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

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.

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.

This should be a simple function, copy and paste from the previous version. Unbelievable...

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

Still no answer to this simple problem?

So it's been 8 months and we still don't have a solution. Nice one Microsoft...