Access modes

Override hidden if assigned

This is the default mode. Magento's normally visible products remain available. A custom catalog or direct grant can also make an assigned product available to that customer.

Use it when customer assortments should add exceptions without turning the rest of the catalog into a whitelist.

Strict whitelist

Strict mode limits a signed-in customer to products resolved from active assigned catalogs and direct grants. Products outside that set are removed from listings and search, and direct product access uses the configured no-route destination.

Before enabling strict mode, verify at least one complete customer journey: category, search, product page, cart, checkout and My Products. Test a customer with direct catalog assignment and one who receives the catalog through a customer group.

Override mode allows products that Magento normally shows and adds assigned products. Strict mode allows only products from an active catalog or direct grant; other product requests use the configured no-route destination.

Guests do not have a customer-specific assignment set, and strict mode does not create one: the whitelist resolves to no restriction for visitors without a signed-in account, and the cart access check only applies to quotes with a customer ID. Strict whitelist therefore restricts signed-in customers only — guests keep seeing the normal Magento catalog. If the storefront must hide assortments from guests as well, handle that separately (for example with Magento's catalog or store restrictions), and test guest behavior separately instead of assuming it matches a signed-in strict customer.