# Discovering & Exploring With Filters

SIMKL v2 introduces **powerful advanced filters** that go far beyond basic “watched / not watched” sorting.

These filters are designed to help you **discover smarter**, **clean your lists**, **avoid unwanted titles**, and **compare taste differences** all without manually removing anything.

## Advanced Filters Feature

{% content-ref url="discovering-and-exploring-with-filters/movies-filters" %}
[movies-filters](https://docs.simkl.org/how-to-use-simkl/core-features/search-and-discovery/discovering-and-exploring-with-filters/movies-filters)
{% endcontent-ref %}

{% content-ref url="discovering-and-exploring-with-filters/tv-shows-filters" %}
[tv-shows-filters](https://docs.simkl.org/how-to-use-simkl/core-features/search-and-discovery/discovering-and-exploring-with-filters/tv-shows-filters)
{% endcontent-ref %}

{% content-ref url="discovering-and-exploring-with-filters/anime-filters" %}
[anime-filters](https://docs.simkl.org/how-to-use-simkl/core-features/search-and-discovery/discovering-and-exploring-with-filters/anime-filters)
{% endcontent-ref %}

{% content-ref url="discovering-and-exploring-with-filters/custom-lists-filters" %}
[custom-lists-filters](https://docs.simkl.org/how-to-use-simkl/core-features/search-and-discovery/discovering-and-exploring-with-filters/custom-lists-filters)
{% endcontent-ref %}

{% hint style="info" %}
Studios, Network, People in Advanced Filtering? (Coming Soon- on To-do)
{% endhint %}

***

### a) Exclude My Custom Lists

**Exclude My Custom Lists** is an advanced SIMKL v2 filter that lets you **hide specific titles from your results without deleting them or modifying your lists**.

<figure><img src="https://1063116720-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MkYIJb2JfKN8kBT29bf%2Fuploads%2Fwyx5gZTJm6dmZUbxmIM4%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=83ffdd6b-3817-4faf-bf81-aad2f57efbed" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

Think of it as a Not Interested Feature:

* [x] items stay in your lists
* [x] Nothing is removed or unfollowed
* [x] items simply stop appearing where you don’t want to see them

This is especially powerful for **discovery, recommendations, and auto lists** where you want cleaner, more relevant results.

#### How It Works (Step-by-Step)

#### 1. Create or use an existing Regular Custom List

* Creating custom lists
* Lists can be **public or private**
* Examples:
  * *Movies I’m Not Interested In*
  * *Anime I Dropped Forever*
  * *Top 100 Movies I Rewatch All the Time*
  * *Weirdo Movies for Beginners*
  * *Long-Running Anime That I am not interested in*

You can also **use lists you follow**, not just lists you created.

#### 2. Open any SIMKL Page For Exploring Titles

This filter works inside any page that has v2 Filters enabled:

* Discover Page
* Recommendations
* Auto Lists
* Regular Lists
* Watchlists

<figure><img src="https://1063116720-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MkYIJb2JfKN8kBT29bf%2Fuploads%2FAfTG0tmIpaXolgd5Xlzw%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=521020cc-2e0d-418e-946d-e20ca0f73517" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

#### 3. Select lists from **Exclude My Custom Lists Filter**

* Expand **Exclude My Custom Lists**
* Start typing or select one or more lists

> You can currently exclude **up to 4 custom lists at once**

<figure><img src="https://1063116720-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MkYIJb2JfKN8kBT29bf%2Fuploads%2F0MZuWh4mVmOlNqFu4acT%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=f1578f16-8611-4eb7-b5ac-87b85eb3f96e" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

#### 4. See Results Instantly Update

* Every title that exists in the selected lists is **removed/hidden from view**
* This happens in real time
* No refresh, no reload
* You can also save it as a layout.

<figure><img src="https://1063116720-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MkYIJb2JfKN8kBT29bf%2Fuploads%2FkFEknTnClgdG4aZoveEu%2Fchrome_GZIAwreW9L.gif?alt=media&#x26;token=61b79c4b-98db-403d-aa76-dd4b933b7b6b" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

{% content-ref url="../custom-layout-and-view-designs/creating-new-view-layout" %}
[creating-new-view-layout](https://docs.simkl.org/how-to-use-simkl/core-features/custom-layout-and-view-designs/creating-new-view-layout)
{% endcontent-ref %}

#### Why This Exclude Lists Feature Is So Powerful

Most platforms let you “block genres” or “hide titles,” but SIMKL goes further:

* **You’re not filtering by “category”:** You decide *exactly* what disappears/hide, based on your own personal lists.
* **You keep your tracking history:** Nothing is deleted.,You simply say: *“Don’t show me anything from these lists right now.”*
* **It works everywhere:** Discover, Recommendations, Auto Lists, Saved Layouts  all clean.
* **It’s flexible:** Use your own custom lists OR lists you follow.
* You can combine up to 4 lists: Perfect for multi-layered filtering, *Hide remakes + hide long runners + hide documentaries + hide holiday movies.*

This is **personalized content control** at a level most alternative apps don’t offer.

