Microsoft 365 MCP Server

list-outlook-categories

list-outlook-categories

Read-only

Get all the categories that have been defined for a user.

Instructions

Get all the categories that have been defined for a user.

💡 TIP: Lists the user's Outlook categories (colored labels) used to tag messages, events, contacts, and tasks. Each category has displayName and color (preset0 through preset24, or 'none'). Use this to show available tags before applying via update-mail-message or update-calendar-event with body { categories: ['Category Name'] }.

Input Schema

Name	Required	Description
`top`	No	Page size (Graph $top). Start small (e.g. 5–15) so responses fit the model context; raise only if needed. Use $select to return fewer fields per item. For more rows, use @odata.nextLink from the response instead of a very large $top.
`skip`	No	Items to skip for pagination. Not supported with $search.
`count`	No	Set true to enable advanced query mode (ConsistencyLevel: eventual). Required for complex $filter on flag/flagStatus or contains(). The response then includes @odata.count, the total for the filtered collection, which can exceed the items returned when fetchAllPages hits its page/item cap.
`expand`	No	Navigation properties to inline, e.g. attachments on a message or event. Only navigation properties can be expanded: expanding a non-navigation property such as a message body fails with "Parsing OData Select and Expand failed". Request ordinary fields with $select instead. Some APIs accept only one relationship per request, so prefer a single value. Some relationships support nested selection, e.g. children($select=id,name).
`filter`	No	OData filter expression. Add $count=true for advanced filters (flag/flagStatus, contains()). Cannot combine with $search.
`search`	No	KQL search query in one pair of double quotes; directory (users/groups) instead quotes each clause with no outer pair. Cannot combine with $filter.
`select`	No	Comma-separated fields to return, e.g. id,subject,from,receivedDateTime
`orderby`	No	Sort expression, e.g. receivedDateTime desc
`skiptoken`	No	Next page: the @odata.nextLink from the previous response. Keep the other arguments the same.
`fetchAllPages`	No	Follow @odata.nextLink and merge up to 100 pages into one response. Can return enormous payloads—only when the user explicitly needs a full export. Prefer a small $top first, then paginate or narrow with $filter/$search.
`includeHeaders`	No	Include response headers (including ETag) in the response metadata
`excludeResponse`	No	Exclude the full response body and only return success or failure indication

Schema Changelog

Changes observed during successful MCP inspections.

Changed2 schema fields changedv0.166.0Oct 14, 2026

changedInput schema / properties / count / description

Previous value: -"Set true to enable advanced query mode (ConsistencyLevel: eventual). Required for complex $filter on flag/flagStatus or contains()."New value: +"Set true to enable advanced query mode (ConsistencyLevel: eventual). Required for complex $filter on flag/flagStatus or contains(). The response then includes @odata.count, the total for the filtered collection, which can exceed the items returned when fetchAllPages hits its page/item cap."

changedInput schema / properties / expand / description

Previous value: -"Navigation properties to inline, e.g. attachments on a message or event. Only navigation properties can be expanded: expanding a non-navigation property such as a message body fails with \"Parsing OData Select and Expand failed\", and an unsupported value may be ignored rather than reported. Request ordinary fields with $select instead."New value: +"Navigation properties to inline, e.g. attachments on a message or event. Only navigation properties can be expanded: expanding a non-navigation property such as a message body fails with \"Parsing OData Select and Expand failed\". Request ordinary fields with $select instead. Some APIs accept only one relationship per request, so prefer a single value. Some relationships support nested selection, e.g. children($select=id,name)."

Changed11 schema fields changedv0.154.2Sep 17, 2026

addedInput schema / properties / expand / anyOf

Added value: +[
+  {
+    "type": "string"
+  },
+  {
+    "items": {
+      "type": "string"
+    },
+    "type": "array"
+  }
+]

removedInput schema / properties / expand / items
```
Removed value: -{
-  "type": "string"
-}
```
removedInput schema / properties / expand / type
```
Removed value: -"array"
```

addedInput schema / properties / orderby / anyOf

Added value: +[
+  {
+    "type": "string"
+  },
+  {
+    "items": {
+      "type": "string"
+    },
+    "type": "array"
+  }
+]

removedInput schema / properties / orderby / type
```
Removed value: -"string"
```

addedInput schema / properties / select / anyOf

Added value: +[
+  {
+    "type": "string"
+  },
+  {
+    "items": {
+      "type": "string"
+    },
+    "type": "array"
+  }
+]

removedInput schema / properties / select / type
```
Removed value: -"string"
```
addedInput schema / properties / skip / minimum
```
Added value: +0
```

changedInput schema / properties / skip / type

Previous value: -"number"New value: +"integer"

addedInput schema / properties / top / minimum
```
Added value: +0
```

changedInput schema / properties / top / type

Previous value: -"number"New value: +"integer"

