Recently viewed
Overview
Recently viewed helps visitors return to products they opened earlier in the same browser. Radian builds this list from product handles stored locally on the visitor’s device; no Shopify app or metafield setup is required.
Visitor-specific content
A new visitor, a private browsing session, or a browser with cleared site data has no viewing history. In those cases the section shows its empty message until product pages have been visited.
Add the section
ADD RECENTLY VIEWED
| Open a template | Choose the template where browsing history should appear. |
|---|---|
| Add the section | Select Add section and choose Recently viewed. |
| Add header content | Add theme blocks for a subheading, heading, text, or other supported content. |
| Set the product count | Choose between two and eight products to display. |
Choose where it appears
The section works well near the bottom of product, collection, and home-page templates. On a product page, the current product is saved to history but removed from the visible list so the visitor sees previously viewed items instead.
Understand the viewing history
HISTORY BEHAVIOR
| Storage | Radian keeps up to 12 recent product handles in the visitor’s local browser storage. |
|---|---|
| Current product | The product currently open is excluded from the rendered cards. |
| Display limit | Products controls how many earlier items are requested and shown. |
| Unavailable products | Cards that can no longer be loaded are omitted from the result. |
Set the empty message
Use Empty text to explain why no products are shown yet. Keep the message short and useful, because it can appear to first-time visitors before they create a browsing history.
Add section content
Theme blocks render above the product cards. Use them for the section heading and supporting copy, then arrange them in the sidebar in the order visitors should read them.
Layout, color, and spacing
SECTION OPTIONS
| Full width | Expand the section across its available page width. |
|---|---|
| Section layout | When Full width is off, choose Page, Content, Narrow, or Custom. |
| Color scheme | Apply a global color scheme to the section. |
| Section spacing | Set desktop and mobile top and bottom spacing separately. |
Check the result
Open two or more product pages in the same browser, then return to a template containing Recently viewed. Confirm the current product is excluded, previous products appear in recent-first order, and the count respects the Products setting.
Troubleshooting
If the empty message remains, visit product pages in the same browser and avoid private browsing. If one product is missing, confirm it still loads on the Online Store. Clearing site data resets the history by design.