> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://www.zerabooks.com/help/llms.txt).

# Review and fix categories

ZeraBooks categorizes every statement line. Switch to Edit to review the lines that need a look, fix a category, or set one category on many lines at once.

## What "need review" means

Every imported line gets a category. A line counts toward **need review** when:

- the statement didn't give enough detail to choose, so the line sits in **Uncategorized Income** or **Uncategorized Expense**; or
- ZeraBooks' AI review flagged the category, for example "66100 Professional Fees may not fit this transaction."

Flagged lines still count in your books; the chip tells you which ones are worth a second look.

## Fix a category

1. In the left navigation, click **Banks & Cards** and select the account.
2. Switch to **Edit** at the top of the page.
3. Click the **need review** chip to show only the lines that need a look. Click it again to show every line.
4. Click a line's category and type to search, e.g. "fees". Pick the right category.

![Edit mode on Banks & Cards: the need-review chip, and a category picker open on a flagged row](https://www.zerabooks.com/help/shots/banks-review-categories.png)

The change saves as soon as you pick. If other lines from the same merchant have a different category, ZeraBooks offers to fix them too. See [Apply a correction to similar transactions](https://www.zerabooks.com/help/banks-and-cards/apply-a-correction-to-similar-transactions).

{% hint style="info" %}
**Tip:** Not sure yet? Keep a line Uncategorized while you check its receipt or ask your client. ZeraBooks remembers your corrections for future statements.
{% endhint %}

### Suggestions and "Looks right"

In **Edit**, an Uncategorized line may show suggested categories as small buttons under its category. Click one to use it. A flagged line whose category is correct shows **Looks right**; click it to keep the category and clear the flag.

## Set one category on many lines

1. In **Edit**, tick the checkbox on each line you want to change.
2. Next to "{n} selected", open **Set category** and pick the category.
3. ZeraBooks shows "N transactions categorized". Click **Clear** to unselect lines without changing anything.

## Lines you can't change here

Some lines have no category picker, even in **Edit**:

- **Transfers and card payments.** Their category is the other account. See [Transfers, credit-card payments and owner draws](https://www.zerabooks.com/help/banks-and-cards/transfers-card-payments-and-owner-draws).
- **Bill and invoice payments.** Their category comes from the bill or invoice they pay.
- **Lines matched to a manual entry.** See [Match manual entries to statement lines](https://www.zerabooks.com/help/banks-and-cards/match-manual-entries-to-statement-lines).
- **Cleared prior books.** Lines already counted in your opening books show **Cleared prior books** instead of a category.
- **Closed months.** In a closed month, the page says "This month is closed. The books are locked through {date}. Reopen from Reconciliations to change it."

## Frequently Asked Questions

<details>
<summary>Why can't I change a category?</summary>

You're in **View**, or the line is a transfer, a bill or invoice payment, a line matched to a manual entry, or in a closed month. Switch to **Edit** first; for the others, see the list above.
</details>

<details>
<summary>What does "This date is in a closed period" mean?</summary>

The books are closed through a date on or after this line. Reopen the books in Reconciliations to change it. See [Close and reopen the books](https://www.zerabooks.com/help/reconciliations/close-and-reopen-the-books).
</details>

<details>
<summary>What does "Category changed since this register loaded" mean?</summary>

Someone or something (such as Autopilot) changed this line's category after you opened the page. Click **Reload saved categories** to see the saved category, then decide whether to change it again.
</details>

<details>
<summary>Does changing a category affect reconciliation?</summary>

No. Categories don't change an account's balance, so a tied or finalized month stays that way.
</details>

<details>
<summary>How do I see every line that needs review across all months?</summary>

On All Clients, click a client's **Review** count. Banks & Cards opens on the account with the most lines to review, with the period set to All Time and the review filter on.
</details>

<details>
<summary>Will ZeraBooks learn from my corrections?</summary>

Yes. ZeraBooks remembers your corrections for future statements. Lines you categorized yourself are never changed by **Apply to similar**.
</details>

---

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