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Hacker News filter: hide the stories and comments you don't want
Smart Filter is a free Chrome extension that filters Hacker News. Add a rule like crypto and AI hype
or show hn*
, and it hides, blurs or dims every matching story and comment.
news.ycombinator.com
HiddenShow
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HiddenShow
news.ycombinator.com
3 hidden on this page
- crypto and AI hypeHide · this site · 2 here
- show hn*Hide · this site · 1 here
1,026credits left
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The Hacker News filter in short
Smart Filter checks each story on Hacker News lists such as the front page, new, ask and show, and each comment in a thread, on news.ycombinator.com. A story is read by its title, site and submitter, a comment by its author and text, up to 400 characters. A keyword rule such as show hn* matches words; an AI rule such as crypto and AI hype describes a kind of story. A hidden story takes its points and comments line with it and leaves a Hidden line with a Show button. A hidden comment folds only its own row, so its replies stay. Smart Filter sends nothing to Hacker News.
What it filters on Hacker News
Stories, with their line
A hidden story takes its points, submitter and comments line along, so the list stays tidy.
Comments one by one
A comment folds on its own. Its replies stay in the thread and are checked against your rules themselves.
Keywords for the tags
Show HN, Ask HN and Launch HN are words in the title, so a keyword rule such as show hn*, ask hn* hides them for free.
Stories by what they are
An AI rule such as crypto and AI hype judges what a story is about, whatever its title says. Rules work the same on Reddit.
Rules worth trying on Hacker News
Keyword rules suit the tags and names that titles really use. AI rules catch a kind of story or comment. For rules made of words only, see the keyword blocker.
Suggested
Offered in the popup- crypto and AI hype
- show hn*
Keyword rules
Free, run on your device- show hn*, ask hn*
- launch hn*
- who is hiring*
AI rules
One credit per item checked- startup funding announcements
- comments that are only snark
- stories about big tech layoffs
Filtering Hacker News: common questions
How do I filter Hacker News?
Open news.ycombinator.com, click the Smart Filter icon and add a suggested rule such as crypto and AI hype, or type your own. Each story and comment is checked as the page loads, and the matches fold into a Hidden line with a Show button.
Can I hide Show HN posts?
Yes. The keyword rule show hn* hides every story whose title contains Show HN. It is a keyword rule, so it is free and runs on your device. Add ask hn* or launch hn* to the same rule to hide those too.
Does it filter Hacker News comments?
Yes. Each comment is checked by its author and text. A hidden comment folds only its own row; the replies under it stay and are checked on their own.
How many credits does the front page use?
Keyword rules use none. AI rules come with up to 10,000 credits to start, and one credit checks one story against one AI rule: a front page of 30 stories and one AI rule uses up to 30 credits. Storys you have seen before are not charged again. Plans and top-ups add more.
Does Hacker News see that I filter?
No. Smart Filter changes the page only in your browser and sends nothing to Hacker News. AI rules send the rule and up to 400 characters of each story or comment to Smart Filter's server, and only after you agree; your Hacker News account and the page address are not part of it. See the privacy policy.
Hacker News, minus the hype.
Free in the Chrome Web Store.
Add to ChromeSmart Filter is an independent extension, not affiliated with Hacker News or Y Combinator.