# User watching categories despite not having access

**URL:** https://meta.discourse.org/t/user-watching-categories-despite-not-having-access/102326
**Category:** UX
**Created:** [November 19, 2018, 5:47pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/user-watching-categories-despite-not-having-access/102326 "2018-11-19T17:47:52Z")
**Posts on this page:** 1
**Showing post:** 2

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### Author: ![simon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/meta/user_avatar/meta.discourse.org/simon/32/339122_2.png) [@simon](https://meta.discourse.org/u/simon)
#### Post date: [November 19, 2018, 6:06pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/user-watching-categories-despite-not-having-access/102326/2 "2018-11-19T18:06:18Z")

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> [@tophee](#):
>
> I check the users category settings (under `u/<username>/preferences/categories` ) and find that categories privateA, privateB, and privateC are all listed in the users `watching first post` settings.

As an admin, you will see that the user is watching the private categories. If you impersonate the user, instead of viewing their profile as an admin, you will not see the private categories in their notification settings. The private categories will not appear for the user unless they are granted access to them.

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