diff --git a/backend/src/schema/resolvers/user_management.js b/backend/src/schema/resolvers/user_management.js
index beb2cddb3..d88eafdae 100644
--- a/backend/src/schema/resolvers/user_management.js
+++ b/backend/src/schema/resolvers/user_management.js
@@ -20,16 +20,22 @@ export default {
         const result = await transaction.run(
           `
             MATCH (user:User {id: $id})
-            WITH user, [(user)<-[:OWNED_BY]-(medium:SocialMedia) | properties(medium) ] as media
-            RETURN user {.*, socialMedia: media } as user
+            OPTIONAL MATCH (category:Category) WHERE NOT ((user)-[:NOT_INTERESTED_IN]->(category))
+            OPTIONAL MATCH (cats:Category)
+            WITH user, [(user)<-[:OWNED_BY]-(medium:SocialMedia) | properties(medium) ] AS media, category, toString(COUNT(cats)) AS categoryCount
+            RETURN user {.*, socialMedia: media, activeCategories: collect(category.id) } AS user, categoryCount
           `,
           { id: user.id },
         )
-        log(result)
-        return result.records.map((record) => record.get('user'))
+        const [categoryCount] = result.records.map((record) => record.get('categoryCount'))
+        const [currentUser] = result.records.map((record) => record.get('user'))
+        // frontend expects empty array when all categories are selected
+        if (currentUser.activeCategories.length === parseInt(categoryCount))
+          currentUser.activeCategories = []
+        return currentUser
       })
       try {
-        const [currentUser] = await currentUserTransactionPromise
+        const currentUser = await currentUserTransactionPromise
         return currentUser
       } finally {
         session.close()
diff --git a/backend/src/schema/resolvers/user_management.spec.js b/backend/src/schema/resolvers/user_management.spec.js
index 264cf2752..e7f2f3ed1 100644
--- a/backend/src/schema/resolvers/user_management.spec.js
+++ b/backend/src/schema/resolvers/user_management.spec.js
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import { createTestClient } from 'apollo-server-testing'
 import createServer, { context } from '../../server'
 import encode from '../../jwt/encode'
 import { getNeode } from '../../db/neo4j'
+import { categories } from '../../constants/categories'
 
 const neode = getNeode()
 let query, mutate, variables, req, user
@@ -118,6 +119,7 @@ describe('currentUser', () => {
         }
         email
         role
+        activeCategories
       }
     }
   `
@@ -172,6 +174,52 @@ describe('currentUser', () => {
         }
         await respondsWith(expected)
       })
+
+      describe('with categories in DB', () => {
+        beforeEach(async () => {
+          await Promise.all(
+            categories.map(async ({ icon, name }, index) => {
+              await Factory.build('category', {
+                id: `cat${index + 1}`,
+                slug: name,
+                name,
+                icon,
+              })
+            }),
+          )
+        })
+
+        it('returns empty array for all categories', async () => {
+          await respondsWith({
+            data: {
+              currentUser: expect.objectContaining({ activeCategories: [] }),
+            },
+          })
+        })
+
+        describe('with categories saved for current user', () => {
+          const saveCategorySettings = gql`
+            mutation ($activeCategories: [String]) {
+              saveCategorySettings(activeCategories: $activeCategories)
+            }
+          `
+          beforeEach(async () => {
+            await mutate({
+              mutation: saveCategorySettings,
+              variables: { activeCategories: ['cat1', 'cat3', 'cat5', 'cat7'] },
+            })
+          })
+
+          it('returns only the saved active categories', async () => {
+            const result = await query({ query: currentUserQuery, variables })
+            expect(result.data.currentUser.activeCategories).toHaveLength(4)
+            expect(result.data.currentUser.activeCategories).toContain('cat1')
+            expect(result.data.currentUser.activeCategories).toContain('cat3')
+            expect(result.data.currentUser.activeCategories).toContain('cat5')
+            expect(result.data.currentUser.activeCategories).toContain('cat7')
+          })
+        })
+      })
     })
   })
 })
diff --git a/backend/src/schema/resolvers/users.js b/backend/src/schema/resolvers/users.js
index 23a39a2a1..12f00ffb6 100644
--- a/backend/src/schema/resolvers/users.js
+++ b/backend/src/schema/resolvers/users.js
@@ -286,6 +286,10 @@ export default {
           { id },
         )
       })
+
+      // frontend gives [] when all categories are selected (default)
+      if (activeCategories.length === 0) return true
+
       const writeTxResultPromise = session.writeTransaction(async (transaction) => {
         const saveCategorySettingsResponse = await transaction.run(
           `
diff --git a/backend/src/schema/resolvers/users.spec.js b/backend/src/schema/resolvers/users.spec.js
index 7116d2201..d8fce3b29 100644
--- a/backend/src/schema/resolvers/users.spec.js
+++ b/backend/src/schema/resolvers/users.spec.js
@@ -602,9 +602,7 @@ describe('save category settings', () => {
     const userQuery = gql`
       query ($id: ID) {
         User(id: $id) {
-          activeCategories {
-            id
-          }
+          activeCategories
         }
       }
     `
@@ -631,11 +629,7 @@ describe('save category settings', () => {
               data: {
                 User: [
                   {
-                    activeCategories: expect.arrayContaining([
-                      { id: 'cat1' },
-                      { id: 'cat3' },
-                      { id: 'cat5' },
-                    ]),
+                    activeCategories: expect.arrayContaining(['cat1', 'cat3', 'cat5']),
                   },
                 ],
               },
@@ -678,11 +672,11 @@ describe('save category settings', () => {
                 User: [
                   {
                     activeCategories: expect.arrayContaining([
-                      { id: 'cat10' },
-                      { id: 'cat11' },
-                      { id: 'cat12' },
-                      { id: 'cat8' },
-                      { id: 'cat9' },
+                      'cat10',
+                      'cat11',
+                      'cat12',
+                      'cat8',
+                      'cat9',
                     ]),
                   },
                 ],
diff --git a/backend/src/schema/types/type/User.gql b/backend/src/schema/types/type/User.gql
index d2ac79037..c3fcf932b 100644
--- a/backend/src/schema/types/type/User.gql
+++ b/backend/src/schema/types/type/User.gql
@@ -115,11 +115,11 @@ type User {
 
