"New Outlook" change color scheme for read/unread messages

Anonymous
2023-11-14T15:31:10+00:00

My inbox displays the following columns - From, Subject, Received

In OLD Outlook, all the words (names, subject message, date and time) in all 3 columns are bold blue when the message is Unread and when the message is Read the color for all the words in all 3 columns changes to non-bold black.

However, in NEW Outlook, the words appear as follows for an Unread message: From (bold black), Subject (bold blue), received (non-bold black). And when the message is Read, everything turns non-bold black.

In NEW Outlook, how do I change the colors of the words in From, Subject, Received so that they display in the same way as they do in OLD Outlook.

Thanks!

Outlook | Windows | New Outlook for Windows | For home

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Anonymous
2023-11-14T18:22:55+00:00

Hello dcraw998,

Good day! Thank you for posting to Microsoft Community.

Based on your description, I understand that you have a concern with changing the color scheme for read/unread messages in the New Outlook preview.

According to your description, I really understand that you are referring to difference in the current feature in New Outlook preview and the classic outlook. And based on my research, I got the same result as yours. The black-blue-black is the default pattern in both outlook versions for unread email. Unless you applied conditional formatting for incoming emails in the Outlook view for the classic outlook which is currently not yet feasible in the new version. I'm afraid, I didn't find a way around this in the new outlook. If you heavily rely on this feature, you may consider toggling out of the new Outlook for Windows preview.

Please kindly understand that many functions are not designed at present. I'd suggest creating an entry as a feature suggestion in feedback collection directly through your new outlook (Help-->Feedback) or at Outlook · Community (microsoft.com) and many other users could vote for it. Many features of our current products are designed and upgraded based on customers’ feedback.

I will update here if I get any update on this feature. Thank you for your kind understanding.

Best Regards,

Ashraf.

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  1. Anonymous
    2025-03-07T19:51:42+00:00

    To change the color of the Subject line of only Unread emails, change your Outlook theme in the new Outlook. It changes the color of the Subject line of *only* Unread emails. If you choose a red theme, your Unread email subject lines will be red and bold. After you've read them they will convert to black and unbold. Since Senders are always black, you should change the theme to a color that contrasts heavily with the black Sender name. Bright orange works best for me, but play around with the themes and see if any other color combination looks clearer to you.

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  2. Anonymous
    2025-02-11T17:45:19+00:00

    Its been 18 mo since the last update and this feature is still not available. Maybe MSFT doesn't understand that seeing unread email in red is easier to see?

    My vision is now such that it is easier for me to read if they are different colors. This is not the trite issue that some like Angela think.

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  3. Anonymous
    2024-10-23T06:51:05+00:00

    Hello Hai,

    Thank you for replying.

    I have looked at this option. And yest it works better for me because the blue is gone it doesn't give me the support to differentiate between unread or read.

    The boldness is not that bold. A chosen coloured header either within Outlook itself, or from the active Windows colour scheme, would emphasize it more.

    With kind regards,

    Kees-Jan

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  4. Anonymous
    2024-08-08T22:19:25+00:00

    The New Outlook read vs unread needs to be improved. The contrast is not nearly enough to facilitate quick visual of unread email. The background color, font color or something needs to better stand out. As it is, I feel like I'm old and having to inspect my screen to be able to tell which one is read and which is not.

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