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Using Outlook's Junk Filter with Multiple Accounts

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› Outlook › Rules, Filters & Views › Using Outlook’s Junk Filter with Multiple Accounts

Last reviewed on August 29, 2018     21 Comments

Applies to: Outlook (classic), Outlook 2010

In Outlook 2010 and up, the Junk Email Filter options (including Safe and Blocked lists) are per email account, but its not very obvious and many users discover it only by accident.

"I discovered that the Junk E-mail options are apparently per-mailbox. I originally disabled the junk mail settings from my Inbox. This morning, while reviewing messages that had been put in my Junk E-mail folder, I clicked on Junk Email options from within that message. Much to my surprise, it was set to Low. I closed the message and clicked on Junk Email options from my Inbox and it was set to No Automatic Filtering. In looking closer, I noticed that the Window Title bar indicates "Junk Email Options - (mailbox address)".

Correct, Outlook 2010's (and newer) Junk Email filter options are individual, not global settings. Rather than applying one setting to all accounts, you can set different options for each email account in your profile. While its easier to change the settings when you deliver each account to a different data file, the settings are per account, not per data file, so you can change the settings.

I looked under Account Settings and Junk Email Options and cannot find anything that lets me select which mailbox the Junk Email options apply to, but apparently they are per-mailbox as I see different settings depending on whether I'm in the Inbox, or in a message that was addressed to a particular mailbox.

Where do find the settings for the Junk Email Options for each individual mailbox?"

You found the Junk Email Options for the accounts.
junk email options

When you use multiple accounts delivered to separate data files, the Junk Email Options dialog shows the Junk Email settings for the account whose folders you are in.

Second account delivered to pst

When more than one account is delivered to a data file, you'll need to open a message received by the account and click the Junk button to see the Junk Email Options.

Second-account-one-pst

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Using Outlook's Junk Filter with Multiple Accounts was last modified: August 29th, 2018 by Diane Poremsky

Related Posts:

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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.

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AndyH (@guest_215506)
June 28, 2020 10:05 am
#215506

Hello Diane, Ive used quite a few articles to help improve the setup my outlook. One thing I've not been able to find online is how to setup a shared safesenderslist.txt, saferecipientslist.txt and blockedsenderslist.txt on my home network and have outlook on my PC and 2 laptops all reference and update the same files. I can do this locally on each computer but it's a real pain having to update all the files and keep them in sync.
 
Im using Outlook 365on all computers connecting to email via IMAP (laptops) and POP3 (main computer).
 
I've found articles on doing this with Group Policy, which I cant use at home, and even tried manually entering the Registry keys to see if they work. No success yet.
 
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/2252421/how-to-deploy-junk-email-settings-such-as-the-safe-senders-list-by-usi
 
Wonder if this is something you've done. Many thanks in advance.
Andy

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Ken Granzow (@guest_218822)
Reply to  AndyH
October 19, 2021 3:44 pm
#218822

I use outlook 2010 and have had trouble (through my ignorance) in configuring the junk mail filter. I use it for two email accounts that store emails in a single pst file and go to the same inbox. I have discovered that not only are the junk email settings separate for each email account, the junk mail filter list is separate for each account. (I use the junk list as the only filter. I have about 1200 email servers in the list. I regularly add to the list.) The only way I have found to edit each of the lists is to open account settings and set as default the account whose email settings I want to modify. Then when I go to junk email options, it opens the dialog for the account I've set as default. I keep adding to the junk list in the same default account (that I normally use). Then, I occasionally export the list to a file and import it to other junk list. I also take the list file to another computer and import there. I hope this may help others who are frustrated with the email filter.
Blessings,
Ken

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Krish (@guest_205495)
March 26, 2017 1:46 pm
#205495

Hello Diane,

Can you please help me with the registry for setting up Low Junk filtering?

