WooCommerce: Exclude Category from Search Results

We’ve already seen how to only display products from a single category on the Shop page. Today, we’ll do something similar, but we’ll target the search result.

Code is somewhat similar to the example I linked to above, so it will use once again the “pre_get_posts” filter in order to modify the query before products are returned on the screen. Enjoy!

PHP Snippet: Exclude Products From a Given Category @ WooCommerce Search Result Page

/**
 * @snippet       Exclude Cat @ WooCommerce Product Search Results
 * @how-to        Get CustomizeWoo.com FREE
 * @author        Rodolfo Melogli
 * @compatible    WooCommerce 6
 * @donate $9     https://businessbloomer.com/bloomer-armada/
 */

add_action( 'pre_get_posts', 'bbloomer_exclude_category_woocommerce_search' );

function bbloomer_exclude_category_woocommerce_search( $q ) {
   if ( ! $q->is_main_query() ) return;
   if ( ! $q->is_search() ) return;
   if ( ! is_admin() ) {
      $q->set( 'tax_query', array( array(
         'taxonomy' => 'product_cat',
         'field' => 'slug',
         'terms' => array( 'courses' ), // change 'courses' with your cat slug/s
         'operator' => 'NOT IN'
      )));
   }
}

Where to add custom code?

You should place custom PHP in functions.php and custom CSS in style.css of your child theme: where to place WooCommerce customization?

This code still works, unless you report otherwise. To exclude conflicts, temporarily switch to the Storefront theme, disable all plugins except WooCommerce, and test the snippet again: WooCommerce troubleshooting 101

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Rodolfo Melogli

Business Bloomer Founder

Author, WooCommerce expert and WordCamp speaker, Rodolfo has worked as an independent WooCommerce freelancer since 2011. His goal is to help entrepreneurs and developers overcome their WooCommerce nightmares. Rodolfo loves travelling, chasing tennis & soccer balls and, of course, wood fired oven pizza. Follow @rmelogli