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
    2025-07-09T15:56:21+00:00

    Who thought this would be a great idea?

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  2. Anonymous
    2025-07-09T12:36:32+00:00

    It seems like MS is hellbent on creating as much friction as possible in user experiences.

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