[Resolved] hide a specific category

[DM]

Hi there!

I’d like to remove a specific category from showing up in search results from the widgets at the bottom of my page. I’d also like to turn off the category’s archive page.

Thanks!
DM

[Fernando]

Hi DM,

To exclude a category for the Search functionality, here is a PHP snippet you may try:

function exclude_category_from_search($query) {
	if ($query->is_search) {
		$cat_id = get_cat_ID('uncategorized');
		$query->set('cat', '-'.$cat_id);
	}
	return $query;
}
add_filter('pre_get_posts','exclude_category_from_search');

Kindly replace uncategorized with your specific category.

Reference: https://www.webhostinghero.com/how-to-exclude-categories-from-search-in-wordpress/

To disable a specific category archive page, here is another PHP snippet you may try:

add_action('template_redirect', 'my_remove_archive');
 
function my_remove_archive(){
  if( is_category('uncategorized') ) {
    global $wp_query;
    $wp_query->set_404(); //set to 404 not found page
  }
}

Kindly replace uncategorized with your specific category here as well.

Adding PHP reference: https://docs.generatepress.com/article/adding-php/#code-snippets

Hope this helps!

[DM]

Thanks for your help! That did NOT work for removing the category “roundup” from my search; the category is still showing up in the “Explore A Category” widget at the bottom of my page. It DID work for removing the archive page.

I also want it to stop showing up in my page feed, but so far I cannot get it to filter out at mydomain/feed/

function exclude_category_from_search($query) {
if ($query->is_search) {
$cat_id = get_cat_ID(’roundup’);
$query->set(‘cat’, ‘-‘.$cat_id);
}
return $query;
}
add_filter(‘pre_get_posts’,’exclude_category_from_search’);

add_action(‘template_redirect’, ‘my_remove_archive’);

function my_remove_archive(){
if( is_category(’roundup’) ) {
global $wp_query;
$wp_query->set_404(); //set to 404 not found page
}
}

function wpsites_exclude_category_feed($query) {
if ($query->is_feed) {
$query->set(‘cat’, ‘-‘.$cat_id);
}
return $query;
}
add_filter(‘pre_get_posts’,’wpsites_exclude_category_feed’);

[Fernando]

I see. You’re using a Category Block which has no filter to exclude a category.

Alternatively, you can try adding this CSS in Appearance > Customize > Additional CSS:

.wp-block-categories-dropdown option[value="1823"] {
    display:none;
}

To remove the category from the feed, try this PHP:

function wpsites_exclude_category_feed($query) {
 if ($query->is_feed) {
   $query->set('cat','-123');
 }
return $query;
}
add_filter('pre_get_posts','wpsites_exclude_category_feed');

Kindly replace 123 with your category ID.

Sample of how to get the ID: https://share.getcloudapp.com/geuRZrbY

Hope this helps!

[DM]

Thanks! It worked! 🙂

[Fernando]

You’re welcome DM! Glad that worked! 🙂

[DM]

Hi there!

The category I’d like to suppress is coming up in the Next/Last post area. Can you tell me how to suppress specific categories here?

Thanks!
DM

[Fernando]

To have a better understanding of the issue, may we know the specific steps to replicate/locate the issue from the link you provided?

Kindly let us know. Hope to hear from you soon!

[DM]

I found this answer from Tom and the last code works but removes the forward “<” and “>” back arrows. https://generatepress.com/forums/topic/post-navigation-how-exclude-a-category-from-next-and-previous-post-links/page/2/

Here’s his link to the code: https://gist.github.com/generatepress/803a950d6381dd98e6bc4418b817ed82

[Fernando]

I see. I replied to you in that thread.

Kindly let us know how it goes.

[DM]

Thanks! all set! 🙂

[Fernando]

You’re welcome! Glad it worked! 🙂

[Author]

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