Thanks
Krish

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Diane Poremsky(@diane-poremsky)
Author
Reply to  Krish
April 2, 2017 9:01 am
#205642

because the settings are per account, not across all accounts, it's easier to set it in interface. You can't (easily) edit the registry using automated methods - you'd need to find the key in each account and change it.

Open a message received on an account, open junk mail options and verify its the correct account then change the setting to low.

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Matthew Cummings (@guest_199079)
June 1, 2016 3:22 pm
#199079

I tried your directions outlook 2013 client connected to rackspace hosting 2013 backend. I have my main email box setup and then in out look using the add additional email box option I have another email box setup when I go to that email inbox and select and email and right click on it and go to the junk option it still shows my email box at the top for the mail box it is filtering. what am I doing wrong?

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Diane Poremsky(@diane-poremsky)
Author
Reply to  Matthew Cummings
September 29, 2016 9:45 pm
#201966

Sorry I missed this earlier. You can't add to junk mail for shared mailboxes. You would need to open it as an account in a profile to edit it's junk email settings. Instructions are here https://www.slipstick.com/exchange/shared-mailboxes-and-the-default-send-from-account/

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Bill B. (@guest_186324)
September 24, 2014 1:37 pm
#186324

Some email senders use bulk mailing outfits which have domains that are like @mail46.us4.mcsv.net. The trouble is, the next mailing might have @mail32.us4.mcsv.net.

How can I add this domain to the safe senders list so I don't have to add every possible iteration of the 'from' email address?

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Diane Poremsky (@guest_186345)
Reply to  Bill B.
September 24, 2014 7:48 pm
#186345

At the moment, you can't. You'll need to add each one. do the messages all use the same display name in the from field? If so, try creating a contact and trusting contacts - if the junk filter uses the display name, it will work. Otherwise, if its a problem, you could use a macro that watches the junk folder for messages from the domain and moves the messages out.

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Tom McCracken (@guest_181561)
January 28, 2014 12:12 pm
#181561

That explains that, but my problem is that when I go into Junk Mail Options and set the filter to high, then log out, when I log back in the setting is set to No Filtering. I don't understand why it keeps reverting, I am clicking on the Apply button after I set to High.

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Diane Poremsky (@guest_181574)
Reply to  Tom McCracken
January 29, 2014 1:04 am
#181574

It usually only reverts with Outlook.com accounts. I'm pretty sure Outlook doesn't disable it for IMAP accounts - I know gmail says to set it to low, but other imap servers don't AFAIK, Will double check.

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Tom McCracken (@guest_181542)
January 27, 2014 10:46 am
#181542

The computer choose IMAP, and I thought it should be POP but was unable to change it. This really means nothing to me but i noticed that it was leaving the messages on the server.

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Diane Poremsky (@guest_181554)
Reply to  Tom McCracken
January 28, 2014 12:46 am
#181554

Automatic Account Setup always goes with IMAP if the server supports it. You need to add the account manually if you want to use POP3.

Junk mail rules work with IMAP accounts but the entire message needs to be downloaded before the rules (junk or rules you create) will run. They can be a little goofy with IMAP accounts because headers are often downloaded first.

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Tom McCracken (@guest_181515)
January 25, 2014 11:27 am
#181515

Outlook 2010, my server does not filter anything.

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Diane Poremsky (@guest_181540)
Reply to  Tom McCracken
January 27, 2014 8:12 am
#181540

Are you using POP3, IMAP, Exchange, or Outlook.com email accounts?

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Tom McCracken (@guest_181492)
January 24, 2014 6:14 pm
#181492

My junk email filter settings keep reverting to the lowest setting each time I log off. They will not stay where I set them.

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Diane Poremsky (@guest_181495)
Reply to  Tom McCracken
January 24, 2014 9:24 pm
#181495

What type of email account? This is normal with Outlook.com accounts using the Outlook Connector or EAS - the server handles junk mail filtering so that mail doesn't need ot be downloaded then uploaded when its moved to the junk folder.

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