XF 2.4 Custom Field Improvements: Searching!

A short while ago we let you know about some improvements coming to XenForo 2.4 related to custom fields. You can catch up here:

XF 2.4 Thread 'Custom Field Improvements: Filtering and more!'

Feb 6, 2026

With XenForo 2.4 we are finally addressing one of the most common pieces of feedback we get regarding custom fields which is filtering! But first, let's take a little look under the hood to see what else is new:

Flexible custom field types​

Each of the existing custom field types are now moved to their own individual handler classes and assigned to add-ons in the database. This opens the door for developers to finally introduce their own custom field types for their add-ons. So instead of being constrained to the defaults we provide, developers will be able to add all sorts of custom...

• Chris D
• Replies: 32
• Forum: Have you seen...?

• 
• 
• 

Today we're continuing on that topic with the next logical progression: Custom field searching!

When adding a custom field you can now, under "General options", toggle whether the field can be included in the search index. This appears just below the new option to enable filtering.

Let's say we have a thread for bug reports with a custom field where you can specify a bug category:

You can search in a couple of ways.

First, and probably most simple for text-based values, would be just searching for "control panel" (or any reasonable combination) in the quick search box.

For a more advanced search, where you may want to search for multiple values across multiple fields, you can go to the Search forums page:

We're excited to hear what you think and what your use cases will be for custom field searching (and filtering). We have a few more ideas for custom field improvements planned for the future so please let us know what else you'd like to see.

 

[tajhay]

what if XF 2.4 comes out soon

Yeah. Thats been said for 2 years now.

Good luck.

 

[philmckrackon]

Yeah. Thats been said for 2 years now.

Good luck.

I feel ya, I'm tired of being on 2.3...

 

[USCSS_Nostromo]

I feel ya, I'm tired of being on 2.3...

XenForo has this kind of update policy.
You wait a long time, but you get a lot of changes at once.
I would be happy with small updates once a month...

 

[philmckrackon]

XenForo has this kind of update policy.
You wait a long time, but you get a lot of changes at once.
I would be happy with small updates once a month...

Ditto, give something, heck anything to work with. I'm grinding my teeth away waiting for an update.

 

[Hoffi]

Grest news.

Looking forward how much this will replacde my AddOn.

 

[davidew43c]

Improving custom field search would be a useful addition, especially for forums with lots of members and detailed profiles. Being able to search and filter specific fields would make it much easier to find relevant information without browsing through multiple pages. Hopefully, this feature can be made flexible enough for different forum setups while keeping the search experience simple and fast.

 

[Fuerto]

Did they abandon XenForo or something?

 

[kolakube]

Did they abandon XenForo or something?

Yes, they just release updates, security fixes, and answer support tickets promptly as cover.

 

[duderuud]

Did they abandon XenForo or something?

Not really but 2.4 is delayed for almost 2 years) already. Latest ETA is this year.

 

[RobinHood]

Unless a 2.4 Beta comes out in the next couple of weeks, I doubt we'll see it until next year, as the release itself will comes with a flurry of new activity, testing, bug fixes etc. which I doubt they want in the lead up to Christmas and the New Year.

Maybe we'll get lucky and get a beta though, one can hope!

 

[smallwheels]

Latest ETA is this year.

To be precise: The latest official communication regarding a possible release date was almost one year ago, on Dec 5th 2025:

Work on XenForo 2.4 is ongoing. A new HYS is coming soon, and we are targeting a release for some point in 2026.

"Targeting" is a whole different world from an ETA and given that we are now in Nov. 2026 on can be pretty sure that there will be no final release of 2.4 in 2026 as time has been running out.