Calendar Problems

How to Hide Tentative Meeting Invitations in Outlook Calendar

Nimra Malik Oct 20, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to prevent incoming, unanswered meeting invitations from appearing on their calendar as "Tentative".

How to Hide Tentative Meeting Invitations in Outlook Calendar

Product: Microsoft Outlook
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: A user or their delegate needs to keep the calendar uncluttered by hiding meeting requests that have not yet been accepted or declined.
Observed behavior: Outlook automatically processes incoming meeting requests and places them on the calendar as Tentative before any response is given.

Before you start

Ensure you are using the Outlook desktop application, as the advanced view filter settings required to hide tentative meetings are not available in Outlook on the Web.

Solution 1Recommended

Use Advanced View Filters to Hide Unanswered Meetings

Create a custom calendar filter in Outlook desktop to automatically hide any meeting requests with a "Not yet responded" status.

Because the Set-CalendarProcessing command and AddNewRequestsTentatively setting apply primarily to resource mailboxes rather than standard user mailboxes, the most effective workaround is modifying your local calendar view.

Open View Settings

In the Outlook desktop application, navigate to your Calendar. Click on the 'View' tab located in the top ribbon, and then select 'View Settings'.

Access Advanced Filters

In the Advanced View Settings dialog box, click on the 'Filter...' button. Once the Filter window opens, switch to the 'Advanced' tab.

Configure the Meeting Status Condition

Click the 'Field' dropdown, point to 'All Appointment fields', and select 'Meeting Status'. Under the 'Condition' dropdown, choose 'not equal to'. Finally, in the 'Value' dropdown, select 'Not yet responded'.

Apply the Custom Filter

Click 'Add to List' to finalize the rule. Click 'OK' on all open dialog boxes to apply the filter to your calendar.

Use Advanced View Filters to Hide Unanswered Meetings

Preserved Mailbox Integrity: This method only hides the invitations from your calendar view. The meeting requests remain safely in your mailbox for you or your delegate to review and respond to.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I completely stop Outlook from adding tentative meetings to my mailbox?

For regular user mailboxes, Outlook automatically processes meeting requests to reserve the time slot. Settings like 'AddNewRequestsTentatively' apply primarily to resource (room) mailboxes. For standard users, utilizing a calendar view filter is the recommended workaround.

Will hiding these meetings affect my delegate's ability to see and respond to them?

No. The advanced view filter only alters how your local Outlook desktop calendar displays items. The actual meeting invitations remain in the mailbox, meaning your delegate can still view and respond to them normally.

Does this filter apply to Outlook on the Web or mobile apps?

No, advanced view filters are specific to the Outlook desktop application. They do not sync across devices, so tentative meetings will still appear when viewing your calendar via Outlook on the Web or the Outlook mobile app.

Outlook & Email Problems