--- title: "Keyword Block Lists" slug: "keyword-block-lists" description: "Gain precision in brand safety with Keyword Blocklists, allowing you to block specific terms and control ad placements effectively." tags: ["Keyword Blocklists", "Brand Safety", "Ad Set Management"] updated: 2026-08-18T19:41:33Z published: 2026-08-18T19:41:33Z canonical: "help.quantcast.com/keyword-block-lists" --- > ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.quantcast.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Keyword Block Lists While our default brand safety covers the "big stuff" automatically, our Keyword Blocklists give you the power of precision. This Quantcast-powered solution allows you to block specific terms that may not align with your brand, providing extra control over where your ads appear. Because this is a native Quantcast tool, it integrates seamlessly with our bidding engine, though we always recommend keeping your list focused to maintain optimal scale. ### When to use this: **Industry-Specific Sensitivities:** Block niche terms that might be unique to your business (e.g., a travel brand blocking "flight delays" or "cancellations"). ### When to not use this: **Broad Brand Safety Terms**: Avoid blocking words related to standard Brand Safety terms; this is already handled by our default safety and allowlists. Doing so manually will unnecessarily limit your scale. **Caution**: Keyword Blocklists utilize an exact match system. This means the system will block any word that contains your keyword. For example, blocking the keyword "cat" will also inadvertently block high-quality content containing words like "category," "catalog," or "catalyst." Always review your list for short character strings that could unintentionally limit your reach. ## **Organizational Blocklists** ### **Create a New List** 1. From the top navigation menu, select **Inventory** from the **Assets** section. ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/9a180fa0-df3b-4942-a5f6-b3905cf917d9/Images/Documentation/QFM Inventory .png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-08T07%3A25%3A32Z&se=2026-11-08T08%3A25%3A32Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=t890%2FIQSqHgGIG5C4rR52oKFqlGLhh1vwvXkXenaPNA%3D) 1. On the left-hand side of the page, select **Contextual Blocklists**. ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/9a180fa0-df3b-4942-a5f6-b3905cf917d9/Images/Documentation/QFM Contextual Blocklist.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-08T07%3A25%3A32Z&se=2026-11-08T08%3A25%3A32Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=t890%2FIQSqHgGIG5C4rR52oKFqlGLhh1vwvXkXenaPNA%3D) 2. To create a new blocklist, click the **Add New List** button. ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/9a180fa0-df3b-4942-a5f6-b3905cf917d9/Images/Documentation/QFM Add New List.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-08T07%3A25%3A32Z&se=2026-11-08T08%3A25%3A32Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=t890%2FIQSqHgGIG5C4rR52oKFqlGLhh1vwvXkXenaPNA%3D) 4. Give your list a name and click **Add Keywords**. ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/9a180fa0-df3b-4942-a5f6-b3905cf917d9/Images/Documentation/QFM Contextual Blocklist Name.PNG?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-08T07%3A25%3A32Z&se=2026-11-08T08%3A25%3A32Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=t890%2FIQSqHgGIG5C4rR52oKFqlGLhh1vwvXkXenaPNA%3D) 1. There are two ways to add keyword blocklists, upload a .txt or .csv file or add words manually. To upload a file, drag and drop the file into the box. ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/9a180fa0-df3b-4942-a5f6-b3905cf917d9/Images/Documentation/QFM Contextual Blocklist file upload.PNG?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-08T07%3A25%3A32Z&se=2026-11-08T08%3A25%3A32Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=t890%2FIQSqHgGIG5C4rR52oKFqlGLhh1vwvXkXenaPNA%3D) Format the file as a simple list with each word on its own line. ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/9a180fa0-df3b-4942-a5f6-b3905cf917d9/Images/Documentation/Contextual Blocklist csv.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-08T07%3A25%3A32Z&se=2026-11-08T08%3A25%3A32Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=t890%2FIQSqHgGIG5C4rR52oKFqlGLhh1vwvXkXenaPNA%3D) 1. To add words manually, click on **add keywords manually** and enter the words on the modal screen. Click **Add** to save the list. ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/9a180fa0-df3b-4942-a5f6-b3905cf917d9/Images/Documentation/Contex blocklist manual.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-08T07%3A25%3A32Z&se=2026-11-08T08%3A25%3A32Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=t890%2FIQSqHgGIG5C4rR52oKFqlGLhh1vwvXkXenaPNA%3D) > **Note**: Adding generic/common keywords such as “to,” “car,” “train,” “and,” “what,” etc., may limit inventory and delivery. Quantcast recommends avoiding such keywords to prevent overclocking and ensure campaigns are performing and delivering in full. ## **Edit an Existing List** To edit an existing list, hover over the name of the list and click on **Edit**. ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/9a180fa0-df3b-4942-a5f6-b3905cf917d9/Images/Documentation/QFM Edit blocklist.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-08T07%3A25%3A32Z&se=2026-11-08T08%3A25%3A32Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=t890%2FIQSqHgGIG5C4rR52oKFqlGLhh1vwvXkXenaPNA%3D) **NOTE**: This creates / edits your blocklist. To use it, go to your Ad Set and attach the blocklist to that Ad Set (see below or the [Creating an Ad Set](/v1/docs/new-ad-set-creation) article) ## **Using Keyword Blocklists in an Ad Set*** When creating a new Ad Set* or editing an existing one, in the **Inventory** section, you will find Contextual Blocklists under **Additional Settings > Brand Safety**. *Note: Contextual blocklists cannot be used in CTV ad sets. ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/9a180fa0-df3b-4942-a5f6-b3905cf917d9/Images/Documentation/QFM Ad Set blocklists.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-08T07%3A25%3A32Z&se=2026-11-08T08%3A25%3A32Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=t890%2FIQSqHgGIG5C4rR52oKFqlGLhh1vwvXkXenaPNA%3D) Click in the box and select the desired blocklist. ## Related - [Inventory](/inventory-3.md)