• Outlook User
  • New Outlook app
  • Outlook.com
  • Outlook Mac
  • Outlook & iCloud
  • Developer
  • Microsoft 365 Admin
    • Common Problems
    • Microsoft 365
    • Outlook BCM
    • Utilities & Addins

What Moved a Message to the Junk E-mail Folder?

Slipstick Systems

› Outlook › Rules, Filters & Views › What Moved a Message to the Junk E-mail Folder?

Last reviewed on August 29, 2018     9 Comments

Applies to: Outlook (classic), Outlook 2007, Outlook 2010

Outlook's junk mail filter often gets blamed for putting mail in the Junk E-mail folder when some other program did it. So beginning with Outlook 2007 SP2, the Infobar tells you if Outlook junk filter moved the message or not.

If Outlook didn't do it, it won't tell you what put the message in the junk folder; it only reports if Outlook's junk mail filter or something else was responsible. You'll need to figure out what that "something else" is. It could be a rule or a anti-spam filter installed by your antivirus.

Outlook marked the message as Junk e-mail

You can add the sender to the safe list to prevent future messages from being moved into the Junk E-mail folder:

Junk mail folder in Outlook

Outlook didn't do it

Adding the address to the safe list may not prevent future messages from being moved to the junk mail folder, depending on what program moved the message. It could be a 3rd party anti-spam add-in or a rule in Rules Wizard. (The message in this example was moved to the junk folder by a rule.)

Junk mail - outlook didn't move the message

This information is only added when the message is moved into the Junk E-mail folder as its downloaded into Outlook.

Outlook doesn't know

If the message is moved prior to downloading, such as by a server-side filter, the Infobar won't say how it got in the Junk mail folder. If you move a message to the junk mail folder after it's downloaded, either by using Run Rules Now or dragging it, it also will not contain this line.

In this example, I drag and dropped the message in the junk folder. The Infobar doesn't say Outlook didn't do it, because it was moved after the message arrived.
Junk mail - unknown app moved it to the junk folder

More Information

  • Add EU to the International Blocked TLD List
  • Automatically Cleanup Outlook's Deleted Item and Junk Email Folders
  • Blocking Mail From New Top-Level Domains
  • Bulk Add Addresses to Safe and Blocked Senders Lists
  • Don't Get Caught In a Phishing Hack
  • Empty Multiple Deleted Items Folders using a Macro
  • How to Block Foreign Spam
  • Icon is not correct on the Junk Mail Folder
  • Junk Email Filtering isn't Working in Outlook
  • Junk Mail Filtering in Outlook
  • Office 365 Fraud Detection Checks
  • Outlook's "Not Junk" option isn't available
  • Rules and Tools to Filter Junk Mail
  • Samsung smartphones move email to the Junk folder
  • Sending Autoreplies to Spammers
  • Should You Respond to Junk Mail?
  • Understanding the Safe and Blocked Senders lists
  • Using Outlook's Junk Filter with Multiple Accounts
  • Using Outlook's Junk Mail filter
What Moved a Message to the Junk E-mail Folder? was last modified: August 29th, 2018 by Diane Poremsky

Related Posts:

  • Outlook's "Not Junk" option isn't available
  • Using Outlook's Junk Mail filter
  • Junk Email Filtering isn't Working in Outlook
  • Samsung smartphones move email to the Junk folder

About Diane Poremsky

A Microsoft Outlook Most Valuable Professional (MVP) since 1999, Diane is the author of several books, including Outlook 2013 Absolute Beginners Book. She also created video training CDs and online training classes for Microsoft Outlook. You can find her helping people online in Outlook Forums as well as in the Microsoft Answers and TechNet forums.

Subscribe
Notify of
9 Comments
newest
oldest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

James M Shepherd (@guest_214416)
December 2, 2019 3:41 pm
#214416

I just switched from a pop account to imap (Outlook 365) and I'm starting to regret it. I'm not sure I understand where the Bulk Mail folder is coming from (i.e., Outlook, AOL Mail, or where). If I access my emails in the native AOL site via the web, the Bulk Mail folder is not there. I'd rather deal with those emails in my Inbox and handle them via junk mail rules. Is that possible? Also, it seems that there is a constant sync issue between Outlook 365 and my Iphone XR. Sometimes (but rarely) I can see all my subfolders on my iPhone but usually there is an extra Inbox that is greyed out and shows a number of unread emails next to it. I've tried all the suggested fixes but they are never consistent resolutions. The most common suggestion seems to be adding INBOX in the root path in the iPhone imap settings but that doesn't seem to help at all. All of the Inbox sub-folders that I'd like to see on my iPhone are properly subscribed to via Outlook. I'm using the native mail app on the iPhone with the imap settings provided by AOL. Any recommendations?… Read more »

