The Rules Wizard for Microsoft Outlook automatically processes both incoming and outgoing messages. You set conditions similar to those used for Microsoft Outlook filters, then indicate what action(s) you want to be performed on messages that meet those conditions.
Rules in the Rules Wizard apply to only to mail at the time its downloaded. They can be applied to mail after its downloaded using the Run Rules Now command.
For Microsoft Exchange Server users, Rules Wizard automatically converts rules created with the Inbox Assistant feature (which Rules Wizard replaces). Exchange Server users also have an Out of Office Assistant for handling such things as vacation notices and Folder Assistant rules that run on public folders. See Server-based vs. client-based rules.
Filters are used with Search folders, Custom Views, and Advanced Find. Filters are used with Outlook items in the data file and show or hide but do not move items. You can apply filters to any Outlook item type, not just email. Filters can show, hide, or highlight items in different colors based on a variety of conditions and criteria.
Although Outlook does not support locking views against changes, you can lock view in Outlook 2010 using VBA. See How to prevent changes to Outlook views for a code sample.
Creating an AND rule in Outlook Rules
A user wanted to know how to create an AND rule: If the subject contains outlook AND word, do something For example: "outlook AND word" to match on a Subject line of "Mail merge Outlook and Word", but not "Outlook Teams Meeting" While Outlook Rules don't support AND within a rule, you can make it
'Have server reply' rule is not using 'reply-to' address
The question came from an Outlook user: We want to use a "Have server reply rule" to send an automated reply to people who send us a message using our web form. When the rule runs, Outlook is replying to the From address (our web server), not the Reply to address (the person who filled
Create a custom view to list upcoming birthdays
Display only the birthdays that occur in the upcoming months, by creating a custom view in Outlook's Calendar.
How to Change the Font used for Outlook's RSS Feeds
If you don't care for Calibri font as the default for RSS feeds, you need to use a macro to change the font (on font size) as the font cannot be changed by the user. We have code samples for both Outlook 2010 and 2007.
Mark Sent Items as Read After Copying with a Rule
When you use rules to move sent messages, the sent items are not marked read when they are copied to other folders. You need to VBA to mark the messages read.
View Read Receipt Request Indicator
All current versions of Outlook include a Read Receipt field, including Outlook 2010, 2013, 2016/2019/365. To see the Read Receipt indicator, you need to customize the view by adding the Receipt Requested field. For best results, you will need to use the Single Line view to see the read request field. To add the field
Run all Outlook Rules on Startup
Use an Application Startup macro to run Outlook's client side rules automatically.
Rules in Error and Reply with Template
This bug was fixed in Outlook 2010 in the July 2011 hotfix. Beginning with Outlook 2007 SP2 (and continuing in Outlook 2010), there is a bug in the rules engine which causes reply with template rules to fail. I was hoping for a hotfix when I saw a newly released KB article referring to "Rules
Run Rules Now using a Macro
How to use a macro to run Outlook's rules on demand or triggered by a reminder.
Create a List of Rules
Valk Beekman wanted to share this VBA code sample that creates a text file containing a list of the rules used by the default email account. When the rule contains an email address, the address (or display name) is added to the output.
Custom Field Formulas: Phone Numbers
The basics of creating a custom field using a formula For best results, begin with a custom view: In Outlook 2010 and up, look on the View ribbon for Change View. Expand it and choose Manage Views. In Outlook 2007 and older, go to the View menu, find the menu for Define views. Click New.
Exchange Server's Rules Limitation
Microsoft Exchange server, including Office 365 Exchange Online and Outlook.com, as well as on-prem Exchange servers, limit the number of rules a user can have in an Exchange mailbox. The limit is based on total size, not number of rules, so one user might have 20 rules while another has 30. Exchange 2003 and older
Using Outlook's Junk Mail filter
Microsoft is no longer releasing updates for the Junk Mail filter. Junk email removes spam from your mailbox using built-in filtering capabilities. The junk mail feature is highly accurate when set on High and you can add specific addresses or domains to the Safe Senders, Safe Recipients, and Blocked Senders lists. To view the options,
Server-side vs. Client-side Rules
You can divide rules into two types - server-side and client-only. Server-side rules are handled entirely by the Exchange Server, independent of the state of the Outlook client. Client-only rules do not execute until the user who created the rule logs in to the Outlook client with the same profile used to create the rule.
Using Outlook's Junk Filter with Multiple Accounts
How to change the Junk Email options in Microsoft Outlook 2010 and Outlook 2013 when you have multiple email accounts configured.