 | Filter items by category |
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Filtering by category can help you stay focused because you see items only in the categories that you choose. For example, while you prepare for a trip, you can choose to display only the tasks that you've assigned to the Travel category.
Do any of the following:
 | Filter messages by category |
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At the bottom of the navigation paneThe left pane of the main Outlook window. In Mail view, the navigation pane displays the folder list. In Calendar, Contacts, Tasks, and Notes views, the navigation pane lets you show and hide items from your category list., click Mail
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In the folder listThe list of your mail folders visible in the navigation pane, which is the pane on the left side of the main Outlook window. The folder list is only visible in Mail view., click the folder containing the messages that you want to filter.
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On the Home tab, click the arrow next to Filters, point to Category, and then click a category.
 | Note To turn off filters, on the Home tab, click Filters. You can also turn off filters by clicking another folder in the folder list, or by changing to a different view. |
| Filter events, contacts, tasks, and notes by category |
The navigation paneThe left pane of the main Outlook window. In Mail view, the navigation pane displays the folder list. In Calendar, Contacts, Tasks, and Notes views, the navigation pane lets you show and hide items from your category list. lets you filter items by category when you view calendar events, contacts, tasks, and notes.
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At the bottom of the navigation paneThe left pane of the main Outlook window. In Mail view, the navigation pane displays the folder list. In Calendar, Contacts, Tasks, and Notes views, the navigation pane lets you show and hide items from your category list., click Calendar, Contacts, Tasks, or Notes.
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In the navigation pane, make sure that the category list is showing.
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Select or clear the category check boxes to show or hide items in the item listIn the main Outlook window, the list of messages, contacts, tasks, or other items. By default, the item list is displayed vertically between the navigation pane and the reading pane. or calendar.
| Show or hide categories in the navigation pane |
If you have some categories that you don't use very often, you can hide those categories from the list in the navigation pane. For example, you may want to hide the category listing for a project that has been completed. Hiding a category in the navigation pane does not hide all the items in that category. It just allows you to see a shorter category list.
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On the Outlook menu, click Preferences.
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Under Personal Settings, click Categories.
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Under Show in Navigation Pane, select or clear the check boxes that you want.
| Note By default, when you create a new category, the category is displayed in the navigation paneThe left pane of the main Outlook window. In Mail view, the navigation pane displays the folder list. In Calendar, Contacts, Tasks, and Notes views, the navigation pane lets you show and hide items from your category list.. To turn off this preference, on the Outlook menu, click Preferences, click Categories, and then clear the Show new categories in navigation pane check box. |
| See also |
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| Create or edit a category |
| Categorize an item |
| Display all items in a category |
| Filter messages or tasks |
