This question is from a new Outlook for Mac user:
The "On My Computer" mailbox is cluttering the folder organization in Outlook on my Mac. It's adding extra steps because I have to expand every folder to show me both my exchange and "on my computer" mailbox. Opening the calendar view also automatically opens both, side by side, which is very annoying. How do I remove "On my computer"?
This one is easy: Go to Outlook menu, Preferences, General and tick Hide On My Computers. This will remove it from the view. The other setting in General controls folder grouping. If you don't like to have your folders grouped together, untick Group similar folders together.
Warning: When you hide the folders on your computer, you can't create Contact Groups as these are stored in the On My Computer folders.
BWV says
Hi, I am late to the party but hoping someone reads this. I had the same issue with cluttering with On My Computer folders. However, after hiding the OMC folder I hear messages coming in but they only go to the hidden folder. They do not show up in All My Accounts. So the fix is useless as I have to continually access the hidden folder to retrieve any mail. PLease advise. thank you
Diane Poremsky says
Are you using a POP account? It need the local folders.
Turning off the on my computer folders is really only useful for Exchange accounts since they have their own calendar and contacts.
BWV says
Thank you. Yes, it is POP. Dang :)
sanjeev says
IN my mac "On My computer" is showing under root mailbox and unable to move mails frim mailbox to local MAC harddisk, if I moved mails from mailbox to my computer folder then still occupied the server space pls assist .
Diane Poremsky says
What happens when you try to move the messages to 'on my computer folders' ? Are you dragging or using the Move to folder command?
Michael Tjebben says
This solution is perfect, except that on my MacBook Pro with High Sierra, it is not "sticky": the "Hide On My Computer folders" setting won't stay checked! What am I doing wrong?
Diane Poremsky says
Are you using Outlook 2016 or an older version?
Michael Tjebben says
Hi Diane: Microsoft Outlook for Mac Version 15.39 (171010). On macOS High Sierra Version 10.13.1 on MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2017)
Michael Tjebben says
Diane, I am also connected to a corporate Exchange 2010 server. Might some corporate policy/setting override my local settings, perhaps?
Diane Poremsky says
i don't think it's policy. I'm at least one build behind you on my mac (i don't check for updates very often :)) and will update to see if i can repro. I know some of the insider builds have been a bit buggy, so it could be a temp thing.
I believe I might see the bug on my outlook - did not have the on my computer folders visible but when i looked in preferences, the option to hide was not selected. They showed up when i closed the dialog. I normally keep them hidden as i use imap and exchange accounts and don't have anything in the local folders. I don't recall changing the Hide option... i'll try to repro with the new build.
Michael Tjebben says
Interestingly, just yesterday afternoon, Version 15.50 (171108) became available, and I updated to that (to see if issue was temporary in previous version & build), but the problem persists.
Michael Tjebben says
Sorry: I meant 15.40 (NOT 15.50).
Rufus says
How do i disable the "On My Computer" email folder on Outlook for Mac 2011 NOT to receive emails from gmail but Gmail folder to be the default folder.
Diane Poremsky says
If gmail is going into the 'on my computer' folders, then you are using pop3, not IMAP. Add the account as imap and remove the POP account. https://support.office.com/en-us/article/Learn-more-about-On-My-Computer-folders-in-Outlook-2011-for-Mac-1d1bc451-8fcf-40f1-a705-4c41fe95a496
Rufus says
I have confirmed the account is IMAP. I have even re-configured the account again. How do I completely remove the "On My Computer" folder when i am re-configuring.
Diane Poremsky says
Outlook menu > Preferences > General and tick Hide on my computer folders.
wader says
Thank you!
Daniel says
Hi Diane, I have upgraded to office 2016 on the Mac from office 2011 but i can't find my emails , doest it work similar to that of the windows machine with a pst file?
Diane Poremsky says
Well, the mac version doesn't use a pst file but it has a local database (using sqlite). You should have been offered to import it into the new outlook version if you upgraded the 2011 install.
How to migrate: https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/Mt269079(v=Office.16).aspx
Andrea says
Thank you so much! I am new on Mac and using office 2016. This "on my computer" folder was a nightmare and did not know how to get rid of it. Still trying to figure out how to remove the "smart folders"...