How to filter list sections in Squarespace
If you mean a simple list or auto-layout section in Squarespace 7.1, there is no documented native visitor-facing filter for it. You can manually reorder items and control visibility, but real front-end filtering usually means using Summary Blocks, a collection-based structure, or a plugin on a supported source.
This question depends on what you mean by “list section.” In modern Squarespace 7.1, many people mean a Simple List auto layout: a section made of manual items with titles, text, images, and buttons — see Squarespace’s page sections guide. Squarespace lets you rearrange those items, toggle which elements display, and swap layouts, but it does not document a native visitor-facing filter control for those sections.
So if your goal is “let visitors click categories and narrow this list live,” the direct answer is: not natively on a basic list section.
How to do it in Squarespace 7.0 vs 7.1
In 7.1, Simple List auto layouts are mainly presentation sections. You can edit the items, drag them into a new order, and switch element visibility, but visitors are not filtering those items from the front end.
In 7.0, the exact structure differs because older templates use different page models, but the same principle applies: a manually built list is not the same thing as a filterable collection.
If what you really have is a collection-style list — for example blog posts, products, events, or content pulled through a Summary Block — then the options change. Summary Blocks can filter by category, tag, or featured items, and supported collection pages can sometimes be better candidates for a true filtering setup.
When you need a plugin / what solves this easier
If the content is manually entered section content, a plugin usually is not the first move. The cleaner fix is often to remodel the content into a collection or Summary Block source that Squarespace can organize more intelligently.
If the content already lives in a supported collection type and you want live dropdowns, search, multiple filters, or sorting, Universal Filter is the more relevant tool. That is a different use case from styling a simple list section.
Common gotchas
- “List section” and “collection list” are not the same thing.
- Reordering items is not filtering.
- Toggling titles, buttons, or images is not filtering.
- If you need tags, categories, or front-end controls, you probably need to change the content structure before you change the design.
Related
- Can I filter Squarespace blog posts by category or tag?
- Can I add multiple filters to one Squarespace page?
- How is Universal Filter different from Squarespace’s built-in category filter?
- Universal Filter
Have a correction or a Squarespace tip we missed? Email info@squarespacewebsites.com
See the full Universal Filter product page on squarewebsites.org for live pricing, demos, and setup details.
Sources: squarewebsites.org · squarewebsites.org · support.squarespace.com · support.squarespace.com