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How to Permanently Remove Categories from a SharePoint Calendar

Maira Mehtab Sep 20, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user needs to permanently delete specific category options from a SharePoint Calendar so they no longer appear in the drop-down menu.

Product: SharePoint
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Updating calendar list settings to clean up unused or obsolete category labels.
Observed behavior: Previously deleted category values keep reappearing in the calendar's drop-down menu after being removed.

Before you start

Ensure you have Site Owner or List Administrator permissions in SharePoint, as you will need sufficient access to modify the Calendar List Settings.

Solution 1Recommended

Remove Categories via Calendar List Settings

The most direct way to remove drop-down options is by editing the Category column's configured choices in your SharePoint list settings.

Navigate to List Settings

Open your SharePoint Calendar. Click on the 'Calendar' tab in the top ribbon and select 'List Settings' from the menu.

Locate the Category Column

Scroll down the settings page to the 'Columns' section and click on the 'Category' column link.

Delete Unwanted Choices

In the 'Type each choice on a separate line' text box, locate the categories you want to remove and delete them from the list.

Save Changes

Scroll to the bottom of the page and click 'OK' to apply your changes. The deleted categories should no longer appear in the standard drop-down menu.

Solution 2

Troubleshoot Reappearing Categories

If deleted categories return to the drop-down menu after modifying the list settings, investigate background configurations that might be restoring them.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why do deleted categories keep coming back in my SharePoint Calendar?

Deleted categories often reappear if your SharePoint calendar is synced with Microsoft Outlook, if a background workflow recreates them by pushing old data, or if custom list templates enforce specific category choices.

Will deleting a category remove the existing calendar events assigned to it?

No, deleting a category from the drop-down list choices in the settings does not delete existing calendar events. However, those events will retain the old category name as text until you manually update them to a new category.

How can I add a new category to my SharePoint Calendar?

Go to your Calendar's List Settings, click on the Category column, type your new category name on a new line in the choices text box, and click OK to save your changes.

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