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
    2025-01-09T18:20:29+00:00

    Thanks for the attempt, but this still doesn't do it.

    In the actual Outlook program (on my Windows PC, not the web app, 365), I can browse my mail without it marking them as read. When I actually open a message, it automatically marks it as read. THIS IS WHAT WE ARE ALL LOOKING FOR in the web app, 365).

    Further - I just tried using that new "In the unread filter" thing, and it is completely ignored by the settings above it.

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  2. Anonymous
    2024-10-27T14:05:53+00:00

    Is this still open even after a year? Just changed to New Outlook and faced exactly this issue - Don't understand why this is a big change to implement.

    I also want an item to be set to "READ" after I've opened it "Double Click on it".

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  3. Anonymous
    2024-10-24T21:25:59+00:00

    I sense microsoft just does not understand this plight. I am suffering with it as well. We cannot be the only people out there who scan emails with reading pane and keep the ones unread that we actually have to do something with... later... I'm missing stuff or I have a bunch of emails unread that i've read, arg. with all the niggly functionality MS puts in everything to make it over the top and confusing, why take away a very logical and helpful too. Maybe we need to send them specific user stories ba ha ha

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  4. Anonymous
    2024-10-02T13:52:11+00:00

    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!

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  5. Anonymous
    2024-03-13T15:33:14+00:00

    I have the same question. How has no one from MS been able to at least say they don't have a solution or actively working to restore?

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