#### Examples of few use cases:

* Hide your list of remade series and view only originals.
* Exclude your “Ghibli Favorites” list to discover non-Ghibli anime.
* Exclude “Long Anime” (One Piece, Naruto) to find short, bingeable shows.
* Not in a “Marvel or DC marathon” mood? Exclude the franchise list.
* Exclude documentaries when you want only fun content.
* Hide Christmas or Halloween lists outside their season.

The **Exclude My Custom Lists** feature is one of the most advanced personalization tools SIMKL offers.\
It gives you **total control** over what you see , without affecting your lists, your watch history, or your stats.

***

### b) Moderator Filters

Moderator Filters are designed to surface titles that are **missing, incomplete, or broken metadata** on SIMKL.

They are available across **TV Shows, Movies, and Anime** and are especially useful for moderators, contributors, and power users who care about **clean data, better discovery, and high-quality lists**.

Unlike regular discovery filters, these focus on **what’s missing**, not what’s popular.

<figure><img src="https://1063116720-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MkYIJb2JfKN8kBT29bf%2Fuploads%2F7t8g3M43FYsk8kEVnzem%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=01a8b23f-59c3-45ca-bde6-536fa98b9dc2" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

#### What Do Moderator Filters Do?&#x20;

Moderator Filters let you quickly find titles that are missing important information such as posters, summaries, trailers, or external database IDs (IMDb, TMDB, TVDB, etc.).

This makes it easy to:

* Spot metadata gaps
* Fix broken entries
* Improve discovery quality
* Clean up auto-lists and recommendations

#### Available Moderator Filters

You can filter titles that have **missing or hidden data**, including:

**Visual & Media Assets**

* **No Poster** – Titles missing a main poster
* **No Fanart** – Titles without background artwork
* **No Trailer** – No video trailer available

**Content & Metadata**

* **No Summary / No About** – Missing description or overview
* **No DVD Date** – Release or physical media date missing

**External Database Links**

* **No IMDb** – IMDb ID not connected
* **No TMDB** – TMDB ID missing
* **No TVDB** – TVDB ID missing
* **No MAL** *(Anime only)* – MyAnimeList ID missing

**Visibility Status**

* **Hidden from Search** – Titles intentionally hidden from public search results

<figure><img src="https://1063116720-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MkYIJb2JfKN8kBT29bf%2Fuploads%2FqRbeZV1av5mIYgtB41da%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=75ab6d5d-67e2-4419-9b70-8cbae911e76e" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

#### Who Are Moderator Filters For?

These filters are especially valuable for:

* [x] **SIMKL moderators & contributors** – to improve data accuracy
* [x] **Power users** – curating high-quality lists
* [x] **Community curators** – fixing gaps in popular franchises
* [x] **Metadata perfectionists** – who hate empty or broken listings

Even regular users benefit indirectly, because better data = better recommendations.

<figure><img src="https://1063116720-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MkYIJb2JfKN8kBT29bf%2Fuploads%2FJxE2vrFljxKoLLdAdRFz%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=4edafdd1-0bc9-4216-ac51-eafa7b83fcfb" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

#### Practical Use Cases

**Data Cleanup & Moderation**

* Find **popular movies without posters** and prioritize fixes
* Locate **shows missing summaries** before they appear in recommendations
* Identify **titles without IMDb / TMDB / TVDB** for proper linking

**List Quality Control**

* Audit large auto-lists for incomplete entries
* Remove low-quality or unfinished titles from curated collections
* Combine with sorting (Rank / Popularity) to fix **high-impact titles first**

**Discovery Improvements**

* Surface titles hidden from search for review
* Avoid recommending incomplete entries to new users
* Keep SIMKL discovery clean and trustworthy

When used together with **Advanced Filters, sorting options, and saved layouts**, Moderator Filters become a **professional-grade moderation and curation tool**.

