# Follow Category Button
**URL:** https://meta.discourse.org/t/follow-category-button/309682
**Category:** Theme component
**Tags:** official, follow-category-button
**Created:** [May 28, 2024, 9:51am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/follow-category-button/309682 "2024-05-28T09:51:21Z")
**Posts on this page:** 15
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Discourse](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Discourse)
#### Post date: [May 28, 2024, 9:51am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/follow-category-button/309682/1 "2024-05-28T09:51:21Z")
| | | |
| --- | --- | --- |
| :discourse2: | **Summary** | **Follow Category Button** replaces the bell icon on category pages with a user intuitive “Follow” button |
| 👓 | **Preview** | [Preview on Discourse Theme Creator](https://discourse.theme-creator.io/theme/Discourse/follow-category-button) |
| 🛠 | **Repository** | [https://github.com/discourse/discourse-follow-category](https://github.com/discourse/discourse-follow-category) |
| ❓ | **Install Guide** | [How to install a theme or theme component](https://meta.discourse.org/t/how-do-i-install-a-theme-or-theme-component/63682) |
| 📖 | **New to Discourse Themes?** | [Beginner’s guide to using Discourse Themes](https://meta.discourse.org/t/beginners-guide-to-using-discourse-themes/91966) |
Install this theme component
> [@](#):
>
> :discourse2: As this is an #official theme component maintained by the Discourse team, #Support, #Contribute > Bug, #Contribute > UX, and #Contribute > Feature requests can be made in the respective categories here on Meta, and tagged with the appropriate theme component tag. Click on a link below to get one started. 👍
>
> [❓ **Support**](https://meta.discourse.org/new-topic?category_id=6&tags=follow-category-button "Ask for support on configuring and using Follow Category Button") [🐛 **Bug**](https://meta.discourse.org/new-topic?category_id=1&tags=follow-category-button "A bug report means something is broken, preventing normal/typical use of the theme component") [👀 **UX**](https://meta.discourse.org/new-topic?category_id=9&tags=follow-category-button "Discussion about the user interface of Follow Category Button, and how features are presented (including language and UI elements)") [💡 **Feature**](https://meta.discourse.org/new-topic?category_id=2&tags=follow-category-button "Discussion about how existing Follow Category Button features can be improved or enhanced, and how proposed new features could work")
### What Does It Do?
The **Follow Category Button** theme component replaces the traditional bell icon on the categories page with a more intuitive “Follow” button.
Here’s how it works:
- **Follow Button** : Users can now see a “Follow” button instead of the default bell icon.
- **Change Notification Level** : Clicking the “Follow” button will automatically change the category notification level to “Watching First Post”, optimizing for a sane default.
- **Dynamic Button Label** : Once a user follows a category, the button label updates to “Following” to provide a clear indication of the user’s notification status.
### Why Use It?
This component aims to improve user interaction with categories by making it more apparent and user-friendly to follow important discussions with a click of a button and optimizing for sane default.
### Settings
| Translation | Default |
| --- | --- |
| follow\_category\_button\_title | Follow |
| category\_options.notifications.title | change notification level for this category |
| category\_options.notifications.watching.label | Following |
| category\_options.notifications.watching.title | Watching |
| category\_options.notifications.watching.description | You will automatically watch all topics in this category. You will be notified of every new post in every topic, and a count of new replies will be shown. |
| category\_options.notifications.watching\_first\_post.label | Following |
| category\_options.notifications.watching\_first\_post.title | Watching First Post |
| category\_options.notifications.watching\_first\_post.description | You will be notified of new topics in this category but not replies to the topics. |
| category\_options.notifications.tracking.label | Following |
| category\_options.notifications.tracking.title | Tracking |
| category\_options.notifications.tracking.description | You will automatically track all topics in this category. You will be notified if someone mentions your @name or replies to you, and a count of new replies will be shown. |
| category\_options.notifications.regular.label | Follow |
| category\_options.notifications.regular.title | Normal |
| category\_options.notifications.regular.description | You will be notified if someone mentions your @name or replies to you. |
| category\_options.notifications.muted.label | Muted |
| category\_options.notifications.muted.title | Muted |
| category\_options.notifications.muted.description | You will never be notified of anything about new topics in this category, and they will not appear in latest. |
> :discourse2: **Hosted by us?** Theme components are available to use on our Standard, Business, and Enterprise plans.
> Last edited by @JammyDodger 2024-06-12T17:35:31Z
>
> > **Check document**
> >
> > Perform check on document:
---
### Author:  [@Jay91](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Jay91)
#### Post date: [June 6, 2024, 7:19pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/follow-category-button/309682/2 "2024-06-06T19:19:12Z")
This will work perfectly with user custom feed.
like you show only the posts from the categories you are subscribed to as homepage feed.
---
### Author:  [@tpetrov](https://meta.discourse.org/u/tpetrov)
#### Post date: [June 10, 2024, 1:18am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/follow-category-button/309682/3 "2024-06-10T01:18:25Z")
Can this be done for tags also?
