How to search for emails by category on new Outlook app

Anonymous
2023-11-14T20:56:23+00:00

In the older version of the Outlook app on desktop, I was able to easily search for emails with a specific category. However with the new Outlook app, I'm not sure how to do that anymore. I understand that you can click on an email with a category to search for emails with the same category, but I find this rather inconvenient. Is there an easier workaround that's more similar to how the old Outlook app worked?

Outlook | Windows | New Outlook for Windows | For home

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Anonymous
2023-11-15T03:00:40+00:00

Dear Yongj_363,

Good day! Thank you for posting to Microsoft Community. We are happy to assist you.

Based on your description, you are asking about searching for emails by category on the new Outlook app. Here's how:

  1. Click on the search bar at the top of the Outlook app.
  2. Type in the name of the category you want to search for.
  3. Choose the category option when it comes out.
  4. The search results will show all emails that have been categorized with the category you searched for.

I did an sample search, please refer to the information below:

  1. I categorized my emails in my inbox as custom 123, default Blue, Green and Purple.

.

  1. When I search emails with one specific category, I just search the name of this category.

For123: I typed 123, the option would come out for searching 123 category (If the option does not show up, add a space).

.

.

For Blue category: I typed Blue and I got the option for Blue category.

.

.

I hope the information above can be useful for you. If there is any update or I misunderstand you, please feel free to let me know. I will continue to assist you. Your understanding and co-operation are highly appreciated.

Thanks for your precious time. Have a nice day.

Sincerely,

Sherry | Microsoft Community Moderator

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  2. Anonymous
    2025-01-10T11:56:59+00:00

    It also works for me! Outlook version 1.2024.1216.300 (Production)

    I agree with you, Kayla, that the old version was better in many aspects. Maybe someday they'll be adding the categories in the "Filters" window.

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  3. Anonymous
    2025-01-08T17:26:52+00:00

    Posting to update: as of January 2025, I am able to filter by Category again 🎉

    However, I still prefer the way this feature works in the "old" Outlook desktop app.

    To filter by category in the "new" app, I must type the Category name into the search bar (which usually prompts the category to appear at the bottom of the search list but occasionally doesn't work at all); whereas in the "old" app, the search menu included a drop-down of all the categories I can filtered by.

    Examples below:

    Image

    Image

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  4. Anonymous
    2025-01-08T15:43:46+00:00

    Why not create a button in the search filter: always complicated and not very intuitive in Microsoft.

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