# Use regex/wildcards to exclude domains from search

**URL:** <https://discourse.pi-hole.net/t/use-regex-wildcards-to-exclude-domains-from-search/85635>\
**Category:** Feature Requests\
**Created:** [April 4, 2026, 6:57pm UTC](https://discourse.pi-hole.net/t/use-regex-wildcards-to-exclude-domains-from-search/85635 "2026-04-04T18:57:07Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 8\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![struggingdude](https://discourse-cdn.pi-hole.net/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/b782af/32.png) [@struggingdude](https://discourse.pi-hole.net/u/struggingdude)\
**Post date:** [April 4, 2026, 6:57pm UTC](https://discourse.pi-hole.net/t/use-regex-wildcards-to-exclude-domains-from-search/85635/1 "2026-04-04T18:57:07Z")

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Maybe I am missing something, but I see how to use wildcards to search for domains/sub-domains, but I do not see a way to use them to exclude domains/subdomains.

For instance, when trying to go through connections by my smarttv, I often want to exclude from view connections to a specific domains (e.g. netflix) that take place all the time but that are clearly related to an other app than the one I am working on. I would really like to filter these out.

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**Author:** ![rdwebdesign](https://discourse-cdn.pi-hole.net/user_avatar/discourse.pi-hole.net/rdwebdesign/32/51363_2.png) [@rdwebdesign](https://discourse.pi-hole.net/u/rdwebdesign)\
**Post date:** [April 4, 2026, 7:11pm UTC](https://discourse.pi-hole.net/t/use-regex-wildcards-to-exclude-domains-from-search/85635/2 "2026-04-04T19:11:31Z")

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Your request is not very clear and maybe I misunderstood your request...

Do you want to create rules to allow certain domains, but only for your TV?

Or

Do you want to filter the results on the Query Log page?

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**Author:** ![struggingdude](https://discourse-cdn.pi-hole.net/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/b782af/32.png) [@struggingdude](https://discourse.pi-hole.net/u/struggingdude)\
**Post date:** [April 4, 2026, 8:48pm UTC](https://discourse.pi-hole.net/t/use-regex-wildcards-to-exclude-domains-from-search/85635/3 "2026-04-04T20:48:49Z")

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Sorry, you're right, that wasn't clear. I do mean filter results on the query log page. Sometimes, I have to check all connections to see which ones I need to unblock for a specific app to work. It would be useful to be able to filter out the ones that I know for sure aren't needed (such as netflix ones, for instance).

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**Author:** ![rdwebdesign](https://discourse-cdn.pi-hole.net/user_avatar/discourse.pi-hole.net/rdwebdesign/32/51363_2.png) [@rdwebdesign](https://discourse.pi-hole.net/u/rdwebdesign)\
**Post date:** [April 5, 2026, 7:02am UTC](https://discourse.pi-hole.net/t/use-regex-wildcards-to-exclude-domains-from-search/85635/4 "2026-04-05T07:02:43Z")

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It looks like you just want to completely exclude some domains from the Query Log. This is already implemented.

Go to _ **Settings \> Web Interface / API** _ and use the Exclusions box, then enter one regex per line to exclude the desired domains:

 ![image](https://discourse-cdn.pi-hole.net/uploads/default/original/3X/5/9/59e8fdd1d20023856b519dfa0ff37ed6a98196de.png)

**Note:**  
you need to switch from Basic to Expert mode to see this option.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![struggingdude](https://discourse-cdn.pi-hole.net/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/b782af/32.png) [@struggingdude](https://discourse.pi-hole.net/u/struggingdude)\
**Post date:** [April 5, 2026, 11:25am UTC](https://discourse.pi-hole.net/t/use-regex-wildcards-to-exclude-domains-from-search/85635/5 "2026-04-05T11:25:09Z")

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That sounds like it is a permanent exclusion. I do want to retain these domains, just want to hide them from view temporarily – in the same way that we can currently use wildcards but exclude these domains, instead of narrowing down to them. For instance by putting a “-” sign in front.

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**Author:** ![rdwebdesign](https://discourse-cdn.pi-hole.net/user_avatar/discourse.pi-hole.net/rdwebdesign/32/51363_2.png) [@rdwebdesign](https://discourse.pi-hole.net/u/rdwebdesign)\
**Post date:** [April 5, 2026, 3:19pm UTC](https://discourse.pi-hole.net/t/use-regex-wildcards-to-exclude-domains-from-search/85635/6 "2026-04-05T15:19:11Z")

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OK. Now I understand your request.

Let's see how many votes the request receives. Also, this is a very complex change and probably will be very rarely used.

We can't guarantee a feature request will be developed, but if it receives enough votes (and there is someone with the time to do it), we will take a look.

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**Author:** ![struggingdude](https://discourse-cdn.pi-hole.net/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/b782af/32.png) [@struggingdude](https://discourse.pi-hole.net/u/struggingdude)\
**Post date:** [April 6, 2026, 6:38am UTC](https://discourse.pi-hole.net/t/use-regex-wildcards-to-exclude-domains-from-search/85635/7 "2026-04-06T06:38:38Z")

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Thanks @rdwebdesign . I hope this gets support. I guess I assumed this would not be too hard, but just a matter of filtering the results the same way it is currently done with wildcards, but in reverse.

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**Author:** ![system](https://discourse.pi-hole.net/uploads/default/original/3X/7/c/7c8792f649eeb921c5d2b4c41564ffa873d9a2b8.png) [@system](https://discourse.pi-hole.net/u/system)\
**Post date:** [October 3, 2026, 6:39am UTC](https://discourse.pi-hole.net/t/use-regex-wildcards-to-exclude-domains-from-search/85635/8 "2026-10-03T06:39:03Z")

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