How to set "Unread" as the default inbox filter in Outlook, and still be able to view Read messages

Anonymous
2022-10-26T16:51:20+00:00

Another article describes setting the default filter in Outlook to Unread under View Settings. I did this and found that after doing so, I was no longer able to view Read messages, they just didn't appear in the inbox after setting the Inbox filter to All.

What I'm looking for is a setting that will make Unread the default filter setting, but still allow me to see Read messages when switching the filter to All or Read. Does this setting exist?

Outlook | Windows | Classic Outlook for Windows | For home

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  1. Anonymous
    2025-04-08T21:21:05+00:00

    Ditto...

    I just upgraded and immediately noticed that I lose the unread filter if I travel away from mail and go back. Please add in the option to either default to Unread or as many have suggested, just hold the user filter until we change it again.

    It might seem simple enough to change the filter; but it is an unnecessary step. We shouldn't have to keep changing the filter back.

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  2. Anonymous
    2025-02-05T21:37:54+00:00

    SAME REQUEST AS ALL THE OTHERS ABOVE. PLEASE ADDRESS THIS ISSUE.

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  3. Anonymous
    2025-01-21T14:16:10+00:00

    I totally agree with the above f(x) request. MS should be better than chrome and it just isn't. Having to click on "filter" to only see unread emails is abject junk; almost as much as having to close copilot every freaking time you open an office app. Just leave it on the tool bar and allow us to click on it when we want it. Good golly, I cannot believe that this is a PAID service. Point goes to Chrome.

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  4. Anonymous
    2024-10-18T23:19:25+00:00

    After making the Search Folder a Favorite, you can use these steps for it to appear upon Start-up:

    To make a specific folder appear when you start Microsoft Outlook, you can:

    1. Click the File tab
    2. Click Options, then Advanced
    3. Under Outlook start and exit, click Browse
    4. In the Select Folder dialog box, select the folder you want to appear

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  5. Anonymous
    2024-10-03T15:33:28+00:00

    Thank you so much.

    Unfortunately it still doesn't seem to work for me. On my instance of Outlook (Microsoft 365, Version 16.89.2 (24092212), Mac OS Sonoma 14.6.1) the "Unread emails" are under a "Saved Searches" expandable section, and there is no option to add those saved searched to favourites. Other folders can be added but not them.

    Oh well.

    Agreed re Gmail. I have mine set to show Unread emails by default, then I can choose to view my entire inbox if I want to.

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