> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://help.accentuate.io/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://help.accentuate.io/metafield-definitions/using-metafields-as-admin-filters.md).

# Using metafields as Admin Filters

When you define a Shopify-native Metafield in ACF you can choose to expose it as an **admin filter**. Enabling this option tells Shopify that the Metafield definition may be used to filter and search records directly inside the Shopify admin - for example, narrowing the product list to only the items that match a particular value.

This makes Metafields you manage in ACF behave like Shopify's built-in fields: once a definition is admin filterable, its values appear as a filter option in the relevant admin index page, so your team can locate records by the custom data you've added rather than by title or SKU alone.

The "Expose as admin filterable" setting is available for all Shopify-native field types, with the exception of Custom JSON. It is not available for Metaobject definitions or their fields.

> Admin filterable is a capability of the underlying Shopify Metafield definition. It only applies to definitions created in Shopify's native namespace — it does not affect how a field is displayed on your storefront or in the ACF editor.

> Custom JSON fields cannot be used as admin filters because Shopify does not support filtering on JSON values.

### Enabling Admin Filterable

The setting lives in the **Advanced options** section of the field definition. Tick **Expose as admin filterable** and save your changes for the capability to be added to the Shopify Metafield definition.

<figure><img src="/files/ePx6KvyxM9pnKqnLrcGa" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

### When to Use It

Enable this option when you want merchandisers and store staff to filter admin lists by a custom attribute — for example, filtering products by "Material", "Season", or "Supplier" that you've modelled as ACF Metafields. Without it, those values are still stored and editable, but they won't appear as a filter in the admin.

> Changing the setting updates the Metafield definition in Shopify. Existing values are not modified; the capability simply becomes available (or unavailable) for filtering going forward.