---
title: "Adding Jetpack Search to Your WordPress Site"
description: "The search option in a default WordPress site is adequate, but it is not as powerful as the Jetpack Search option in a Jetpack Premium or Professional subscription. Elasticsearch is used to power the..."
url: https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/edu/wordpress/adding-jetpack-search-to-your-wordpress-site/
date: 2019-08-22
modified: 2022-02-24
author: "InMotion Hosting Contributor"
categories: ["WordPress Hosting", "WordPress Tutorials"]
type: post
lang: en
---

# Adding Jetpack Search to Your WordPress Site

![](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Adding-Jetpack-Search-To-Your-WordPress-Site-1024x538.png)

The search option in a default WordPress site is adequate, but it is not as powerful as the **Jetpack Search** option in a [Jetpack Premium or Professional subscription](https://jetpack.com/pricing/). [Elasticsearch](https://github.com/elastic/elasticsearch) is used to power the search engine for quick, accurate results. Follow the steps below to enable and place the **Jetpack Search** within a post.

In this article:

- [Enabling Jetpack Search](#enable-jetpack-search)
- [Placing the Search Widget](#adding-search-widget)

In order to use the following steps, a [**Jetpack Premium**](https://jetpack.com/tag/jetpack-premium/) or [**Professional** ](https://jetpack.com/pro/)subscription would be needed. The InMotion **WP-Pro hosting plan** includes the Jetpack Professional license.

## How to Enable Jetpack Search

When you replace the default WordPress search, you will need to change the widget used for displaying the search option on the WordPress page or post. Jetpack seamlessly integrates the enhanced search using a widget. There are no additional configuration steps required to use it. Follow the steps below to enable **Jetpack Search**.

![](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/jetpack-search-enable.png)

1. [Log in to the WordPress Administrator Dashboard](/support/edu/wordpress/logging-into-wordpress-dashboard/).
2. In the menu to the left of the screen, click on **Jetpack**, then click on **Settings** in the sub-menu that appears.
3. Click on **Performance** in the menu at the top of the page then scroll down until you reach the **Jetpack Search** section (illustrated in the screenshot above).
4. Click on the slider to replace the built-in WordPress search.

Once **Jetpack Search** is enabled, you will be able to click on the link labeled **Add Search Widget**. When you click on the link you will be sent to the **[Customizer](/support/edu/wordpress/theme-customizer/)**. The steps below demonstrate how the widget is placed on the post.

Looking for a VPS or Dedicated server for your WordPress site? InMotion provides secure, optimized [**WordPress Hosting**](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/wordpress-hosting) solutions that can fit your budget!

## Adding the Search Widget

![](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/jetpack-search-widget-1024x548.png)

![](https://arnel-io.com/wp1831/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/jetpack-search-widget-1024x548.png)

When you see the Jetpack Search widget, you will be in the Customizer’s widget section. The location of the widget will depend on the theme that is being used. The screenshot above shows the widget in the footer section. You can click on the widget to change the title. Verify where you want to place the widget then click on the **Publish** button to save your changes.

Congratulations! You now know how to use the Jetpack Search option with your WordPress site. For more information on using Jetpack, check out [Search Engine Optimization with Jetpack Professional](/support/edu/wordpress/search-engine-optimization-with-jetpack-professional/).