Microsoft 365 Copilot in Outlook helps you create and review inbox rules using natural language. You can ask Copilot to set up rules that organize incoming email such as moving, categorizing, or deleting messages and quickly review which rules are active, without opening the Rules settings page.
Important: Copilot can create rules and view existing rules. To edit, delete, disable, or reorder rules, you'll use Outlook's Rules settings.
Create Outlook Rules with Copilot
You can create Outlook rules by describing what you want to happen to future emails:
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Create a rule to move emails from Alex to the Read Later folder.
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Categorize emails from my manager as Important.
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Move emails with "Invoice" in the subject to the Invoices folder.
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Delete newsletters from newsletters@contoso.com.
Copilot interprets your request and translates it into an Outlook rule.
Before a rule is created
Before making any changes, Copilot shows a summary of the rule and asks for confirmation. The summary clearly states:
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The condition (for example, emails from Alex)
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The action (move, categorize, or delete)
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That the rule applies to future emails only
No existing emails are changed when the rule is created.
When folders or categories don't exist
If the rule refers to a folder or category that doesn't exist yet, Copilot explains what needs to be created and asks for a single confirmation. For example:
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If the target folder doesn't exist, Copilot confirms creating the folder and the rule together.
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If the category doesn't exist, Copilot confirms creating the category and applying it to the rule.
Nothing is created until you confirm. Once approved, the folder or category and the rule are created together.
View Outlook rules with Copilot
You can ask Copilot to show the rules that already exist in your mailbox:
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Show me my current rules.
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List my inbox rules.
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Show details for the rule that moves mail from Alex.
Copilot displays a read-only list of rules, including:
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Rule name
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Conditions and actions
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Whether the rule is turned on or off
Viewing rules doesn't require confirmation and doesn't change anything in your mailbox.
Manage rules in Outlook settings
To make changes to a rule such as editing conditions, deleting a rule, turning it off, or changing rule order use Outlook's Rules settings.
When Copilot creates or shows a rule, it includes an Outlook Rules Settings link. Selecting this link opens the native Outlook Rules settings page, where you can fully manage your rules.
Limitations
Rules created by Copilot are standard Inbox rules. As a result, they:
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Apply only to future incoming messages (they don’t retroactively process existing email)
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Are visible and manageable in Outlook’s built‑in Rules settings, where you can edit or delete them
In Outlook for iOS and Android:
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You can use Copilot to create rules and view existing rules.
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The Outlook Rules Settings link isn't available. To edit or manage rules, open Outlook on the web or on desktop.
Where Rules are available in Copilot
Creating and viewing Outlook Rules is available through Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat (Work mode). You don’t need to open Outlook to use it, the full‑page Copilot experience lets you act on your Outlook email from anywhere.
Outlook Rules are also available in the Copilot side pane across Microsoft 365 apps, including when you’re working in Outlook.
Supported apps and platforms include:
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Microsoft 365 Copilot (full‑page experience)
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Copilot side pane in Microsoft 365 apps, including Outlook on:
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Classic Outlook for Windows
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New Outlook for Windows
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Outlook for the web
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Outlook for Mac
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Outlook for iOS
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Outlook for Android
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