The Folder List is normally in alphabetical order. In Outlook 2010 and up, the Inbox, Drafts, Sent Items, and Deleted Items folders are grouped at the top of the folder list, with the user-created folders sorted alphabetically below. Beginning with Outlook 2013, you can arrange folders in any order (or lock then in alphabetical order).
If you have multiple data files in your profile, the default data file is first and the other data files follow in alphabetical order. You can drag the data files to re-arrange them in Outlook 2013 and up.
If the last folder you used moves to the top of the Folder List, it means that the language setting on your computer is probably different from that on the Exchange Server. To fix it, use the Regional Settings applet in Control Panel to change the language on your computer, then restart your system.
Outlook 2013 and up
Beginning with Outlook 2013, you can arrange your folders in the folder list in any order you want. This is a change in behavior from older versions.
Select a folder and drag to a new position or right-click and use the Move Up and Move Down commands.
If Move Up and Move Down are missing from the menu, you have the folders locked in alphabetical order. Go to the Folder tab and click on Show All folders A-Z to turn this off.
To reset the Mailbox folder list to alphabetical order (with Inbox, Drafts, Sent and Deleted items grouped at the top), click the Show All Folders A to Z button on the Folder tab. When this button is highlighted, the folders will sort in alphabetical order. When it's off, the sort order returns to the previous order.
When the folders are in random order and you want to sort them in alphabetical order and retain the ability to move the folder, right click on the mailbox name and choose Sort Subfolders A-Z. This sorts the folders in alphabetical order; it is not a toggle that flips between your previous unsorted order and alphabetical.
To sort subfolder of another folder (such as your Inbox), right click on the folder and choose Sort Subfolders A-Z. Note: if there are no subfolders within a folder, the command is grayed.
Outlook 2010
In Outlook 2010 the Inbox, Drafts, Sent Items, and Deleted Items folders are listed first with the remaining default folders and the user-created folders following in alphabetical order.
The folders in the Favorites list in the Mail module, and in the Calendar, Contacts, Tasks, and Notes modules can be arranged in any order. Drag or right-click and use the Move up and Move down commands.
Outlook on the web
Folders are sorted in alphabetical order in Outlook on the web. As of this writing, you cannot change the sort order in the folder list. If you want to use a specific order, add the folders to the Favorites section at the top of the folder list by right-clicking on a folder and choosing Add to Favorites. Either drag up or down to change the folder order or right click and use the Move up the list or Move down the list commands.
Remove folders from the list by right-clicking and choosing Remove from Favorites.
This is a long shot...but how do I go back from having it sorted A-Z?
Thank you. it helped.
How do I sort folders and sub folders in Outlook 365?
As in Outlook desktop software? The same - using the A-Z button or just drag the folders. IMAP folders can't be sorted - but folders in Exchange and pst can be. Folders in Outlook on the web can't be sorted.
When I choose my sent email folder or my subfolders under my inbox, the list is supposed to populate newest to oldest, which it does. However, it always defaults further down on the scroll bar rather than at the top of the list and I'm constantly having to scroll back up to the top to see the beginning of the list. How do I fix it so that whatever folder I am accessing starts at the actual top of the list instead of partially down it? Microsoft 2013 version. Thanks!
When you switch folders, the last selected message remains selected. Press the Home button on the keyboard
ribbonto jump to the top.OOPs - typo - that was supposed to be "Press the Home button on the keyboard to jump to the top."
I have lost control of the placement of the Inbox in Outlook 2013 on a shared account. The users who share the account (Pattie & Marissa) want it at the top of the folders for that account.
On Pattie’s Windows 7 computer with Outlook 2013 I drag it up to the top, want for a few seconds, and it moves back down below Deleted Items. Right-click and select “Move Up” a few times to get it up were they want it, do anything with the folders, and the Inbox drop back down under Deleted Items. Seems that Inbox is the only folder that exhibits this behavior. I move other folders (Drafts, Outbox, Sent Items, Junk Email) and they stay put.
Marissa has a Windows 10 computer, Outlook 2013, and has same problem.
I set up Pattie’s account on another Windows 7 computer/Outlook 2013 and same thing happens.
Anyone ever had out-of-control Inbox problems and have some advice?
Is it an Exchange mailbox? IMAP folders can't be sorted.
Are these the only computers the mailbox is open in? Do you have the Sort A-Z button off?
Yes, Exchange Online (Plan 1) email accounts.
I have the account in Outlook on three computers - one was a test system that was only logged on long enough for me to see if the Inbox behaved in the same way on a third system.
Sort A-Z was disabled.
I logged back in to all three systems this evening to check the "Sort A-Z" button. While logged in on the two computers that matter, I moved the Inbox to the top on one and after a few seconds it went back to the bottom. I did it on both at the same time...and no more diving to the bottom by the Inbox. I opened and closed Outlook and Inbox stayed in place at the top. I engaged and disengaged "Sort A-Z" and the Inbox stayed at the top whether "Sort A-Z" as on or off.
What happened? I have no idea. Hopefully, it stays that way.
Fingers crossed. :)
Thank you! This helped. I like seeing the folders sorted.
I'm on Outlook 2016 and if I create a new folder I have to drag through a long tree of folders to place it where I want it. I don't see any option to add at the point of creation other than the inbox which puts the selection at the top of the tree (my folder list is huge), so it's a lot of dragging or up/down arrow moves. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.Thanks
If you select a folder, it should be placed as a subfolder of the selected folder. If you select the root folder (your email address), to create a folder at the same level as Inbox, it will be placed at the top of the folder list (unless you use the option to sort folders a-z, then it will self-sort after creating).
This should work (but isn't working in my build, i'll file a bug report on it): if you want a folder at the inbox level, select a folder near where you want it and create it as a subfolder, then drag it into the position.
THANK YOU so much Diane for your very explicit help with the sometimes intricate matter of folders!!! If I may ask:
1. It seems my Outlook 2010 (W10) doesn't have the "Show All Folders A to Z button on the Folder tab" so I can alphabetize them with one click, because some of my folders run away to other positions...when I'm not looking, lol!
2. Is there a way to avoid those indented sub-folders? I like all my folders straight in one column...besides their placing themselves under the wrong folder names too.
Will appreciate a lot to know how to do these 2 things (of the hundred others that give me headaches). Thanks again for your great contribution in helping us out! :o) Adela