0
0
Reply
Diane Poremsky(@diane-poremsky)
Author
Reply to  James M Shepherd
December 4, 2019 6:43 am
#214423

If the folder is called Bulk mail and you did not have it in POP, it is coming from AOL - it is the junk folder they use. If you had it before, it would be from 3rd party security software such as Norton or McAfee. Outlook doesnt create a folder called Bulk or Bulk mail - it uses Junk Email.

When you log in to AOL.com, does the folder list look ok - no duplicates? Are you using the iOS mail app or Outlook app? It's possible its the app - I've seen more than a few people complain of disappearing folders.

0
0
Reply
James Shepherd (@guest_214426)
Reply to  Diane Poremsky
December 4, 2019 5:33 pm
#214426

The Inbox on AOL.com looks like it's okay and there's no Bulk Mail folder in that view. This is a new brand new HP laptop and McAfee is pre-installed. I don't intend to keep McAfee but I went through all the help files and current settings and there's no reference to a Bulk Mail folder. If AOL (via the Verizon.net set-up) is responsible, it's odd that it only shows up in the IMAP account in Outlook. If I use the POP settings, there is no Bulk Mail folder. Also, I'm using the native IOS mail app on my iPhone. I'll reach out to AOL and see if they have an explanation.

Again, many thanks. You're the best!
Jim

0
0
Reply
Michael Rush (@guest_213242)
May 11, 2019 3:33 am
#213242

Thanks for this. I am using Office365 exchange. So I have various emails in my JUNK FOLDER where the Outlook Junk Email folder has NOT moved the items. How to I find what program is moving the emails to the Junk Email folder.

Tks Michael

0
0
Reply
Diane Poremsky(@diane-poremsky)
Author
Reply to  Michael Rush
May 11, 2019 9:27 pm
#213245

If you use an exchange mailbox, its either Exchange server filtering or a client side spam filter (most likely if you are using a non-microsoft antivirus filter).

0
0
Reply
Ray (@guest_209787)
December 28, 2017 6:52 pm
#209787

Links and other functionality have been disabled in this message. To turn on that functionality, move this message to the Inbox.
We converted this message into plain text format.
Outlook blocked access to the following potentially unsafe attachments: image001.png

0
0
Reply
Diane Poremsky(@diane-poremsky)
Author
Reply to  Ray
December 28, 2017 10:12 pm
#209788

It's very possible that the image is corrupt or is not really an image. You can move the message back to the inbox to enable everything, but first review the links and see if they are to the expected websites. If the image is attached, you can save it to the hard drive and add txt extension, then open it in notepad to see if its a script.

1
-1
Reply
Hope Kerrigan (@guest_185245)
August 15, 2014 6:27 pm
#185245

I am trying to REMOVE the "links and other functionality have been disabled" function in my Bulk Mail folder. In other words, I don't want the mail that goes to my Bulk Mail folder from my server considered as Junk. Help??

1
-1
Reply
Diane Poremsky (@guest_185247)
Reply to  Hope Kerrigan
August 16, 2014 12:12 am
#185247

Unfortunately, the only way to enable them is to move them to another folder. Sorry.

1
-1
Reply

Visit Slipstick Forums.
What's New at Slipstick.com

Latest EMO: Vol. 30 Issue 15

Subscribe to Exchange Messaging Outlook






Support Services

Do you need help setting up Outlook, moving your email to a new computer, migrating or configuring Office 365, or just need some one-on-one assistance?

