How to Customize the No Search Results Message and Placeholder in Neve

Many users of the Neve theme want to personalize the search experience on their WordPress site. A common request is to change the default message shown when a search returns no results or to customize the placeholder text in the search field. This guide will walk you through the most common methods to achieve this.

The Default Neve Search Behavior

By default, when a search on a Neve-themed site finds no matching posts, it displays the message: "Sorry, but nothing matched your search terms. Please try again with some different keywords." The search field itself typically uses a placeholder like "Search for...". These are standard WordPress translations and are not directly customizable through the Neve theme's options panel.

Method 1: Using a Translation Plugin (Easiest Method)

The simplest way to change these strings without touching code is to use a translation plugin. This method changes the text for everyone, regardless of their language.

1. Install and activate a plugin like Loco Translate or Say What?.
2. In Loco Translate, go to Loco Translate → Themes and select Neve.
3. Click on the language you want to edit (e.g., "English (United States)").
4. Click the New button to create a custom language file.
5. In the "Text search" field, look for the original string you want to change (e.g., "Sorry, but nothing matched your search terms. Please try again with some different keywords.").
6. Enter your desired custom text in the "Translation" field and save the changes.
7. Repeat the process for the search placeholder text by searching for "Search for...".

Method 2: Adding Custom Code via a Child Theme

For users comfortable with code, adding a custom function to your child theme's functions.php file offers more control and is a more robust long-term solution.

To change the 'no results' message:

function bugwp_custom_no_results_text( $message ) {
    $custom_message = 'Your custom message for when no posts are found goes here.';
    return $custom_message;
}
add_filter( 'neve_search_no_results_text', 'bugwp_custom_no_results_text' );

To change the search form placeholder:

function bugwp_custom_search_placeholder( $placeholder ) {
    $custom_placeholder = 'Your custom placeholder text goes here.';
    return $custom_placeholder;
}
add_filter( 'neve_search_placeholder', 'bugwp_custom_search_placeholder' );

Important: Always use a child theme when making direct code modifications. This prevents your changes from being overwritten when the Neve theme is updated.

Why This Customization is Necessary

WordPress core and themes like Neve use translatable strings for all text. This means the text is not hardcoded but is instead output through a function that allows it to be swapped for different languages. The methods above intercept these functions to provide your own custom text, effectively 'translating' it to your preferred wording without changing the language.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

• Code not working: If adding code to your functions.php doesn't work, check for syntax errors (like missing semicolons or quotes) and ensure you are using a child theme.
• Plugin conflicts: As seen in one support thread, certain plugins can interfere with search functionality. If you encounter a blank page on search results, try deactivating your plugins one by one to identify a potential conflict.
• Caching: After making any of these changes, clear your site's cache and your browser's cache to see the results immediately.

By following these steps, you can fully customize the search experience for your visitors to better match your site's tone and style.