How to fix handling settings on Outlook

Question

How to fix handling settings on Outlook

Deborah Laing 5

Not sure what I did wrong my first question was deleted. I just need to change my email settings back to Standard from Strict and it keeps reverting back.

Anyone know how to fix that please.

DL

Deborah Laing 5 Reputation points

2026-09-15T05:23:12.4133333+00:00

Tried checking blocked and trusted sites, nothing stood out. Changed handling to Standard incognito, no luck.
Hornblower409 15,140 Reputation points

2026-09-16T05:21:57.65+00:00
@Deborah Laing said

change my email settings back to Standard from Strict and it keeps reverting back

A quick test to see if it is all of your settings or just Strict/Standard that are having problems.

Logon to Outlook Web https://outlook.cloud.microsoft/

File -> Settings -> Mail -> Message handling -> Action confirmations

Toggle Confirm that the action was successful

[Save]

Close the browser and go back again.

Did it stick?
Deborah Laing 5 Reputation points

2026-09-16T10:40:29.46+00:00

No, sorry it didn't.
Deborah Laing 5 Reputation points

2026-09-16T10:50:45.5333333+00:00

I just tried to add Microsoft.com to the safe senders list because everything is going into spam, but it won't let me. It says something went wrong, couldn't save changes. I did try this earlier today with the same result.
Hornblower409 15,140 Reputation points

2026-09-16T15:05:38.0233333+00:00
@Deborah Laing said

[Toggle Action confirmations did not stick]

So it would seem that your account can not correctly save any account settings. This is not something that I will be able to help you fix. I would suggest you bring in Microsoft Support so they can examine your account on the server.

Logon to https://outlook.cloud.microsoft/

From the main menu: Help -> ? Help

{This should open the Help side panel}

Search Help -> {Your problem} and press Enter

Still need help? [Yes]

If you get "We're here to help": Tell us your problem -> {Your problem, again} [Get Help]

[Sign In] {Use any Outlook/Microsoft account}

Choose a support option -> Chat with a support agent in your web browser

I just tried to add Microsoft.com to the safe senders list .. says something went wrong, couldn't save changes

This is a known bug. No fix but if you only need to add to the Safe list there is a Possible Workaround - Add to Contacts. See the Answer by "Hornblower409 Sep 5 2026" in
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/5989552/couldnt-save-changes-when-unblocking-an-email
Deborah Laing 5 Reputation points

2026-09-17T00:31:20.37+00:00

It would be nice if Microsoft could work on a fix wouldn't it.

3 answers

Your answer

Deborah Laing 5 Reputation points

2026-09-15T05:23:12.4133333+00:00

Tried checking blocked and trusted sites, nothing stood out. Changed handling to Standard incognito, no luck.
Hornblower409 15,140 Reputation points

2026-09-16T05:21:57.65+00:00

@Deborah Laing said

change my email settings back to Standard from Strict and it keeps reverting back

A quick test to see if it is all of your settings or just Strict/Standard that are having problems.

Logon to Outlook Web https://outlook.cloud.microsoft/

File -> Settings -> Mail -> Message handling -> Action confirmations

Toggle Confirm that the action was successful

[Save]

Close the browser and go back again.

Did it stick?
Deborah Laing 5 Reputation points

2026-09-16T10:40:29.46+00:00

No, sorry it didn't.
Deborah Laing 5 Reputation points

2026-09-16T10:50:45.5333333+00:00

I just tried to add Microsoft.com to the safe senders list because everything is going into spam, but it won't let me. It says something went wrong, couldn't save changes. I did try this earlier today with the same result.
Hornblower409 15,140 Reputation points

2026-09-16T15:05:38.0233333+00:00

@Deborah Laing said

[Toggle Action confirmations did not stick]

So it would seem that your account can not correctly save any account settings. This is not something that I will be able to help you fix. I would suggest you bring in Microsoft Support so they can examine your account on the server.

Logon to https://outlook.cloud.microsoft/

From the main menu: Help -> ? Help

{This should open the Help side panel}

Search Help -> {Your problem} and press Enter

Still need help? [Yes]

If you get "We're here to help": Tell us your problem -> {Your problem, again} [Get Help]

[Sign In] {Use any Outlook/Microsoft account}

Choose a support option -> Chat with a support agent in your web browser

I just tried to add Microsoft.com to the safe senders list .. says something went wrong, couldn't save changes

This is a known bug. No fix but if you only need to add to the Safe list there is a Possible Workaround - Add to Contacts. See the Answer by "Hornblower409 Sep 5 2026" in
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/5989552/couldnt-save-changes-when-unblocking-an-email
Deborah Laing 5 Reputation points

2026-09-17T00:31:20.37+00:00

It would be nice if Microsoft could work on a fix wouldn't it.

Answer 1

Jhun Buala 5,720 Independent Advisor

Hi Deborah Ling,

Good day. If it keeps changing back to strict, check whether another Outlook security or account setting is overriding your option.

Open Outlook on the web and sign in.
Go to Settings > Mail > Junk email.
Check the handling/safety level and set it to Standard.
Save the change, then sign out and back in to see if it stays.

If it keeps switching back to Strict again, check whether the same thing happens in Outlook on the web and the Outlook app. If only the app changes it back, the problem may be with the app rather than the account settings.

Another thing, is this is a work or school account? If yes an administrator or organization policy can force the setting back to Strict but for a personal Microsoft account, that restriction normally wouldn't apply.

Regards,
Jhun

Deborah Laing 5 Reputation points

2026-09-15T03:33:53.2033333+00:00

Hi Jhun, thank you for your reply. I have tried what you suggested many times only to have Strict bounce back again, I mainly use Thunderbird for my emails and if I need to change any settings I go to Outlook on the web. I do not have Outlook on my iphone or anything else but Thunderbird and the web. I hope you can help, all my emails are going to spam because of the strict handling.

Deb.

Answer 2

Hi Deborah,

Since you're only using Thunderbird and Outlook on the web, let's not keep repeating the Standard-Strict change. If Strict keeps coming back, something else may be overriding the setting.

Try to check these:

On your Outlook on the web, go to Settings > Mail > Junk email.
Check Blocked senders and domains and remove anything that shouldn't be blocked.
Add trusted addresses or domains under Safe senders and domains.
Check Settings > Mail > Rules for any rule moving messages to Junk.

Then set the handling back to Standard, save it, and check again using a private or incognito browser window.

If it still changes back to Strict, the issue is likely with the Outlook.com account setting rather than Thunderbird. Since your messages are already going to Junk in Outlook, Thunderbird isn't likely to be causing the filtering.

Jhun

Answer 3

Linda Markever 0

If you mean Outlook.com’s Message handling settings, try this:

Go to Settings → Mail → Message handling.
Change Strict to Standard.
Click Save.
Sign out of Outlook and sign back in.

If it keeps reverting to Strict, try clearing your browser cache/cookies or using another browser. Microsoft also recommends signing out, clearing the cache, closing the browser, and signing in again for Outlook.com settings issues.

Microsoft’s Outlook message-handling guidance

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