With all the newsletters and emails we receive every day from our contacts, it’s pretty easy to fall behind on important emails from colleagues, clients, or shareholders. How do you filter your Outlook mailbox to easily spot those important unread messages? Turns out, there are several ways you can achieve this.
In this article, we will outline the ways how you can find unread emails in Outlook so you can decide which one suits you the best.
Let’s go!
TL;DR How to Find Unread Emails in Outlook 2024 Using Filters
- Open the Outlook App on your computer.
- Click the filter icon at the top-right section in the top bar.
- Click Unread and Outlook will only show you the unread emails in your inbox.
How to Locate Unread Emails in Outlook?
Method 1 – Using the Read/Unread Tabs
Step 1 – Open the Microsoft Outlook app. It should show the Home tab by default. If not, make sure to click on the Home tab.
Step 2 – On this screen, you will view all of your emails, both read and unread. If you see it, you’ll notice a “Unread” option just above the emails area that allows you to see only unread emails. You only have to click once on it. All unread emails will be displayed in front of you.
Note: You may see other options displayed for you using this method. If You see two buttons that say Focused/Other instead of All/Unread it means Outlook is using the Show Focused Inbox Option. To activate/deactivate it do the following:
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How to Remove Focused Inbox in Outlook App
Step 1 – Click the view tab at the top.
Step 2 – Click on Show Focused Inbox. This is where you can enable or disable it. You may choose to leave it or not depending on your preferences.
Method 2 – Using Filters
Step 1 -Open the Outlook App on your computer. We recommend using the desktop app over the version on the browser.
Step 2 – Click the filter icon at the top bar. A drop-down menu will show several options for you to filter, like unread, has attachments, and more.
Step 3 -Click Unread and Outlook will only show you the unread emails in your inbox.
This method will filter your results for the session; as soon as you log out and re-open the app, you’ll lose the filter and will need to follow these steps again.
Method 3) Using the Search Bar
If you’re looking for a certain email, utilize Outlook’s search feature to discover it quickly. This function, which is placed in Outlook’s top right corner, allows you to search for emails by sender, subject, date, and other parameters.
When you use the search feature, Outlook displays all of the emails that meet your search parameters, including unread and read messages. This allows you to quickly find the emails you’re looking for.
Method 4) Using the Search Folder Tab
In previous versions of Outlook, the search folder option could be found at the top bar. Today we will show how to create a search folder for the Outlook desktop app in 2024.
Step 1 -Open Outlook. Click the Home tab at the top
Step 2 – In the left sidebar, scroll down until you see the option Search Folders. Click on it.
Step 3 – The option New Search Folder will display on the screen. Click on it.
Step 4 – A pop-up message will display on the screen. You will see a drop-down menu. In the options, click on Unread mail.
Step 5 – At the bottom, you will see the option: Search mail in. Make sure to select the correct email account in this option. Once all the options are set, click ok.
Step 6 -The result is in front of you; in the following image, all saturated unread emails are revealed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you mark all emails as read in Outlook?
To mark all emails as read in Outlook, navigate to the folder containing the emails you want to define as read, then click the “Home” tab on the ribbon and select the “Mark All as Read” button. This marks all emails in the folder as read. You may also choose multiple emails and then click the “Mark as Read” button to only mark them as read.
Why is my Outlook showing unread emails when there are none?
This is a common issue that many Outlook users face. There are several possible causes and solutions for this problem. Here are some of them:
- Server syncing issues: Sometimes, there may be a delay or discrepancy between the server and your device, resulting in unread messages appearing in your inbox, even if you have read them. To fix this, you can try the following:
- Check your internet connection and ensure it is stable.
- Restart Outlook and see if the issue persists.
- If the problem continues, you may need to contact your email service provider or IT support for further assistance.
- Deleted items: Sometimes, when you delete a message, it may not immediately disappear from your inbox and can remain as an unread message. To resolve this, you can try the following:
- Empty your deleted items folder to ensure no unread messages are remaining.
- If the issue persists, you can try running the Outlook Inbox Repair Tool (scanpst.exe) to fix any potential issues with your Outlook data file (PST or OST).
Is there an unread folder in Outlook?
The Unread Mail folder is the default Outlook search folder. If it does not appear in your Folder list, you can add it.
These instructions apply to the Mail app in Microsoft. But remember that the Outlook app will replace Mail and Calendar this 2024. The instructions to find the unread folder in Outlook are shown above.
How to find unread emails in Outlook on Android mobiles
- Open the Outlook App
- At the top-right corner, click filter
- Click on Unread
- The Unread emails will display on your phone.
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Summing Up
The most challenging part about looking for unread emails in Outlook is that your inbox is probably filled with too many messages. Nevertheless, we showed you today some techniques in this article that can help you navigate through texts and locate the messages that you cannot miss.
Whatever you use, be it read/unread tabs, filters, search bars, or search folders, you might adjust your Outlook environment to be in line with your requirements and preferences.
We hope this article helped you learn how to find unread emails in Outlook and also to manage your email communication better and in an efficient way.
We are always open to answering new questions or comments, please reach us if you need help managing your email communications in Outlook or if you are looking for a Microsoft 365 subscription in Mississauga.
