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
    2024-07-30T20:51:10+00:00

    From what I see, not many people understood the purpose of this thread.

    In new outlook, allow us to double click on the email, open in new window and mark as read.

    No extra steps, no select read/unread, no CRL Q.

    Microsoft team, please fix this issue and return option that was part of outlook for God knows how many years.

    Z

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  2. Anonymous
    2024-08-07T21:56:54+00:00

    Almost a year later. This seems to be the closest setting to get the unread functionality from the old Outlook.

    I do not know how to open a "preview" of an email in new Outlook though. When I click on an inbox message it opens it to full view.

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  3. Anonymous
    2024-08-07T23:55:34+00:00

    None of the options are any good. The option you have identified will mark as read simply because you have chosen to read another email that looks more important. You will then forget to read this email.

    The bottom option is the safest but it adds the extra step of manually marking the email as read. If you forget to mark as read then you will waste time reading it again, and you will forget to mark as read.

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  4. Anonymous
    2024-08-28T15:48:22+00:00

    Go to the gear symbol on top right hand side.

    Mail - Mail - Message Handling

    Choose "Mark displayed items as read as soon as they are selected.

    Not ideal but the best I could find.

    JC - that's all we needed.

    It would have been helpful to have a breakdown of what these new options mean.

    So for the new outlook go to Settings (gearbox icon top right) > Mail > Message Handling > Mark as Read > Mark displayed items as read as soon as they're selected.

    All Mark as Read options:

    1. Mark displayed items as read as soon as they're selected - this is what we're all looking for, mark as read when opened
    2. Mark displayed items as read after 5 seconds - who in the crazy would want this
    3. Mark displayed items as read when selection changes - what does this even mean???
    4. Don't automatically mark items as read - the opposite of what we want

    In the unread filter [ ] Always keep items as unread unless I explicitly mark them as read (check or uncheck this box) - I have as unchecked

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  5. Anonymous
    2024-08-28T16:01:20+00:00

    No, this is not what i wanted. I sometimes want to select an email, preview it, but not mark it as read. I only want outlook to mark it as read AFTER i double click the email to actually open it.

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