View only unread messages in Outlook
Applies ToOutlook for Microsoft 365 Outlook 2024 Outlook 2021 Outlook 2019 Outlook 2016

The Inbox or any other mail folder can be filtered to display only unread messages. By default, unread messages appear in bold in the message list.

Note: Outlook for Mac information on this topic is available here

At the top of the message list, above the column headings, are two preset filtering options—All and Unread.

At the top of the message list, you can filter the current folder to just unread messages, or you can show all messages.

  • When All is selected, every message in the current folder is shown in the message list.

  • When Unread is selected, only the unread messages in the current folder are shown in the message list.

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