Outlook shortcut keys for "Categories" not working

4

1

I have assigned shortcut keys for 4 Categories in Outlook, assigning them to

Ctrl+F2 through Ctrl+F5

using the dropdown in the Categories-dialog.

However, none of the shortcuts are working, i.e. nothing happens when I press the shortcuts.

I have tried assigning them to other combinations like Ctrl+F10, but with no result.

I'm running on a Danish keyboard, but I have no problems with any other shortcuts.

Update

If someone should stumble over this later, the accepted answer below solved if for me in this instance. However, I have later encountered the same problem again. This time the keys were "moved" 5 places up. So the category that should have been assigned using Ctrl+F2, could be assigned by using Ctrl+F7!

Henrik Nielsen

Posted 2015-01-27T10:40:32.547

Reputation: 65

What type of account do you use? Exchange/IMAP/POP3/...? – thims – 2015-01-27T18:34:50.630

It's an Office 365 Exchange Account. – Henrik Nielsen – 2015-01-28T13:47:18.070

Maybe you have some kind of third-party add-in that intercepts these shortcuts? Try to run the Outlook in Safe Mode (outlook.exe /safe) and check if your shortcuts are working. – thims – 2015-01-28T14:09:52.167

Good suggestion, but no luck. Safe Mode didn't change anything. – Henrik Nielsen – 2015-01-30T10:45:47.607

That's weird. Ok, then you can try to use these particular shortcuts in other applications. For example, MS Word has build-in CTRL+Fn shortcuts: Ctrl+F2 opens Quick Preview and so on (https://support.office.microsoft.com/en-us/article/Keyboard-shortcuts-for-Microsoft-Word-95ef89dd-7142-4b50-afb2-f762f663ceb2#bm4)

– thims – 2015-01-30T16:58:41.927

Strange, CTRL+F2 in Words works and shows the Print Preview, as expected. Tried various other Fn-based shortcuts in other Office programs, i.e. Shift-F3 for changeing case in Powerpoint and they all work. Only Outlook and specifically the keys for assigning categories are not working. – Henrik Nielsen – 2015-02-09T09:25:35.450

Answers

2

I was searching on Google, and then I randomly stumbled upon the answer myself while playing around in Outlook. I'm using Outlook 2010, but I believe it should be the same for your Outlook 2013.

Here's what I did.

  1. Right-click the account folder in the folder tree (so not inbox, but the folder in the level above it: ExampleUser@Example.com)

  2. Choose Data Folder Properties.

  3. Click Upgrade to Color Categories... -> Yes -> OK.

  4. Exit Outlook and reopen it.

Your hotkeys should now work.

ApricotPanda

Posted 2015-01-27T10:40:32.547

Reputation: 36

For me it’s called Data File Properties. – bugybunny – 2018-04-23T08:15:38.147

Asked: 2015-01-27T10:40:32.547

Viewed: 9 598 times

Active: 2019-02-26T14:52:05.687