# Sort Uncategorized Feedback into the Right Subthemes

Find the insights in each Deck theme that no subtheme holds yet, decide where each one belongs, and place them only after you approve the plan.

- URL: https://getdeck.io/playbooks/sort-uncategorized-insights
- Author: Matt Teixeira
- Published: 2026-11-01
- Updated: 2026-11-01
- Stage: Taxonomy

## What Are Uncategorized Insights?

Uncategorized insights are pieces of feedback that sit in a theme but in none of its subthemes yet. They build up after a large import. Sorting them means placing each one in a subtheme that fits, moving it to a better theme, or leaving it for Deck's next synthesis run when nothing fits well.

## Why New Feedback Sits Outside Your Subthemes

You import a quarter of interviews, and the subthemes do not move. The new quotes sit in the theme but in no subtheme, so the subtheme counts miss what customers said this month. You either wait for the next synthesis run or read every insight by hand to see where it belongs.

## How Deck Places Each Insight Where It Fits

Deck tracks how many insights in each theme no subtheme holds yet, and lists them with their quotes. You decide where each one goes: a subtheme of the same theme, a better theme, or nowhere yet. A wrong placement is worse than an uncategorized insight, so nothing is forced, and nothing moves until you approve the plan.

Deck features used:

- [Themes](https://getdeck.io/product/themes)
- [MCP Server](https://getdeck.io/product/mcp-server)

## How to Sort Uncategorized Insights in Deck

### 1. Check Your Plan Includes Subthemes

Subthemes need the Starter plan or higher. Check your plan in Settings → Billing before you start.

### 2. Pick the Themes to Sort

Open Visualize → Themes and start with the largest themes, or the ones a recent import fed. A theme needs 5 or more insights before Deck builds subthemes. Below that it shows a Below Threshold notice, so skip it.

### 3. Read the Subthemes First

Open the theme and use the Subthemes card, or go to Visualize → Subthemes sorted By Theme. Open each subtheme and read its narrative and key quotes, so you know what it holds.

### 4. Read the Insights No Subtheme Holds

Open the theme's All Insights tab and note the insights that fit none of its subthemes. Deck MCP lists exactly which insights are uncategorized and how many.

### 5. Decide Where Each Insight Goes

Give each insight one outcome: add it to a subtheme of this theme, move it to another theme, or leave it. Do not force a fit. When several insights share a new topic, the next synthesis run can build a subtheme from them.

### 6. Apply the Plan and Check the Subthemes

Placing an insight in a subtheme runs through Deck MCP, so give your approved plan to your agent. Then reopen the subthemes to see what they hold. Deck rebuilds subthemes on the weekly synthesis run, which can change the groups.

## Sort Uncategorized Insights with Your AI Agent

You need:

- Deck MCP connected to your agent
- Customer feedback already in Deck
- Deck Starter plan or higher

Your agent starts with the `explore_themes` tool.

Paste this prompt into your agent:

```text
Use Deck MCP. Fetch and follow https://docs.getdeck.io/docs/agents/workflows/sort-uncategorized-insights.md
```

Full agent workflow: https://docs.getdeck.io/docs/agents/workflows/sort-uncategorized-insights.md

## Insight Placement Plan Template

### Insight Placement Plan

```text
THEME
Theme: [Theme name]
Uncategorized insights: [Deck count]
Subthemes: [Subtheme A], [Subtheme B], [Subtheme C]

## Plan (grouped by target)
| Insight | Short quote | Outcome | Target |
|---|---|---|---|
| [Insight name] | "[quote]" | Add to subtheme | [Subtheme A] |
| [Insight name] | "[quote]" | Move to theme | [Other theme] |
| [Insight name] | "[quote]" | Leave | Next synthesis run: [reason] |

RULES
- Do not force a fit. A wrong placement is worse than an uncategorized insight
- Several insights on a new topic: leave them for the next synthesis run
- Many insights belong to other themes: review the theme taxonomy

AFTER
Uncategorized insights now: [Deck count]
Left for the next synthesis run: [count] because [reason]
```

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Which plan do we need?

Starter or higher. Subthemes are not on the Free plan, and the subtheme tools change nothing on Free.

### Does sorting cost credits?

No. The subtheme write tools spend no credits. Any member with Deck MCP access can use them.

### Why not wait for the next synthesis run?

You can. Deck rebuilds subthemes every week, on Sunday evenings UTC. Sorting now keeps subthemes current after a large import, and the next run can still change the groups.

### What if an insight fits nothing?

Leave it. A wrong placement is worse than an uncategorized insight. When several share a new topic, the next synthesis run can build a subtheme from them.

### Will this delete any subthemes?

Not unless you ask. If you do, the agent asks first every time, and the subtheme's insights go back to the theme as uncategorized. No insight is deleted.

### Can my AI agent run this?

Yes. With Deck MCP connected, paste the prompt on this page. The agent reads each theme's uncategorized insights and subthemes, shows you a placement plan, and asks before it changes anything.

## Related Playbooks

- [Theme Taxonomy Review: Clean Up Duplicate and Stale Themes](https://getdeck.io/playbooks/taxonomy-review.md): Find duplicate, vague, oversized, and stale feedback themes in Deck, decide one fix for each from real counts and quotes, and apply only what you approve.
- [Theme Taxonomy Design: Build Themes from Your Own Feedback](https://getdeck.io/playbooks/design-taxonomy.md): Design a theme taxonomy from your product areas and real customer quotes, then apply it in Deck with clear names and descriptions, by hand or with your agent.
- [Turn Customer Interview Transcripts into Insights and Themes](https://getdeck.io/playbooks/import-interviews.md): Upload interview recordings and transcripts to Deck and get insights linked to verbatim quotes and grouped into themes. Run it in the app or with your AI agent.