How to Create Categories in Microsoft To Do: 1-Min Guide

How to Create Categories in Microsoft To Do

Updated on:

April 6, 2026

By:

Madhav Bhandari

Try this interactive demo to learn how to create categories in Microsoft To Do.

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Microsoft To Do uses categories (from Outlook) to color-code and group tasks across lists. Here is the simple guide:

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On your Microsoft 365 main dashboard, click the App launcher (grid icon) in the upper-left corner.
From the app list, select To Do to open the application.
Open a task by clicking it, then click Pick a category in the details pane.
If no categories exist, go to Outlook > Settings (gear icon) > search "Categories".
Click Create new to add a custom category for your workflow.
Type your category name (e.g., Work), pick a color, and Save.
Return to To Do, open any task, click Pick a category, and select your new category.
Your task will now appear organized under your selected category.

📌 Why this matters

Creating categories transforms your scattered tasks into a visual system where priorities become instantly recognizable through color coding. You can spot urgent work items across different projects at a glance, making daily planning effortless.

Categories also sync across your entire Microsoft 365 ecosystem, meaning the same organizational structure appears in Outlook emails, calendar events, and tasks. This creates a unified workflow where everything connects seamlessly, eliminating the mental overhead of switching between different organizational methods across applications.

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