Product recommendations
Show Shopify-generated related or complementary products with optional manual choices.
Product recommendations helps visitors discover products connected to the item they are viewing. Shopify can generate the selection over time, and you can also provide manual recommendations.
This section is enabled for the product template. Dynamic results are requested after the product page loads, so a recommendation group can appear after the initial page render or stay hidden when no results are returned.
Heading
| Setting | Default | What it controls |
|---|---|---|
| Eyebrow | Blank | Short text above the heading. |
| Heading | You may also like | Main heading for the recommendation group. |
| Text | Blank | Optional rich text below the heading. |
Products
The Products group includes an information paragraph explaining that dynamic recommendations change over time and can be managed with Shopify Search and Discovery.
| Setting | Default | Options and use |
|---|---|---|
| Recommendation type | Related products | Related products suggests alternatives or similar products. Complementary products supports add-on purchasing. |
| Dynamic recommendations count | 2–10, step 1; default 6 | The maximum number requested from Shopify’s recommendation service. |
| Manual recommendations | Blank; up to 12 products | A hand-picked list. When selected, it replaces automatic recommendations. |
Manual recommendations are the reliable choice when the order and membership must be controlled. When the list is blank, Shopify’s dynamic recommendation request uses the selected type and count.
Layout
| Setting | Default | Options and use |
|---|---|---|
| Full width | On | On uses the wider section container; Off keeps the section in the page-width container. |
| Stack products | Off | On renders a multi-row grid. Off renders a product-card carousel with carousel controls. |
| Products per row (mobile) | 1 or 2; default 1 | Card density on mobile. |
| Products per row (desktop) | 2–6, step 1; default 3 | Card density in the stacked desktop grid and the carousel’s desktop sizing. |
| Heading alignment | Left | Left, Center, or Right. |
| Content width | Medium | Small, Medium, or Large width for the heading. |
Spacing
Unlike most product sections, this section has no None spacing option.
| Setting | Options and default |
|---|---|
| Section spacing | Small, Medium, or Large; default Medium. |
| Top spacing | Off by default. |
| Bottom spacing | On by default. |
Dynamic loading and empty states
With manual recommendations, the section renders the chosen product cards immediately. Without them, the section requests Shopify recommendations for the current product. If the response is empty, fails, or times out, Strata hides the section rather than displaying an empty heading or placeholder. Results may be fewer than the requested count.
This section has no merchant-authored empty message. Keep nearby page copy useful when recommendations are unavailable, and do not promise a fixed set of products for dynamic recommendations.
Product card dependencies
Cards inherit the global Product card settings for images, vendor, badges, ratings, text alignment, and quick buy. Eligible color options also depend on Color swatches.
Quick buy is available only when the product and current variant allow it; selling-plan products do not use the card quick-buy path. The global Cart drawer setting can affect where a successful quick add is shown.
Desktop, mobile, and accessibility
The mobile and desktop column settings are independent. When Stack products is Off, review carousel controls and the final item; when it is On, review the last grid row. Dynamic content can arrive after the initial render, so check the heading, cards, controls, and focus order after the section appears. Product links, carousel controls, and quick-buy controls should retain visible focus and useful accessible names.
Common issues
- No section appears: dynamic recommendations may have no result, the request may be pending, or it may have failed; try a product with more established recommendation data.
- The wrong recommendation type appears: check Recommendation type and manage the product relationship in Shopify Search and Discovery.
- Manual products are ignored: confirm Manual recommendations is populated; it replaces dynamic results.
- Fewer cards appear: Shopify can return fewer than Dynamic recommendations count.
- The progress bar is not configurable: this section exposes carousel controls but no separate progress-bar setting.
- Swatches or quick buy are missing: review the global Product card and Color swatches settings and the product’s availability/variant data.