Search Exclude Category

// Search Exclude Category / Kiri Vadivelu / 2026

function exclude_categories_from_search( $query ) {

    if ( ! is_admin() && $query->is_search && $query->is_main_query() ) {

        // Replace with your negative category IDs

        $query->set( 'cat', '-1,-2' );

    }

}

add_action( 'pre_get_posts', 'exclude_categories_from_search' );