   emotions: [EMOTED]
 
-  activeCategories: [Category] @cypher(
+  activeCategories: [String] @cypher(
   statement: """
   MATCH (category:Category)
   WHERE NOT ((this)-[:NOT_INTERESTED_IN]->(category))
-  RETURN category
+  RETURN collect(category.id)
   """
   )
 }
diff --git a/webapp/assets/_new/icons/svgs/save.svg b/webapp/assets/_new/icons/svgs/save.svg
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..31c1d8459
--- /dev/null
+++ b/webapp/assets/_new/icons/svgs/save.svg
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+<!-- Generated by IcoMoon.io -->
+<svg version="1.1" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="32" height="32" viewBox="0 0 32 32">
+<title>save</title>
+<path d="M5 5h17.406l0.313 0.281 4 4 0.281 0.313v17.406h-22v-22zM7 7v18h2v-9h14v9h2v-14.563l-3-3v5.563h-12v-6h-3zM12 7v4h8v-4h-2v2h-2v-2h-4zM11 18v7h10v-7h-10z"></path>
+</svg>
diff --git a/webapp/components/FilterMenu/CategoriesFilter.spec.js b/webapp/components/FilterMenu/CategoriesFilter.spec.js
index ef0f2ad90..813f7b33c 100644
--- a/webapp/components/FilterMenu/CategoriesFilter.spec.js
+++ b/webapp/components/FilterMenu/CategoriesFilter.spec.js
@@ -15,8 +15,19 @@ describe('CategoriesFilter.vue', () => {
     'posts/filteredCategoryIds': jest.fn(() => []),
   }
 
+  const apolloMutationMock = jest.fn().mockResolvedValue({
+    data: { saveCategorySettings: true },
+  })
+
   const mocks = {
     $t: jest.fn((string) => string),
+    $apollo: {
+      mutate: apolloMutationMock,
+    },
+    $toast: {
+      success: jest.fn(),
+      error: jest.fn(),
+    },
   }
 
