Applies ToOutlook.com
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Keep your inbox tidy and organized in Outlook on the web.

Use Sweep 

  1. Select a message.

  2. Select Sweep from the ribbon.Image of Sweep Button Highlighted on the ribbon.

  3. Choose when and where you want to move email messages from the sender you chose. For example, you can send all messages from that sender to a specific folder (even your trash) for one time or for all future messages.

  4. Select OK to perform the selected action.

Create rules
  1. Right-click a message and select Create rule.

  2. Choose the folder where you want all messages from that sender or set of senders to be moved, and then select OK.

    The rule will be applied to all incoming messages. If you'd like to run the rule on your inbox immediately, select the check box for Run this rule now in Inbox.  

    Additional Rules customizations are available to help you manage your Outlook messages in a way that makes sense for you. 

Use folders and categories

  1. Select a message.

  2. Select Move to and choose a folder.

    Or, select Categorize and choose a category.

Clean up your inbox

  1. Select a message.

  2. Select Delete. Select Archive if you might want it later.  

    You can also right click on folders and perform bulk actions on those folders. Select Empty, Mark all as read, and Assign policies to choose when emails within a folder will get automatically archived.

Use Sweep 

  1. Select a message.

  2. Select Sweep from the ribbon.Image showing sweep outlined in red on the new Outlook for Windows ribbon

  3. Choose when and where you want to move email messages from the sender you chose. For example, you can send all messages from that sender to a specific folder (even your trash) for one time or for all future messages.

  4. Select OK to perform the selected action.

Create rules
  1. Right-click a message and select Advanced actionsCreate rule

  2. Choose the folder where you want all messages from that sender or set of senders to be moved, and then select OK.

    The rule will be applied to all incoming messages. If you'd like to run the rule on your inbox immediately, select the check box for Run this rule now in Inbox.  

    Additional Rules customizations are available to help you manage your Outlook messages in a way that makes sense for you. 

Filter messages

Use filters to find a message based on one of these built-in searches.

  1. Select Filter.Image showing filter options via drop down menu.

  2. Choose an option. 

Manage follow-ups

Flag email messages to track responses to messages that you send. You can also make sure that you follow up on messages that you receive. In either case, you can include a reminder alert. 

Flag email for follow-up 

  1. Select an email. 

  2. Select Flag/Unflag on the email or on the ribbon.  Image showing flag icon highlighted on ribbon.

  3. Choose when you want to be reminded about this email. 

  4. To see all your flagged messages, select Filter > Flagged.

Pin/Unpin Emails

Pinning allows you to “stick” emails to the top of your inbox so it will never fall through the cracks. It’s easy! Click the Pin icon in a message to move to the top of your inbox until you unpin it.   

     Image showing pin icon on right side.

Manage your inbox

To mark an email as read, right-click the email and select Mark as Read from the drop-down menu.     To mark an email as unread, right-click the email and select Mark as Unread from the drop-down menu.    If you want to respond to an email later, right-click the email and select Snooze and then select the time that works for you. This will hide the mail from your inbox, and show it as a new mail after the selected time so you can easily respond to it.      Image showing snooze option from drop down list.

Archive an email

Use Archive when you want to keep a clean inbox, but don't want to delete certain emails. Unlike deleted messages, archived messages can be searched. 

  1. Select one or more messages.

  2. Right-click.

  3. Select Archive.Image showing archive highlighted from menu. Alternatively, you can archive an email by selecting the Archive tab on the ribbon.

      Image showing Archive option highlighted from the ribbon.

Want more?

Organize your Inbox with Archive, Sweep, and other tools in Outlook on the web

Manage email messages by using rules in Outlook

Use categories in Outlook on the web

Get help with Outlook on the web

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