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### Author:  [@hoangphuctran93](https://meta.discourse.org/u/hoangphuctran93)
#### Post date: [June 10, 2024, 4:42am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/follow-category-button/309682/4 "2024-06-10T04:42:47Z")
Please add follow bell on category page.This helps users quickly follow a category, similar to how social networks are doing
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### Author:  [@Moin](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Moin)
#### Post date: [June 10, 2024, 4:48am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/follow-category-button/309682/5 "2024-06-10T04:48:31Z")
Have you already seen this
> [@Categories Tracking Toggle](https://meta.discourse.org/t/categories-tracking-toggle/207150):
>
> discourse2Summary Categories Tracking Toggle places a toggle button on each category on the categories page.hammer_and_wrenchRepository Link [https://github.com/discourse/discourse-categories-tracking-toggle](https://github.com/discourse/discourse-categories-tracking-toggle)open_bookNew to Discourse Themes? [Beginner’s guide to using Discourse Themes](https://meta.discourse.org/t/beginners-guide-to-using-discourse-themes/91966) Install this theme component information_source Note that it does not work on the “box” style category pages, which do not yet support a section for muted categories. Features C…
---
### Author:  [@hoangphuctran93](https://meta.discourse.org/u/hoangphuctran93)
#### Post date: [June 10, 2024, 4:50am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/follow-category-button/309682/6 "2024-06-10T04:50:28Z")
thank you, I’ve been waiting for this for a long time ^^ really happy that discouse always updates useful features and listens to everyone’s opinions.
---
### Author:  [@denvergeeks](https://meta.discourse.org/u/denvergeeks)
#### Post date: [June 10, 2024, 5:35am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/follow-category-button/309682/8 "2024-06-10T05:35:36Z")
To me (if I hadn’t read this post) this Follow button is confusing.
I think it would be more clear if the button text also made reference to what you would be following if you click it – something more like
Follow This Category or Follow the Xyz Category or just Follow Xyz
Or, the button text could be configurable in the settings.
---
### Author:  [@Moin](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Moin)
#### Post date: [June 10, 2024, 5:48am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/follow-category-button/309682/9 "2024-06-10T05:48:50Z")
> [@denvergeeks](#):
>
> Or, the button text could be configurable in the settings
It is. You can change all the strings in the theme translations section
---
### Author:  [@jrgong](https://meta.discourse.org/u/jrgong)
#### Post date: [June 20, 2024, 9:45am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/follow-category-button/309682/10 "2024-06-20T09:45:20Z")
> [@Moin](#):
>
> It is. You can change all the strings in the theme translations section
I don’t see the theme translations dropdown, is that not available on 3.2.2 stable?
---
### Author:  [@Moin](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Moin)
#### Post date: [June 20, 2024, 10:50am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/follow-category-button/309682/11 "2024-06-20T10:50:53Z")
Probably not. I think it was added in March.
---
### Author:  [@Jagster](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Jagster)
#### Post date: [December 20, 2024, 6:13pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/follow-category-button/309682/12 "2024-12-20T18:13:01Z")
At the moment there is visible buttons from this component, and buttons of Discourse, at same time. I think either is enough, not both 😏
---
### Author:  [@Roi](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Roi)
#### Post date: [January 1, 2025, 11:13pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/follow-category-button/309682/13 "2025-01-01T23:13:59Z")
Yeah, same here. If the component is active, the standard Discourse button should be hidden.
---
### Author:  [@th21](https://meta.discourse.org/u/th21)
#### Post date: [February 5, 2025, 11:58pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/follow-category-button/309682/14 "2025-02-05T23:58:17Z")
Can we submit a translation for an official theme component?
Didn’t find it on Crowdin, or does it have a different name?
---
### Author:  [@patrickemin](https://meta.discourse.org/u/patrickemin)
#### Post date: [July 20, 2025, 8:40pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/follow-category-button/309682/15 "2025-07-20T20:40:11Z")
Hi, it seems impossible to select the “Normal” notification state, is it as designed? When selecting normal, I am reverted to “First post tracked”.
---
### Author:  [@jrgong](https://meta.discourse.org/u/jrgong)
#### Post date: [November 10, 2025, 1:50pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/follow-category-button/309682/16 "2025-11-10T13:50:04Z")
When I test this TC on preview the button is not working and I see console log error:
```log
category.js:878 Uncaught TypeError: Cannot read properties of null (reading 'set')
setNotification @ category.js:878
followCategory @ follow-category-button.gjs:37
(anonymous) @ d-button.gjs:136
invoke @ index.js:264
flush @ index.js:180
flush @ index.js:334
_end @ index.js:762
end @ index.js:565
_runExpiredTimers @ index.js:869
setTimeout
setTimeout @ index.js:39
_installTimerTimeout @ index.js:912
_reinstallTimerTimeout @ index.js:896
_later @ index.js:829
later @ index.js:652
T @ index.js:562
_triggerAction @ d-button.gjs:133
click @ d-button.gjs:91
```