How to create an email rule in Outlook Online

If you are overwhelmed by your email, rules can help. Rules filter messages into specific folders, set off alarms, and more.  The example below describes how to create a rule that will move any email messages that have a subject containing the word "discount" to a Junk Email folder. There are many criteria you can use when writing rules, be as specific as you can.


Instructions:

  1. Navigate to outlook.office.com and log in with your Bowdoin username and password.
  2. In the top right corner, click the gear icon (Settings). Navigate to the bottom of the list and click "Mail" under the "Your app settings" section.
  3. In the pane on the left, expand Mail - Automatic Processing
  4. Click on Inbox and sweep rules
  5. Click the plus sign and select the rule you want to create.
  6. In the new inbox rule window, name the rule.

    The name should identify the purpose of the rule. For example, if the rule moves sales emails to a Junk mail folder, name the rule Filter junk mail.


     
  7. In the first drop-down menu, choose the criteria that defines when the rule is applied.
  8. In the second drop-down menu, choose whether the email should be flagged, sent to a folder, deleted, or forwarded.
  9. Click Save.