How to fix Smart Bundles that are not appearing
How to troubleshoot Smart Bundles when bundles do not show on your storefront.
Overview
Smart Bundles only appear when all conditions are met. If even one part of the setup is incorrect, the bundle will not display.
Common causes include:
- The Smart Bundle block is missing
- The bundle is inactive
- The wrong template is being previewed
- Display locations do not match the page
- Goals and constraints prevent valid recommendations
- Excluded products remove all eligible items
- AI intensity or contextual settings limit results
- Another bundle is selected instead
- The simulator shows no valid combinations
This guide helps you identify and fix each issue so your bundles appear correctly.
Smart Bundles will never appear unless the AI Bundle Recommendations block is added to the page.
Confirm the Smart Content block is added
Smart Bundles cannot appear without the correct theme block.
To check:
- Open Shopify admin
- Go to Online Store → Themes
- Click 'Edit theme'
- Select the correct page template
- Look for the 'Smart Bundle' block
If the block is missing, add it from the 'Apps' tab.
Example:
If you created bundles for product pages but the block is only added to the homepage, nothing will appear.
This is the number one reason bundles do not show.
Make sure you are previewing the correct template
Bundles appear only on the template where the block is placed.
To confirm:
- In the theme editor, open the template selector
- Check which template the block is added to
- Preview the same template on your storefront
Example:
If the block is added to 'product.json' but you are previewing a custom product template, the bundle will not appear.
Shopify themes often include multiple product and collection templates.
Check that the Bundle is active
Inactive bundles never appear on the storefront.
To check:
- Open the Smart Bundles menu
- Look at the status column
- Make sure the bundle is toggled to 'Active'
If it is inactive, activate it.
Example:
A seasonal bundle may have been deactivated after a campaign ended.
Saving a bundle does not activate it. Activation is a separate step.
Review Display Locations
Display locations decide where the bundle is eligible to appear.
To check:
- Open the bundle
- Go to the AI Configuration tab
- Review the display locations
- Confirm the page you are testing matches the selected locations
Example:
If the display location is set to 'Product pages', the bundle will not appear on the cart page.
Display locations must match the page where the theme block is placed.
Check Goals and Constraints
If your goals and constraints are too restrictive, the AI may not be able to generate a valid bundle.
Review:
- Minimum and maximum bundle size
- Required categories
- Excluded categories
- Price range limits
- Inventory constraints
Example:
If the minimum bundle size is three but only two eligible products exist, the bundle cannot appear.
Overly strict constraints often result in empty or invalid bundles.
Review Excluded Products and Custom Rules
Exclusions and custom rules can unintentionally remove all eligible items.
Check for:
- Excluded categories
- Excluded tags
- Excluded products
- Rules that require items that no longer exist
- Rules that conflict with each other
Example:
If you exclude all accessories but your goal is to promote accessories, the bundle cannot generate valid recommendations.
Exclusions should be used carefully to avoid blocking the AI from finding matches.
Check AI Intensity and Contextual Settings
AI intensity and contextual settings influence how the AI selects products.
AI intensity issues
- Low intensity may limit recommendations too much
- High intensity may produce unexpected combinations
- Medium intensity is usually the most stable
Contextual settings issues
- If contextual settings are too narrow, the AI may not find relevant items
- If contextual settings conflict with exclusions, no items will qualify
Example:
If contextual settings require visually matching items but your catalogue has limited variants, the bundle may not appear.
Adjust AI intensity if the simulator shows too few or too many recommendations.
Use the Bundle Simulator to diagnose issues
The simulator shows whether your bundle can generate valid recommendations.
To test:
- Open the bundle
- Go to the simulator
- Test different starting products
- Check whether the AI can generate a bundle
If the simulator shows no results, the bundle cannot appear on the storefront.
Example:
If the simulator shows empty results, loosen your constraints or remove exclusions.
The simulator is the fastest way to identify why a bundle is not appearing.
Check for conflicts with other Bundles
If multiple bundles match the same visitor and page, the system may choose a different bundle.
To check:
- Open the Smart Bundles menu
- Review all active bundles
- Check their display locations
- Check their goals and constraints
- Test each bundle in the simulator
Example:
A high performing AI bundle may be selected instead of a manual bundle if both match the same page.
If you want a specific bundle to appear, deactivate or adjust competing bundles.
