PnP Modern Search: Advanced Tips Every Power User Needs

Key insights

• PnP Modern Search is an open-source project that provides customizable web parts for creating advanced search experiences in SharePoint Online. It includes components like Search Box, Search Results, Search Filters/Refiners, and Verticals.


• Advanced PnP Modern Search hacks allow users to connect multiple search result web parts, enabling dynamic filtering such as an alphabetical table of contents (TOC) filter. This approach collapses duplicate entries and maintains available options for seamless filtering.


• You can mimic classic advanced search by building custom search filters. These filters let users select managed properties to refine their searches, similar to the older advanced search experience, and can be enhanced further using programmatic configurations with SharePoint APIs.


• The solution supports multi-value refiners and “OR” logic filters, letting users select multiple values like departments or locations. This flexibility improves user experience compared to traditional single-value filters.


• Verticals help organize search results into different categories or content types. Users can easily switch perspectives or pre-set filters for specific vertical pages, which is especially helpful in large enterprise environments.


• PnP Modern Search web parts offer features like layout slot customization for complex display templates and support both SharePoint Search and Microsoft Search engines, allowing hybrid search setups tailored to organizational needs.

Introduction to Advanced PnP Modern Search Hacks

The latest YouTube video from Microsoft, featured during the Microsoft 365 & Power Platform community call on January 30, 2025, dives deep into advanced techniques for customizing the PnP Modern Search solution. This session, led by Kasper Bo Larsen, showcases how power users can leverage sophisticated configurations to elevate enterprise search experiences on SharePoint Online. The video focuses on dynamic filtering, such as creating an alphabetical table-of-contents filter, and demonstrates methods for collapsing duplicate entries while maintaining seamless filtering options.

With the ongoing evolution of SharePoint and the gradual deprecation of classic search features, organizations increasingly seek robust and adaptable alternatives. Therefore, understanding how to balance customizability with usability becomes essential. This article explores the key insights from the video, the foundational aspects of PnP Modern Search, advanced hacks, and the practical tradeoffs involved in deploying these solutions within modern workplaces.

Understanding PnP Modern Search: Foundations and Components

PnP Modern Search is an open-source initiative by Microsoft that provides a suite of web parts designed to enhance search capabilities in SharePoint Online’s modern experience. At its core, this solution empowers organizations to build tailored search interfaces, moving beyond standard functionalities. The primary components include the Search Box, Search Results, Search Filters (also known as Refiners), and Verticals.

The Search Box serves as the entry point for user queries, allowing for intuitive search input. Meanwhile, the Search Results web part displays content based on those queries, reflecting applied filters and refiners. Search Filters, or refiners, enable users to narrow down results by specific property values, similar to traditional faceted search. Finally, Verticals categorize results—such as documents, people, or sites—enabling users to quickly shift between different content types.

These modular web parts can be combined and configured in countless ways, granting organizations the flexibility to craft search pages that best fit their unique workflows. However, this flexibility introduces challenges, particularly when balancing ease of use with the depth of customization available.

Advanced Customization: Mimicking and Enhancing Classic Search

As Microsoft phases out the classic Advanced Search experience, many organizations are left seeking comparable features within the modern SharePoint environment. The video demonstrates that, while PnP Modern Search does not offer a direct replacement out of the box, it supports advanced customizations capable of replicating—and even surpassing—the functionality of classic search.

One highlighted strategy involves creating custom search filters via PnP search web parts. These filters can be configured as dropdowns that let users select specific managed properties, closely mimicking the classic advanced search selectors. Additionally, power users can employ programmatic methods, such as SharePoint’s Client-Side Object Model (CSOM) or REST API calls, to further tailor the search experience beyond what is possible through the standard UI.

While these approaches offer significant benefits, they also introduce complexity. Organizations must weigh the value of advanced features against the resources required for configuration and ongoing maintenance. Ensuring that customizations remain manageable and do not hinder user adoption is an ongoing challenge for IT teams.

Elevating User Experience: Dynamic Filtering and Modern Features

A standout feature from the session is the implementation of dynamic, alphabetical filtering—often referred to as an A-Z filter. By connecting multiple PnP search result web parts, users can interact with an intuitive table-of-contents filter that collapses duplicate entries and preserves available options as filters are applied. This methodology is not limited to documents; it extends to document sets, list items, or any related content, making it highly versatile.

Moreover, the latest advancements in PnP Modern Search emphasize multi-value refiners and flexible “OR” logic filters. These enhancements allow users to select multiple values, such as departments or locations, dramatically improving the search experience compared to classic models. Vertical web parts further enrich the interface by segmenting results into meaningful categories, enabling users to quickly switch between perspectives or data types.

However, implementing these advanced features comes with tradeoffs. While they empower users with more control and granularity, they may also increase the learning curve for less technical staff. Balancing sophistication with simplicity remains a key consideration for organizations adopting these tools.

Challenges, Limitations, and Strategic Recommendations

Despite its strengths, PnP Modern Search is not intended as a universal replacement for Microsoft’s default search solutions. Instead, it excels in targeted scenarios where a customized search UI is essential. One notable challenge lies in search relevance: due to the added customization layers, the results produced by PnP Modern Search may differ from those generated by native Microsoft Search. Therefore, careful tuning and thoughtful configuration of managed properties are critical to ensuring optimal outcomes.

Another limitation arises from the need for ongoing maintenance and support. As the PnP Modern Search project evolves, administrators must stay abreast of updates and best practices shared by the open-source community. This continuous learning curve can strain resources, particularly in smaller organizations without dedicated SharePoint specialists.

To mitigate these challenges, the video and supporting resources recommend leveraging community-driven documentation and participating in regular office hours for direct support. Engaging with the community helps organizations stay current and effectively address emerging issues or feature requests.

The Future of Enterprise Search: Opportunities and Tradeoffs

The open-source and community-driven nature of PnP Modern Search stands out as a significant advantage. Frequent updates, best practices, and innovative solutions are readily accessible, fostering a collaborative environment that accelerates improvements and problem-solving. Furthermore, the ability to customize layout slots and template variables within the Search Results web part enables deep personalization of how information is presented and interacted with.

Another notable feature is dual search engine support, allowing organizations to query both SharePoint Search and Microsoft Search. This flexibility enables hybrid search experiences tailored to complex organizational needs, particularly where data sources and requirements vary widely. However, this versatility must be balanced against potential increases in configuration complexity and the need for skilled administrators.

Ultimately, PnP Modern Search hacks offer organizations the opportunity to build rich, user-friendly search interfaces that align with specific business goals. Yet, success depends on carefully navigating the tradeoffs between customization, usability, and maintainability. By remaining engaged with the Microsoft 365 & Power Platform community and adopting a strategic approach to deployment, organizations can realize the full potential of modern enterprise search.

Keywords

PnP Modern Search Power Users advanced search tips SharePoint search hacks Microsoft 365 search optimization custom search solutions