickly set the product position for many items at once. It is helpful for stores with a bulk product range.

What Is The Impact Of Product Sorting On User Experience In Magento 2?

1. Improves Product Discovery

Sorting options allow customers to find what they need quickly. Setting sorting by product, like price or top rating, makes navigation smoother for users. A good shopping experience means happy customers who will return.

2. Streamlines Navigation

Clear product sorting helps customers browse products without hassle. With options like 'sort by price', customers can filter products based on their preferences. It improves the experience for customers, making the site more user-friendly.

3. Prevents Product Disorganization

Poor sorting can disorganize products and frustrate customers. If products are not in the right order, it affects their browsing journey. Sorting leads to a more organized, enjoyable experience.

4. Improves Conversion Rates

Well-organized products help drive sales. Customers who can find products easily are more likely to make purchases. Sorting for Magento 2 improves the shopping experience. It boosts conversion rates on your Magento ecommerce store.

5. Saves Time

Automating sorting saves time for customers. If products are sorted correctly, they will save time finding what they need. Using the sorting option, customers can go to the catalog, apply filters, and check for the items they're looking for.

What Are The Benefits Of Using A Module To Improve Sorting In Magento 2?

1. Custom Sorting Options

A module adds more sorting choices than default Magento. You can set the position for each product. It helps control the order of products. Sorting by custom criteria products helps customers find what they need faster.

2. Better User Experience

Modules improve the shopping experience. They offer more sorting options. Customers can quickly find the products they want. It makes their shopping journey smoother on your e-commerce store.

3. Streamlined Process

Some modules automatically sort products. It saves time for store owners. You can set the newest items to appear first. It simplifies the sorting process.

4. Increased Flexibility

With a module, you can sort items based on custom attributes. You can sort by price, rating, or stock. It gives you more control over each Magento 2 category.

5. Improved Performance

Some modules help your store run faster. They optimize sorting to improve speed. It makes your e-commerce store more efficient.

FAQs

1. What should I do if my product name is missing from the Magento catalog?

Check if the product is assigned to a category. Go to the product settings and verify the position number. If it's missing or incorrect, update it. Save the changes and clear the cache.

2. Can Magento 2.4 automatically fix sorting issues?

No, Magento 2.4 doesn't automatically fix sorting issues. You need to manually check product positions, clear the cache, and reindex the data. Some third-party extensions might help automate this process.

3. Why does Magento show the "error occurred" message when changing product positions?

Check for conflicts with third-party extensions. Look at the PHP error logs for issues. Ensure that the cache is cleared and indexing is up to date. Fix these problems to resolve the error.

4. Can sorting by position help boost sales in my Magento store?

Yes, sorting by position helps improve product visibility. Customers can easily find what they want. Clear sorting leads to better navigation and more purchases. It can increase conversion rates and boost sales.

5. Can third-party extensions optimize product sorting in Magento 2?

Yes, third-party extensions can improve sorting. They offer extra sorting options, custom rules, and bulk sorting. Some extensions also manage reindexing and cache automatically.

6. How do I assign the correct position to products in Magento 2?

Go to Catalog > Categories in the admin panel. Find the "Position" column for each product. Assign each product the correct position number. Save the changes and clear the cache.

7. What should I do if I can't verify the email address associated with Magento updates?

Check your inbox for the verification email. Look in the spam or junk folder, too. If you can't find it, request a new verification email. Click the link to verify your email.

Summary

Magento 2 Sort By Position not working can have several reasons. They include incorrect product positions, conflicts with third-party extensions, and cache issues.

• Correct incorrect product positions to fix sorting.

• Disable conflicting extensions that disrupt default sorting.

• Resolve Elasticsearch or cache issues to update sorting.

• Ensure category and attribute settings match for accurate sorting.

• Use third-party extensions for advanced sorting options and bulk management.

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