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
    2024-08-12T18:27:31+00:00

    I have recently been forced to move to New Outlook, since the Classic Outlook is no longer supported. I cannot believe that functionality would be removed from Outlook!!!

    I work for an employer with thousands of employees, with numerous locations across 8 U.S. states. I receive hundreds of emails each day and editing the email Subject Line is an essential function of Outlook, which provides me with important time efficiencies that I cannot afford to lose, nor can others who support my department and count on our Subject line formatting to quickly navigate through large volumes of emails, which there can be numerous emails on a subject that has various sub-subjects. With New Outlook, when I sort on a key data element, I now have to click in to numerous emails to find the specific one I am looking for because I can no longer use the subject line to alert the specific reason for the email. Using Categories is a high level identifier, but cannot get to the detail that is needed for the work I do. I need to be able to edit the Subject Line of the email. I don't understand how Microsoft can remove the ability to edit an email and call this an improvement?!.

    Please listen to the end users that rely on software functions to help increase productivity and improve efficiencies. I am scrambling trying to find a workaround to editing the email Subject line, but have found nothing that is as effective. Please let Outlook continue to be a time saver for those of us that rely so heavily of Microsoft to make our work easier, rather than harder.

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  2. Anonymous
    2024-07-20T14:42:12+00:00

    Are we expecting an update to resolve the issue? I work for an international company and simple "categories" do not work for what we do. We add which order number is going where to email subject lines, among other information. As is the nature of order numbers, they cannot be boiled down to just certain categories. This has been a big problem for everyone involved and it's surprising and concerning that it's taken this long for it to be changed back.

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  3. Anonymous
    2024-06-27T03:56:50+00:00

    I'm with you! We don't need a workaround for something that worked just fine before their stupid updates. Just leave it as it was. At the very least, explain why this change was made. Was it necessary? Chime in Microsoft, but please, no more workarounds!

    In gratitude,

    Joe Silva

    @JoeSilvaWrites

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  4. Anonymous
    2024-06-27T03:44:17+00:00

    I'm baffled & frustrated why Microsoft made this change. I just don't get it. Maybe someone at Microsoft can at least explain their reasoning behind this change. Are they complying with some stupid privacy law we don't know about? One that protects the sender? Again, I just don't get it!

    In gratitude,

    Joe Silva

    @JoeSilvaWrites

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  5. Anonymous
    2024-06-26T23:30:03+00:00

    I use the Edit on the Subject Line on approximately 95% of my emails.

    When I'm waiting on someone or receive an email, I type in the Subject Line, IN ALL CAPS, what I'm waiting on, the person I'm waiting on, what I need to do when I get time, etc. There are still many steps I need to take and this makes my job very time consuming and difficult. I can't glance to see what/who I'm waiting on. That means until I complete the entire process I have to continue to read the subject line and go back into the email to see what "that particular" email still needs. I cannot open and send the email to myself because I need the email from the original sender.

    I don't know why you'd take something away that so many people use. Don't you want to help the consumer?

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