# Configure VM filters for VM groups

Use VM filters to control which VMs are included in a VM group. VM filters are useful when you want VM groups to stay up to date automatically (for example, you want to include VMs that match a certain naming convention) or when you want to exclude VMs that you don’t want to protect.

## Choose how to filter VMs

Use include filters when you want the VM group to automatically include VMs that match specific criteria.

Use exclude filters when you want the VM group to ignore certain VMs (for example, test VMs or placeholder VMs created by other tooling).

## Go to the VM group

1. From the Command Center navigation pane, go to Protect > Virtual machines.

2. On the VM groups tab, click the VM group.

## Configure VM filters

1. In the Content section, click Manage.

2. In the VM group content dialog box, click the Filters tab.

3. In the criteria list, select the filter type you want to use.

4. Enter the value to match (for example, a VM name pattern), and then review the VMs that match.

5. Select the VMs to include or exclude, and then click Save.

## Best practices for using filters

- Start with a narrow filter, confirm the results, and then broaden the filter if needed.

- If you exclude VMs by name pattern, use a consistent naming convention so the VM group stays accurate over time.

- If you use disaster recovery tooling that creates placeholder VMs, exclude those VMs so they aren’t selected for backup, such as placeholder VMs created by VMware Site Recovery Manager (SRM).

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