Changed1 schema field changedv0.154.0Sep 12, 2026

changedInput schema / properties / skiptoken / description

Previous value: -"Opaque cursor for the next page, taken from the previous response. Copy the $skiptoken value out of @odata.nextLink (or paste the whole nextLink URL — the token is extracted from it) and resend it with the SAME $filter/$select/$expand/$top as the first call. Use this to walk pages one at a time instead of fetchAllPages. Omit it for the first page."New value: +"Next page: the @odata.nextLink from the previous response. Keep the other arguments the same."

Changed2 schema fields changedv0.153.0Sep 12, 2026

changedInput schema / properties / search / description

Previous value: -"KQL search query — wrap value in double quotes. Cannot combine with $filter."New value: +"KQL search query in one pair of double quotes; directory (users/groups) instead quotes each clause with no outer pair. Cannot combine with $filter."

addedInput schema / properties / skiptoken

Added value: +{
+  "description": "Opaque cursor for the next page, taken from the previous response. Copy the $skiptoken value out of @odata.nextLink (or paste the whole nextLink URL — the token is extracted from it) and resend it with the SAME $filter/$select/$expand/$top as the first call. Use this to walk pages one at a time instead of fetchAllPages. Omit it for the first page.",
+  "type": "string"
+}

Changed1 schema field changedv0.134.4Jul 28, 2026

changedInput schema / properties / expand / description

Previous value: -"Expand related entities"New value: +"Navigation properties to inline, e.g. attachments on a message or event. Only navigation properties can be expanded: expanding a non-navigation property such as a message body fails with \"Parsing OData Select and Expand failed\", and an unsupported value may be ignored rather than reported. Request ordinary fields with $select instead."

Changed1 schema field changedv0.131.2Jul 18, 2026
- changedInput schema / additionalProperties
```
Previous value: -falseNew value: +true
```
Addedv0.114.0May 28, 2026
Removedv0.112.2May 22, 2026
Addedv0.110.0May 18, 2026
Removedv0.108.0May 15, 2026
Addedv0.96.0May 4, 2026

TDQS

A4.1/5.0

Behavior4/5

Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?

Annotations already declare readOnlyHint=true and destructiveHint=false, so safety is covered; the description adds value by disclosing the return shape (each category has displayName and color, preset0–preset24 or 'none'), which matters since no output schema exists. It does not discuss pagination or rate limits, but the returned-field detail is genuinely useful.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Conciseness4/5

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

Front-loaded with the core action, followed by a compact tip. Two sentences earn their place by adding return shape and a usage pointer, with no redundancy.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Completeness4/5

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

For a 12-param read tool with no output schema, the description supplies the essential return-item detail an agent needs. Pagination and filtering behavior are covered by well-documented schema fields, so overall completeness is good, only marginal gaps remain.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Parameters3/5

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

Schema description coverage is 100% with 12 fully documented parameters, so the schema already carries the load. The description adds no parameter-level guidance, which is the correct baseline of 3 when the schema is comprehensive.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Purpose5/5

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

States a specific verb and resource ('Get all the categories that have been defined for a user') and clarifies these are Outlook colored labels used to tag messages, events, contacts, and tasks. This clearly separates it from siblings like list-outlook-contacts or list-mail-folders.

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Usage Guidelines4/5

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

Gives concrete usage context: 'Use this to show available tags before applying via update-mail-message or update-calendar-event with body { categories: [...] }'. It names the downstream tools that consume the result, though it does not state exclusions or when-not-to-use cases.

Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.

Deploy Server

list-outlook-categories

Instructions

Input Schema

Schema Changelog

TDQS

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