Outlook (365) - mark item as read only AFTER I OPEN the item.

Anonymous
2023-08-23T23:38:26+00:00

PLEASE!!! Only answer this if you have completely UNDERSTOOD my question. I've seen countless threads here where people are asking the same question, but the reply they get is NOT the answer to their question.

Pay Attention!!

Microsoft 365 - Outlook (desktop or web) (NOTE: Not regular Outlook (which was wonderful and powerful), but the %^%$## product from M...365 which looks like it was written for little kids writing to their BFFs or for grandmas).

Mark an item as read ONLY AFTER YOU OPEN IT. Not previewed, but opened. Not replied to, but opened!

Do NOT try to tell me how to keep it from marking it read when I view it in the reading pane, or move selection, or after 5 seconds. I DON"T NEED THAT! Pay Attention!

I need a button (in microsoft 365 outlook) that says to mark as read when item is opened just like I had in the original program (that my office has forced me to get rid of in favor of this mess).

BTW - I tried to post a screenshot (as suggested above) but it doesn't work (surprise!!)

moved from: Outlook / Outlook.com / Settings

Outlook | Web | Outlook on the web for business | Settings

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

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  1. Anonymous
    2025-03-25T18:27:00+00:00

    "This is STILL a problem, and now it's even worse. Even though I have checked the "Mark items as read when viewed in the reading Pane," now ALL my messages are being marked as read as soon as I open the first one, and just for funsies, IT DOESN'T EVEN HAVE TO BE THE FIRST EMAIL AT THE TOP OF THE LIST (most recent). If I open an unread email that's five emails down in a list of 12 unread emails... they ALL become marked as read."

    I have noticed this behaviour when you have Outlook set to "Conversation view" which I find the stupidest, most unintuitive, hardest to use and easiest to lose mails way of organising anything. Set it to display messages as they come in and this goes away, and so do a load of other issues. With one click you can always sort by subject to get all the mails in the thread grouped together again 🤷‍♂️

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  2. Anonymous
    2024-05-09T06:11:25+00:00

    Huh, I want this feature too where you can say when and how a message is marked as read -- either when the message is opened or when the message is selected for more than 5 seconds (you should have the ablity to change the 5 second. Looks like that feature is still not there

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  5. Anonymous
    2023-08-29T22:24:07+00:00

    Hi Terry,

    Thank you for patiently waiting.

    After further research and consultation, we noticed that you are utilizing the Outlook.office.com portal which specifically used for commercial type of license. For you to be properly assisted about this issue, I will be moving the support to Business category. This way you will be assisted by our support experts who specialized on this licenses.

    You don't need to do anything, the next support will take over and continue answering the thread.

    Thank you for understanding

    Sincerely,

    Leonardo_Y

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