Why can't Outlook users edit the subject line of incoming emails?

Anonymous
2024-02-22T04:15:43+00:00

* * Moderator note on 11/21/2024 * *

If running Classic Outlook/Legacy Outlook/Desktop Outlook, please see this article.

Edit an email subject line https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/edit-an-email-subject-line-08d60328-2a27-473e-8227-0b42a1ff2ce6

Hello,

Ever since the "New Outlook" was released, MSoft has been pushing for all users move to this new version. When I first tried it, I noticed that the New Outlook would not allow me to edit the subject line for any incoming emails. Therefore, I DID NOT switch over. Today I realized that even in the legacy Outlook, this feature is no longer available. MSoft makes us believe it's available, but after about a minute or so, the edits just vanish.

Our workflow requires internal project numbers be assigned to certain emails. MSoft removing this option is a huge problem for us. I'm 100% confident I'm not the only one facing this problem. Needless to say, this is frustrating. The tool that is supposed to make us more productive is actually creating serious problems in our workflow.

What is going on?

In gratitude,

Joe Silva

Outlook | MacOS | Legacy Outlook for Mac | For home

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  1. Anonymous
    2024-11-06T23:38:56+00:00

    10s of thousands, pfh more like 100s of thousands. In the real world people are lazy and don't put meaningful descriptions on their emails. I edit 100s of email descriptions everyday. This New Outlook is truly painful, in its lack of options. Isn't the point of "new" being better not worse. This is a step backwards, it has less useful functions for the everyday user and more stick you nose in my business and watch my every move.

    Bring back the editing function.

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  2. Anonymous
    2024-11-06T23:18:11+00:00

    Not being able to change the subject line is unacceptable. I will not be changing over.

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  3. Anonymous
    2024-10-25T14:03:54+00:00

    Sorry. Bad advice. Withdrawn.

    This has worked for me with every MS email program I've used in the last 25 years. Try it.

    Make the outlook window smaller than the Desktop.

    Drag the message from Outlook to the Desktop.

    Open that message with Notepad or another text editor.

    Edit the Subject and anything else you want to edit.

    Save as EML.

    Drag the message back into the Outlook folder you want it in.

    You should now have 2 versions of the message, the original and the edited.

    Don

    FYI - this actually works now that they finally made it so that you can drag emails outside of the new outlook window. Thank you!

    (But definitely WAY too many extra steps needed. Hopefully they fix this issue! I MUST be able to edit email subjects for work as well, and I do not want to have to do this many extra steps for every e-mail that needs to be changed.)

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  4. Anonymous
    2024-10-17T12:57:09+00:00

    Hi De Paul N. Kwizera MSFT

    This is not a useful fix. As a business we also need to be able to search and file emails easily and the only way for some is to amend the subject line.

    I do not see why this cannot be reverted back?

    Regards,

    Dilek

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  5. Anonymous
    2024-10-11T20:09:27+00:00

    I understand that "In the latest versions of Outlook, including the New Outlook, the subject line is now considered a part of the message body and cannot be edited separately." Regardless of the reason, why insist on retaining this new constraint that so many people detest? Why not make this an option in settings?

    I've always employed the ability to change the subject line because so many people (especially in group email threads) reply to an email about a new subject but do not change the subject line. I have to hit Reply to myself and then edit the subject line to file my old emails by subject.

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