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

Helloooooo...................................Microsoft..........................................anybody out there?

I have just started using this new Outlook today as prompted by the company I work for. I have very quickly come across the very same problem and question, which may seem simple to you but is actually quite a fundamental requirement for us users. I can't believe this was raised over a year ago and still there is no solution, and even worse there is no response from Microsoft. As soon as the initial MS person realised it was a business related question (it's not), they palmed it off to a different department and there has been no engagement since. Incredible!

Does anyone from MS actually read any of these posts? I don't understand why something so simple and fundamental is being overlooked....

It's not a solution. As soon as you click off the original unread e-mail to a different one, the original will show as read, even though it has not been double-clicked or opened.

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

I have exactly the same problem. I need the item to be marked read ONLY after I double click it to open it. Any other type of click is just previewing it and it should remain unread. Double click and opening means I read it. Outlook has always had this option and worked this way. What happened to this. Why am I having to make extra clicks to mark something as read. FIX THIS PROBLEM. Why was something so natural to everyone removed?

That worked perfectly for me! Thanks!