Please bring back the categories feature in Outlook for Mac.
It difficult to filter out the information while on the Calendar, Notes, Task or Contacts.
At least give the option to filter by Category on list view and collapse group like in Windows Outlook.

239 comments
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Sandra Anderson commented
Yes, this is a very useful feature. Without it, the categories are not as useful since they only provide you the color variations. I often want to hide certain categories especially if I am sharing my calendar externally since I do not want all tasks, personal events, etc. shown on my screen. Bring this feature BACK NOW!
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Daniel O'Donnell commented
Cannot do GTD without categories. Setting up categories according to GTD in Windows Outlook is useful.
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Mischa QUINTON commented
I've recently switched from a PC to a MAC, and I'm finding the Office for MAC very limited in comparison. Why is the functionality not identical?
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Brooke commented
As someone who has her entire team's calendar on her work calendar, I need this feature back, badly. Please bring it back!
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Anonymous commented
I just upgraded and missing this feature badly
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Anonymous commented
Microsoft what is the update here?
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P.Burgess commented
I don't understand why you removed the categories from the navigation pane. It was a very useful feature to select all contacts just in that category. Please bring it back!!!
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Murat Dincer commented
categories in navigation pane in outlook for mac is essential for my work
please bring back it for outlook 2019 for mac -
Ginny Marsh commented
It was so much easier when I could filter what categories showed in my calendar - so I could separate business and personal.
Now if I'm showing a client my availability, they can also see my personal bookings which is not good!
Please bring this function back! Many thanks. -
Joel Parker commented
I use GTD in Tasks, and so need the ability to show/hide certain categories to tailor my view.
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Tiffany Foster commented
We absolutely must have the ability to filter calendar categories, this is a non-negotiable. Otherwise, what's the point of the categories to being with?! Not to mention, when you have so many calendar invites and appointments - you need to be able to filter in order to make sure you're aware of your day!
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Anonymous commented
I definitely need ths.
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Ameya Limaye commented
This is a huge step in the backward direction and makes it impossible for me to see a good calendar view. I would like to have the option of categorizing less important stuff and make them remain on my calendar, but not visible. I could just click on the category if I ever need to view them. Now it is just a complete mess
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Chris Knadler commented
Please bring this back. This is a huge step backwards in terms of functionality and it makes it really difficult to wade through recurring calendar invites.
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Laura Seward commented
As a teacher, I have relied on this feature for years to use my calendar for project goal-setting with students. By filtering the calendar I can have everything I need in one calendar without showing my personal business to students. The way it is now I am faced with rebuilding my entire calendar elsewhere (no easy task) or showing all calendar entries to my students. Please bring back this very useful feature!
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Ayhan commented
The CATEGORIES feature in outlook for my contacts was REALLY USEFUL. Not having it anymore is a real pain and adds a lot to my workload.
I'm now thinking of ditching MS Office, cancelling my annual payment and just going over to all of the Mac packages. I'll miss Excel but I find the lack of any response from Microsoft on this problem very annoying. The feature was there, it was clearly used by many people, surely just putting it back cannot be that hard???
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Anonymous commented
Please bring back!!! When will outlook respond???
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Anonymous commented
Why on earth would you remove this feature? It's the only reason I use outlook for mac and not AWS workspaces with a windows versions of Outlook. At least windows version has the "custom views" work around but you haven't even given us this? Now my calendar is an unusable mess because I can't switch off non-critical events from my view! Terrible decision.
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Anonymous commented
Without Categories Outlook has zero advantages over GHoogle and all the other FREE Apps.
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DM commented
Office Mac team: Are you listening? This is so frustrating and has now garnered almost 1400 votes since December of 2018.