   const Wrapper = () => {
@@ -76,5 +87,14 @@ describe('CategoriesFilter.vue', () => {
         expect(mutations['posts/RESET_CATEGORIES']).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
       })
     })
+
+    describe('save categories', () => {
+      it('calls the API', async () => {
+        wrapper = await Wrapper()
+        const saveButton = wrapper.findAll('.categories-filter .sidebar .base-button').at(1)
+        saveButton.trigger('click')
+        expect(apolloMutationMock).toBeCalled()
+      })
+    })
   })
 })
diff --git a/webapp/components/FilterMenu/CategoriesFilter.vue b/webapp/components/FilterMenu/CategoriesFilter.vue
index 47e4bcc10..6ed37d4b3 100644
--- a/webapp/components/FilterMenu/CategoriesFilter.vue
+++ b/webapp/components/FilterMenu/CategoriesFilter.vue
@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@
         icon="check"
         @click="resetCategories"
       />
+      <hr />
+      <labeled-button filled :label="$t('actions.save')" icon="save" @click="saveCategories" />
     </template>
     <template #filter-list>
       <li v-for="category in categories" :key="category.id" class="item">
@@ -24,6 +26,7 @@
 <script>
 import { mapGetters, mapMutations } from 'vuex'
 import CategoryQuery from '~/graphql/CategoryQuery.js'
+import SaveCategories from '~/graphql/SaveCategories.js'
 import FilterMenuSection from '~/components/FilterMenu/FilterMenuSection'
 import LabeledButton from '~/components/_new/generic/LabeledButton/LabeledButton'
 
@@ -47,6 +50,19 @@ export default {
       resetCategories: 'posts/RESET_CATEGORIES',
       toggleCategory: 'posts/TOGGLE_CATEGORY',
     }),
+    saveCategories() {
+      this.$apollo
+        .mutate({
+          mutation: SaveCategories(),
+          variables: { activeCategories: this.filteredCategoryIds },
+        })
+        .then(() => {
+          this.$toast.success(this.$t('filter-menu.save.success'))
+        })
+        .catch(() => {
+          this.$toast.error(this.$t('filter-menu.save.error'))
+        })
+    },
   },
   apollo: {
     Category: {
diff --git a/webapp/components/LoginForm/LoginForm.spec.js b/webapp/components/LoginForm/LoginForm.spec.js
index 430fdbe21..10fc2c622 100644
--- a/webapp/components/LoginForm/LoginForm.spec.js
+++ b/webapp/components/LoginForm/LoginForm.spec.js
@@ -12,6 +12,8 @@ config.stubs['nuxt-link'] = '<span><slot /></span>'
 config.stubs['locale-switch'] = '<span><slot /></span>'
 config.stubs['client-only'] = '<span><slot /></span>'
 
+const authUserMock = jest.fn().mockReturnValue({ activeCategories: [] })
+
 describe('LoginForm', () => {
   let mocks
   let propsData
@@ -26,10 +28,15 @@ describe('LoginForm', () => {
       storeMocks = {
         getters: {
           'auth/pending': () => false,
+          'auth/user': authUserMock,
         },
         actions: {
           'auth/login': jest.fn(),
         },
+        mutations: {
+          'posts/TOGGLE_CATEGORY': jest.fn(),
+          'posts/RESET_CATEGORIES': jest.fn(),
+        },
       }
       const store = new Vuex.Store(storeMocks)
       mocks = {
@@ -43,20 +50,46 @@ describe('LoginForm', () => {
     }
 
     describe('fill in email and password and submit', () => {
-      const fillIn = (wrapper, opts = {}) => {
+      const fillIn = async (wrapper, opts = {}) => {
         const { email = 'email@example.org', password = '1234' } = opts
         wrapper.find('input[name="email"]').setValue(email)
         wrapper.find('input[name="password"]').setValue(password)
-        wrapper.find('form').trigger('submit')
+        await wrapper.find('form').trigger('submit')
       }
 
