WhenToMeetWhenToMeet

Calendar Event Filtering

When you connect a calendar, all events typically block your availability. Event filtering lets you exclude specific events—like reminders, blockers, or tentative meetings—so they don't prevent others from booking time with you.

What you can filter

You can configure filters per calendar connection to exclude events based on:

  • Categories - Exclude events with specific category tags (e.g., "Personal", "Reminder", "Blocker")
  • Transparency - Exclude "Free" or "Busy" events based on availability marking
  • Status - Exclude Tentative, Confirmed, or Cancelled events
  • Classification - Exclude Public, Private, or Confidential events

How to set up filters

  1. Sign in and go to Settings → Calendar Connections
  2. Find the calendar you want to filter
  3. Click the Filter Settings button next to the calendar
  4. Configure your filters:
    • Add category names to exclude (case-insensitive matching)
    • Check transparency types to exclude
    • Check event statuses to exclude
    • Check classification levels to exclude
  5. Click Save Filters

Your filters apply immediately to availability checks and booking pages.

Calendar provider support

Google Calendar

  • ✅ Transparency filtering (Free/Busy marking)
  • ✅ Status filtering (Tentative, Confirmed, Cancelled)
  • ✅ Classification filtering (Public, Private, Confidential)
  • ❌ Category filtering (Google Calendar doesn't support native categories)

Microsoft Calendar

  • ✅ Full support for all filter types
  • ✅ Categories, Transparency, Status, Classification
  • Note: Uses "showAs" field (Free, Tentative, Busy, Out of Office)

CalDAV and iCal Subscriptions

  • ✅ Full support for all filter types
  • ✅ Standard iCalendar properties (CATEGORIES, TRANSP, CLASS, STATUS)

Common use cases

Exclude blocker/focus time events Add categories like "Focus", "Deep Work", or "Blocker" to your filter list.

Ignore tentative meetings Enable status filtering and check "Tentative" to only count confirmed meetings.

Hide personal events from work bookings Filter by classification "Private" or add specific categories like "Personal".

Free up tentative Microsoft Calendar time Check "Tentative" under transparency to make that time available for booking.

Tips

  • Filters are per-connection, so you can have different rules for work and personal calendars
  • Category matching is case-insensitive ("personal" matches "Personal")
  • Changes apply immediately—no need to reconnect your calendar
  • If you have multiple connected calendars, configure filters for each separately

Troubleshooting

My filters aren't working

  • Verify the exact category names in your calendar match your filter list
  • Remember that Google Calendar doesn't support native categories
  • Try transparency or status filtering instead for Google Calendar

I don't see the Filter Settings button

  • Make sure you're signed in
  • Navigate to Settings → Calendar Connections
  • The button appears next to each connected calendar

Events are still blocking my time

  • Check that filters are saved (you should see an "Active Filters" summary)
  • Verify you're filtering the correct properties (categories vs transparency vs status)
  • Some calendar providers may not support all filter types

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