Our Sponsors

CompanionLink
ReliefJet
  • Popular
  • Latest
  • Week Month All
  • Use Classic Outlook, not New Outlook
  • How to Remove the Primary Account from Outlook
  • Disable "Always ask before opening" Dialog
  • Adjusting Outlook's Zoom Setting in Email
  • This operation has been cancelled due to restrictions
  • Remove a password from an Outlook *.pst File
  • Reset the New Outlook Profile
  • Maximum number of Exchange accounts in an Outlook profile
  • Save Attachments to the Hard Drive
  • How to Hide or Delete Outlook's Default Folders
  • Google Workspace and Outlook with POP Mail
  • Import EML Files into New Outlook
  • Opening PST files in New Outlook
  • New Outlook: Show To, CC, BCC in Replies
  • Insert Word Document into Email using VBA
  • Delete Empty Folders using PowerShell
  • Warn Before Deleting a Contact
  • Classic Outlook is NOT Going Away in 2026
  • Use PowerShell to Delete Attachments
  • Remove RE:, FWD:, and Other Prefixes from Subject Line
Ajax spinner

Recent Bugs List

Microsoft keeps a running list of issues affecting recently released updates at Fixes or workarounds for recent issues in classic Outlook (Windows).

For new Outlook for Windows: Fixes or workarounds for recent issues in new Outlook for Windows .

Outlook for Mac Recent issues: Fixes or workarounds for recent issues in Outlook for Mac

Outlook.com Recent issues: Fixes or workarounds for recent issues on Outlook.com

Office Update History

Update history for supported Office versions is at Update history for Office

Outlook Suggestions and Feedback

Outlook Feedback covers Outlook as an email client, including Outlook Android, iOS, Mac, and Windows clients, as well as the browser extension (PWA) and Outlook on the web.

Outlook (new) Feedback. Use this for feedback and suggestions for Outlook (new).

Use Outlook.com Feedback for suggestions or feedback about Outlook.com accounts.

Other Microsoft 365 applications and services




New Outlook Articles

Google Workspace and Outlook with POP Mail

Import EML Files into New Outlook

Opening PST files in New Outlook

New Outlook: Show To, CC, BCC in Replies

Insert Word Document into Email using VBA

Delete Empty Folders using PowerShell

Warn Before Deleting a Contact

Classic Outlook is NOT Going Away in 2026

Use PowerShell to Delete Attachments

Remove RE:, FWD:, and Other Prefixes from Subject Line

Newest Code Samples

Insert Word Document into Email using VBA

Warn Before Deleting a Contact

Use PowerShell to Delete Attachments

Remove RE:, FWD:, and Other Prefixes from Subject Line

Change the Mailing Address Using PowerShell

Categorize @Mentioned Messages

Send an Email When You Open Outlook

Delete Old Calendar Events using VBA

Use PowerShell or VBA to get Outlook folder creation date

Rename Outlook Attachments

Repair PST

Convert an OST to PST

Repair damaged PST file

Repair large PST File

Remove password from PST

Merge Two Data Files

Sync & Share Outlook Data

  • Share Calendar & Contacts
  • Synchronize two computers
  • Sync Calendar and Contacts Using Outlook.com
  • Sync Outlook & Android Devices
  • Sync Google Calendar with Outlook
  • Access Folders in Other Users Mailboxes

Diane Poremsky [Outlook MVP]

Make a donation

Mail Tools

Sending and Retrieval Tools

Mass Mail Tools

Compose Tools

Duplicate Remover Tools

Mail Tools for Outlook

Online Services

Calendar Tools

Schedule Management

Calendar Printing Tools

Calendar Reminder Tools

Calendar Dates & Data

Time and Billing Tools

Meeting Productivity Tools

Duplicate Remover Tools

Productivity

Productivity Tools

Automatic Message Processing Tools

Special Function Automatic Processing Tools

Housekeeping and Message Management

Task Tools

Project and Business Management Tools

Choosing the Folder to Save a Sent Message In

Run Rules on messages after reading

Help & Suggestions

Submit Outlook Feature Requests

Slipstick Support Services

Buy Microsoft 365 Office Software and Services

Visit Slipstick Forums.

What's New at Slipstick.com

Home | Outlook User | Exchange Administrator | Office 365 | Outlook.com | Outlook Developer
Outlook for Mac | Common Problems | Utilities & Addins | Tutorials
Outlook & iCloud Issues | Outlook Apps
EMO Archives | About Slipstick | Slipstick Forums
Submit New or Updated Outlook and Exchange Server Utilities

Send comments using our Feedback page
Copyright © 2025 Slipstick Systems. All rights reserved.
Slipstick Systems is not affiliated with Microsoft Corporation.

wpDiscuz

Sign up for Exchange Messaging Outlook

Our weekly Outlook & Exchange newsletter (bi-weekly during the summer)






Please note: If you subscribed to Exchange Messaging Outlook before August 2019, please re-subscribe.

Never see this message again.

You are going to send email to

Move Comment