{% hint style="success" %}
**Pro Tip:**\
Combine **Moderator Filters + Sort by Rank/Popularity** to catch the *most impactful missing data first,* fixing one popular title can improve thousands of user recommendations instantly.
{% endhint %}

***

### c) Limit Items Filters

The SIMKL Discovery engine has just received a major upgrade with the Limit Items filter.

This new feature allows you to control exactly how many results are displayed in your view, transforming massive databases into curated, digestible rankings.

<figure><img src="https://1063116720-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MkYIJb2JfKN8kBT29bf%2Fuploads%2FCr3DsWsoJtBvRKq1ELIw%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=d5751fb6-d2ab-4ba3-bd88-1c95859cbef8" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

Whether you are creating a dynamic Auto List or just browsing the global catalog, the "Limit Items" filter gives you surgical precision over your results.

{% content-ref url="../../getting-started-with-simkl/account-creation/basic-account-setup/profile-settings" %}
[profile-settings](https://docs.simkl.org/how-to-use-simkl/getting-started-with-simkl/account-creation/basic-account-setup/profile-settings)
{% endcontent-ref %}

#### Key Features of Limit Items

The new filter is located at the bottom of the V2 sidebar and offers multiple ways to constrain your results:

* Pre-set Quick Toggles: Instantly snap your list to 5, 10, 100, 500, 1k, or 10k items.
* Custom Manual Entry: Click the `...` box  to type in any specific number, like a "Top 50" or "Top 33".
* Range Slider: Use the bottom slider to visually scale your list from a single item to an infinite view (∞).

<figure><img src="https://1063116720-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MkYIJb2JfKN8kBT29bf%2Fuploads%2FEOg7rUwbBDpOzfG303B3%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=b05d9017-576d-4dfd-aa8e-1d0d76b97e16" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

#### Use Cases: Movies, TV Shows, and Anime

**1. Creating Custom Auto Lists**

Instead of having an Auto List that pulls in every single high-rated title (which could be 2,000+ items), you can now create a "living" Top 100.

* Example: Set your filters to *Genre: Horror* and *Rating: 8.0-10*. Apply Limit Items: 100.
* Result: You now have an Auto List that always shows only the 100 highest-rated Horror movies. As ratings change, the list updates itself automatically.

**2. Saved Layouts for Instant Browsing**

You can save the Limit filter as part of a Custom Layout.

* The Workflow: If you frequently prefer to only see a "Top 500" view while exploring the Anime section, apply the limit and click "Add new layout." \
  The Benefit: Now, with one click on your saved layout, SIMKL will hide the noise and only show you the top-tier items based on your sorting (Votes, Rank, or Last Watched).

**3. Streamlined Exploration**

This isn't just for list creators; it’s for regular browsing.\
If you are exploring a friend's massive collection of 5,000 movies and only want to see the "best of the best," you can apply the limit filter on the fly.\
Since this is on a user-by-user basis, your limited view won't affect the original list for others—it’s your personal lens on their data.

***

## Compare With Friends Watchlists

{% content-ref url="../watchlists-and-custom-lists/how-to-use-watchlists/compare-watchlists" %}
[compare-watchlists](https://docs.simkl.org/how-to-use-simkl/core-features/watchlists-and-custom-lists/how-to-use-watchlists/compare-watchlists)
{% endcontent-ref %}

{% content-ref url="../social-and-community/watch-party-with-friends" %}
[watch-party-with-friends](https://docs.simkl.org/how-to-use-simkl/core-features/social-and-community/watch-party-with-friends)
{% endcontent-ref %}

SIMKL’s **friend comparison and rating filters** turn your watchlists into a powerful discovery and decision-making tool. Instead of guessing what to watch next—or endlessly scrolling—you can instantly compare your activity with your friends and filter results based on **ratings, watch status, and recency**.

This feature is available across **Movies, TV Shows, and Anime**.

#### What Does This Feature Do?

This filter lets you **compare your watch data against your friends’ data** in real time.

Instead of asking:

> *“What should we watch together?”*

SIMKL shows you the answer visually, based on **actual viewing history, ratings, and last watched activity**.

You can:

* Compare **watch status**
* Compare **ratings** (yours, your friend’s)
* Sort titles based on **who watched what and when**

<figure><img src="https://1063116720-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MkYIJb2JfKN8kBT29bf%2Fuploads%2FidzMJnMyRGpKeBpKxsV9%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=dbc3648d-1839-4e10-9c87-b816c0d6ad5f" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>