Classic Outlook not supporting Categories option

Question

Classic Outlook not supporting Categories option

Anonymous

I am running Classic Outlook but cannot activate Categories despite following all tips found online. My Outlook comes as part of my 365 subscription.

Can anyone please suggest how I can fix this?

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

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4 additional answers

Answer 1

Dear Paganini_Aus

Thanks for your reply

The Categories is only present on classic outlook for exchange protocol or outlook mailboxes.

If your mailbox is a gmail mailbox, there is indeed no such option.

You can feedback this issue by clicking on the help button on classic outlook and then clicking on feedback. Hopefully in subsequent updates of outlook versions, Microsoft will be able to fix this issue.

Sorry for not confirming your email address with you and causing it to take up your time.

In order to help users with the same issue, would you mind marking “yes” to this reply so that the solution can be quickly located for other users, thank you.

I hope the above information can help you.

Looking forward to your reply.

Best wishes

Clark | Microsoft Community Support Specialist

Answer 2

Thanks again Clark

I contacted MS directly and after an hour with Help team found the problem is not solvable.

One can't use categories when employing an Imap account as I do (gmail) and there are no workarounds. It's disappointing, but nothing can be done it seems.

Appreciate your support

Regards

Answer 3

Dear Paganini_Aus

Thanks for your reply

Have you tried the previous method of creating a new configuration file?

Also what version of outlook are you using and can you clarify? Is it possible to update outlook?

If possible, do you upload screenshots so we can understand your problem better?

I hope the above information can help you.

Looking forward to your reply.

Best wishes

Clark | Microsoft Community Support Specialist

Answer 4

Hi Clark

Many thanks for taking the time to respond -greatly appreciated.

I have been able to successfully create the Categories icon in the Ribbon on Outlook but it is greyed out. i.e. I can't activate the option even though I can see it there in grey tones.

I have also disabled all add-ins (all that I had were MS add-ins but I've disabled them all anyway). Sadly, this has had no impact on the icon - still grey.

So I have followed all suggestions but still no luck.

If you have any further suggestions, please do let me know.

Regards

Paul

Answer 5

Dear Paganini_Aus

Thanks for using Microsoft products and posting in the community.

For your feedback on the lack of category options on the classic version of outlook.

First of all make sure that it is in the outlook toolbar. You can click home-tags to check if categorize is there, if not, you can click file-options-customize ribbon-find categorize in the left option box, click new tab on the right to create a new group, then select categorize, then select new group, then click add on the right. Then click add on the right side and confirm. This way, categorize will be displayed in the new group.

If the problem still exists, it may be caused by third-party add-ons. You can disable third-party add-ons to troubleshoot the problem.

Turn an add-in off for Outlook for Windows - Microsoft Support

Or you can create a new configuration file to check if the problem is with the configuration file.

Create an Outlook profile - Microsoft Support

I hope the above information can help you.

Looking forward to your reply.

Best wishes

Clark | Microsoft Community Support Specialist

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Classic Outlook not supporting Categories option

4 additional answers