Filter by relationship tags to see only the pairings you want

Archive of Our Own (AO3) lets you exclude specific character pairings — called "ships" — so you only see stories with the relationships you're interested in. The fastest way is to use the "Exclude" filter on any work's page, which removes that pairing from your search results immediately.

When you're browsing a fandom or reading a specific work, you'll see character and relationship tags listed below the title. Next to each tag is a small minus sign (−). Click that minus sign next to any ship name, and AO3 will hide all works containing that pairing from your current search or browse session.

This method works right away but only lasts for your current browsing session. Once you close the page or navigate away, the filter resets. If you want to permanently block certain ships, you'll need to use your account settings instead.

Key Takeaways

  • Click the minus sign (−) next to any ship tag to hide that pairing from your current search results.
  • Use the "Exclude" field in the advanced search to block multiple ships at once across all your searches.
  • Save your exclusion preferences in your account settings under "Exclude" so they apply automatically to every search you do.
  • Excluded tags stay hidden even when you search different fandoms, unless you manually remove them.

Use the advanced search to exclude multiple ships at once

If you want to block more than one or two ships, the advanced search page is faster than clicking individual minus signs. Go to the AO3 homepage and click "Search" in the top navigation, then click "Advanced Search" on the results page.

Scroll down to the section labeled "Exclude." Type the ship name into the text field — use the exact tag format you see on the site, like "Character A/Character B." If you want to exclude multiple ships, type each one on a separate line or separate them with "OR" (in capital letters).

Run your search, and AO3 will hide every work tagged with those pairings. This method is cleaner than clicking minus signs one at a time, especially if you're trying to block five or more ships.

Save exclusions to your account so they apply automatically

To make your ship exclusions permanent across all your searches, log into your AO3 account and click your username in the top right corner. Select "Preferences" from the dropdown menu.

Scroll down to the "Exclude" field. Type the ship names you want to block, using the same format as the advanced search — one per line or separated by "OR." Click the "Update" button at the bottom of the page to save your changes.

From now on, any work tagged with those ships will be hidden from your search results, your browse pages, and your recommendations feed. You won't see them unless you manually remove the exclusion from your preferences.

Find the exact tag name if you're not sure how it's written

Ship tags on AO3 follow a specific format, and if you type them wrong in the exclude field, the filter won't work. The most common format is "Character A/Character B," with a forward slash between the names and no extra spaces.

The easiest way to find the exact tag is to search for a work with that pairing, then copy the ship name directly from the tag list below the title. Paste it into your exclude field exactly as it appears. Some fandoms use different formats — for example, some use "Character A & Character B" for friendships instead of romantic relationships — so checking a real work saves you from guessing.

If you're still not sure, search for the pairing name in the search box and look at the tag suggestions that appear. AO3 will show you the official tag format, and you can click on it to see how many works use that exact tag.

Remove or change your exclusions anytime

If you change your mind about a ship you've excluded, go back to your Preferences page and delete that ship name from the "Exclude" field. Click "Update," and works with that pairing will start showing up in your searches again.

You can also temporarily disable all your exclusions without deleting them. On the Preferences page, look for the checkbox next to "Exclude" — unchecking it will turn off all your exclusions for that session, but they'll be active again the next time you log in. This is useful if you want to browse a specific fandom without your usual filters for just one search.

Understand the difference between excluding ships and filtering by tags

Excluding a ship removes it from your results entirely. Filtering by tags is different — it lets you search only for works that contain a specific pairing. You can use both at the same time: filter to show only works with your favorite ship, then exclude any secondary pairings you don't want to see.

For example, you could filter to show only "Character A/Character B" works, then exclude "Character A/Character C" so you don't see stories where Character A is in multiple relationships. This combination gives you very precise control over what appears in your search results.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does a work still show up even though I excluded that ship?

The work might be tagged with a different version of the ship name. AO3 sometimes has multiple tags for the same pairing — for example, "John/Sherlock" and "Sherlock/John" are technically different tags. Try excluding both versions, or search for the pairing to see all the tag variations used in that fandom.

Can I exclude a ship just for one specific fandom?

Not directly — your account-level exclusions apply across all fandoms. However, you can use the advanced search to exclude ships only within a specific fandom search. Search for the fandom first, then use the "Exclude" field in the advanced search to block ships just for that fandom.

Do my exclusions affect other people's searches?

No. Your exclusions are private to your account. Other users will see all works, including the ones you've hidden. Your preferences don't change what appears on the site for anyone else.

What if I want to exclude a character instead of a specific ship?

You can exclude individual character tags the same way you exclude ships. Find the character's name in the tag list and click the minus sign, or type their name into the "Exclude" field. This will hide all works featuring that character, regardless of which pairings they're in.

Can I see a list of all the ships I've excluded?

Yes — go to your Preferences page and look at the "Exclude" field. Everything you've typed there is currently excluded. You can edit this field anytime to add, remove, or change your exclusions.