diff --git a/utilities/utils.py b/utilities/utils.py
index 0ade38c..62b394a 100644
--- a/utilities/utils.py
+++ b/utilities/utils.py
@@ -40,18 +40,18 @@ def autofill_categories(guild_id: int, group_id: int, category_begin: str) -> "d
         )
         cat_group_alias = aliased(CategoryGroup, subq)
         stmt = select(Category).where(Category.GroupId == cat_group_alias.GroupId)
-        categories_dict: dict = {cat.CategoryName: str(cat.CategoryId) for cat in session.scalars(stmt)}
+        categories_dict: "dict[str, str]" = {cat.CategoryName: str(cat.CategoryId) for cat in session.scalars(stmt)}
 
     # if string empty, return all category names
     if not category_begin:
-        return categories_dict
+        return dict(list(category_begin.items())[:25])
 
     # else find all categories that start with category_begin
     # TODO is it better to have sql handle the starts with or python?
-    categories: dict = {
+    categories: "dict[str, str]" = {
         cat_name: cat_id for cat_name, cat_id in categories_dict.items() if category_begin.lower() in cat_name.lower()
     }
-    return categories
+    return dict(list(categories.items())[:25])
 
 
 def autofill_groups(guild_id: int, group_begin: str) -> "dict[str, str]":
@@ -71,18 +71,18 @@ def autofill_groups(guild_id: int, group_begin: str) -> "dict[str, str]":
         stmt = select(CategoryGroup).where(CategoryGroup.GuildId == guild_id)
 
         # dict has to have key values of same type for discord.
-        group_dict: dict = {group.GroupName: str(group.GroupId) for group in session.scalars(stmt)}
+        group_dict: "dict[str, str]" = {group.GroupName: str(group.GroupId) for group in session.scalars(stmt)}
 
     # if string empty, return all group names
     if not group_begin:
-        return group_dict
+        return dict(list(group_dict.items())[:25])
 
     # else find all groups that start with group_begin
-    groups: dict = {
+    groups: "dict[str, str]" = {
         group_name: group_id for group_name, group_id in group_dict.items() if group_begin.lower() in group_name.lower()
     }
 
-    return groups
+    return dict(list(groups.items())[:25])
 
 
 def autofill_users_in_group_category(guild_id: int, group_id: int, category_id: int, user_begin: str) -> "list[str]":
@@ -130,12 +130,12 @@ def autofill_users_in_group_category(guild_id: int, group_id: int, category_id:
 
     # if string empty, return all users
     if not user_begin:
-        return users_list
+        return users_list[:25]
 
     # else find all users that start with user_begin
-    users = [user for user in users_list if user_begin.lower() in user.lower()]
+    users: "list[str]" = [user for user in users_list if user_begin.lower() in user.lower()]
 
-    return users
+    return users[:25]
 
 
 def autofill_users_in_guild(guild_id: int, user_begin: str) -> "list[str]":
@@ -158,12 +158,12 @@ def autofill_users_in_guild(guild_id: int, user_begin: str) -> "list[str]":
 
     # if string empty, return all users
     if not user_begin:
-        return users_list
+        return users_list[:25]
 
     # else find all users that start with user_begin
-    users = [user for user in users_list if user_begin.lower() in user.lower()]
+    users: "list[str]" = [user for user in users_list if user_begin.lower() in user.lower()]
 
-    return users
+    return users[:25]
 
 
 def format_highscore_message(session: Session, group: CategoryGroup) -> str: