Microsoft To-Do missing category

Question

Hi --

I opened up Microsoft To-Do this morning and my main category, one I made for myself (called "Today") is no longer there. It's got all my most important reminders. What happened and what can I do?

Thanks,

Haim

Answer 1

Thanks for the reply, but it's not helpful. I see that I am not the only one to have complained about this--there are lots of posts about categories disappearing, in the forums and elsewhere.

"Today" was a list. I don't use groups. I don't use smart lists.

If there is no way to recover the list, this a major crisis for me. (Why wasn't I instructed to back up my lists if that needed to be done? Why isn't it automatic?)

I will certainly not continue to use Microsoft To Do under the circumstances.

Answer 2

I see that I am not the only one to have complained about this--there are lots of posts about categories disappearing, in the forums and elsewhere.

Then it's better to go here:

https://todosupport.microsoft.com/support?product_id=todo&auth=1&nf=1&fromAR=1

Follow the prompts to report your problems. This is for tech team to be aware of the problem and fix it. Please describe as detailed as possible, so that the problem will be solved faster.

If there is no way to recover the list, this a major crisis for me. (Why wasn't I instructed to back up my lists if that needed to be done? Why isn't it automatic?)

Different users have different needs. Few users need to export their lists, and Microsoft wants to make the app appear in minimalist style. I also understand that you want To Do to automatically export your list, because it is more convenient. But there are also many users who prefer to decide whether to export or not by themselves, and some users even think that the default automatic export is abuse of privacy. If you have this need, go to:

Microsoft To Do · Community

and make a upvote about this issue. This is to let Microsoft developer team hear your ideas and improve the products and services.

I totally understand your disappointment, and I know you just want to make Microsoft better. I can't guarantee that the problems you encounter will be resolved very soon, but your feedback matters a lot.

Wish you all the best!

Answer 3

Your problem is strange, which makes it difficult for me to figure out the root cause and a solution. I want to know:

1. Did you check if you have signed in correct e-mail account? You can check your account here

This may sound a little stupid, but it did happen with Microsoft member before. So I have to do ask you this.

2. Did you delete "Today" without being aware? Deleting something important by accident also occurred in Microsoft Community.
3. Where was this "Today"? Is it a list or a group? Or in existing smart lists? Smart lists can be hidden and unhidden. When they are hidden, they may look like disappeared. If it was in one of the smart lists, click and select Settings. Then check if the smart list is hidden or not.

I know this category is very important for you and I would also like to resolve your concern as soon as possible. But if the category is lost indeed, there is no way to recover it, and you may need to create a new one. I suggest you export your Microsoft To Do account to make a backup it the future. See Exporting your Microsoft To Do account for detailed steps.

Answer 4

Yuhao Li --

Thanks for your speedy reply. I tried the two things you suggested. I don't see my "Today" category on Outlook web. (I should point out that I don't use Outlook--does that make a difference?) Then I logged out and logged back into ToDo but the category is still not there.

I want to emphasize how important this is--among other things, I have long-term reminders in this category that I can't possibly reproduce from memory.

Thanks,

Haim

Answer 5

Hello , HaimWatzman

Welcome to Microsoft Community and appreciate your time taken for sharing detailed information. I understand that a category in Microsoft To Do is missing.

At this moment I can't reproduce the same problem in my own Microsoft To Do, so I haven't figured out the cause of the problem. But from the experience of other members in Microsoft Community, this should be a synchronization issue. Normally, tasks and categories you create in Microsoft To Do app are automatically synced to Outlook and Outlook Web App (OWA). So I suggest that you sign in Outlook and OWA with this account (See Add an email account to Outlook (microsoft.com) and How to sign in to Outlook on the web (microsoft.com)

See if you can find the category there.

If you can find it, log out of this account on Microsoft To Do app and log back in to see if you can find the category.

If your problem is still not resolved, or the task is not found on Outlook and OWA, please let me know in time, and I will continue to think of a solution.

Best Regard,

Yuhao Li| Microsoft Community Support Specialist