-      it('dispatches login with form data', () => {
-        fillIn(Wrapper())
+      it('dispatches login with form data', async () => {
+        await fillIn(Wrapper())
         expect(storeMocks.actions['auth/login']).toHaveBeenCalledWith(expect.any(Object), {
           email: 'email@example.org',
           password: '1234',
         })
       })
+
+      describe('setting saved categories', () => {
+        beforeEach(() => {
+          jest.clearAllMocks()
+        })
+
+        describe('no categories saved', () => {
+          it('resets the categories', async () => {
+            await fillIn(Wrapper())
+            expect(storeMocks.mutations['posts/RESET_CATEGORIES']).toBeCalled()
+            expect(storeMocks.mutations['posts/TOGGLE_CATEGORY']).not.toBeCalled()
+          })
+        })
+
+        describe('categories saved', () => {
+          it('sets the categories', async () => {
+            authUserMock.mockReturnValue({ activeCategories: ['cat1', 'cat9', 'cat12'] })
+            await fillIn(Wrapper())
+            expect(storeMocks.mutations['posts/RESET_CATEGORIES']).toBeCalled()
+            expect(storeMocks.mutations['posts/TOGGLE_CATEGORY']).toBeCalledTimes(3)
+            expect(storeMocks.mutations['posts/TOGGLE_CATEGORY']).toBeCalledWith({}, 'cat1')
+            expect(storeMocks.mutations['posts/TOGGLE_CATEGORY']).toBeCalledWith({}, 'cat9')
+            expect(storeMocks.mutations['posts/TOGGLE_CATEGORY']).toBeCalledWith({}, 'cat12')
+          })
+        })
+      })
     })
 
     describe('Visibility of password', () => {
diff --git a/webapp/components/LoginForm/LoginForm.vue b/webapp/components/LoginForm/LoginForm.vue
index 0d85ca33a..59a6d7a24 100644
--- a/webapp/components/LoginForm/LoginForm.vue
+++ b/webapp/components/LoginForm/LoginForm.vue
@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@ import PageParamsLink from '~/components/_new/features/PageParamsLink/PageParams
 import LocaleSwitch from '~/components/LocaleSwitch/LocaleSwitch'
 import Logo from '~/components/Logo/Logo'
 import ShowPassword from '../ShowPassword/ShowPassword.vue'
+import { mapGetters, mapMutations } from 'vuex'
 
 export default {
   components: {
@@ -84,12 +85,27 @@ export default {
     iconName() {
       return this.showPassword ? 'eye-slash' : 'eye'
     },
+    ...mapGetters({
+      currentUser: 'auth/user',
+    }),
   },
   methods: {
+    ...mapMutations({
+      toggleCategory: 'posts/TOGGLE_CATEGORY',
+      resetCategories: 'posts/RESET_CATEGORIES',
+    }),
     async onSubmit() {
       const { email, password } = this.form
       try {
         await this.$store.dispatch('auth/login', { email, password })
+        if (this.currentUser && this.currentUser.activeCategories) {
+          this.resetCategories()
+          if (this.currentUser.activeCategories.length > 0) {
+            this.currentUser.activeCategories.forEach((categoryId) => {
+              this.toggleCategory(categoryId)
+            })
+          }
+        }
         this.$toast.success(this.$t('login.success'))
         this.$emit('success')
       } catch (err) {
diff --git a/webapp/graphql/SaveCategories.js b/webapp/graphql/SaveCategories.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..d6db34b8a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/webapp/graphql/SaveCategories.js
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+import gql from 'graphql-tag'
+
+export default () => {
+  return gql`
+    mutation ($activeCategories: [String]) {
+      saveCategorySettings(activeCategories: $activeCategories)
+    }
+  `
+}
diff --git a/webapp/graphql/User.js b/webapp/graphql/User.js
index f16323073..053cb022f 100644
--- a/webapp/graphql/User.js
+++ b/webapp/graphql/User.js
@@ -285,6 +285,7 @@ export const currentUserQuery = gql`
         id
         url
       }
+      activeCategories
     }
   }
 `
diff --git a/webapp/locales/de.json b/webapp/locales/de.json
index b17e47d08..bc0b720c8 100644
--- a/webapp/locales/de.json
+++ b/webapp/locales/de.json
@@ -363,7 +363,11 @@
         "label": "Älteste zuerst"
       }
     },
-    "order-by": "Sortieren nach ..."
+    "order-by": "Sortieren nach ...",
+    "save": {
+      "error": "Themen konnten nicht gespeichert werden!",
+      "success": "Themen gespeichert!"
+    }
   },
   "followButton": {
     "follow": "Folgen",
diff --git a/webapp/locales/en.json b/webapp/locales/en.json
index 8587d9da5..b3555378f 100644
--- a/webapp/locales/en.json
+++ b/webapp/locales/en.json
@@ -363,7 +363,11 @@
         "label": "Oldest first"
       }
     },
-    "order-by": "Order by ..."
+    "order-by": "Order by ...",
+    "save": {
+      "error": "Failed saving topic settings!",
+      "success": "Topics saved!"
+    }
   },
   "followButton": {
     "follow": "Follow",