After you finish processing your messages, you should have a clean Inbox and can switch your focus to your calendar and tasks. If you find that you are repeatedly applying the same categories and flags, create a new Quick Step that flags, categorizes, and files. Quick Steps give you the ability to perform multiple actions in one click. They are a useful tool to help you keep a clean inbox mailbox not updating on IMAP and to generally be more efficient at using Outlook.

How can I manage complicated tasks?

In these cases, reply and include the person you're delegating the message to on the To line. If you find you're doing this often, consider creating a Quick Step that replies and adds the delegated person to the To line. If you need it as reference (even if you have decided to defer it), move it into your reference folder.

I have 10 minutes: What should I read first in my Inbox?

• This action will delete old tasks and remove the flag from flagged messages and contacts without deleting the items.
• Upgrade to Microsoft Edge to take advantage of the latest features, security updates, and technical support.
• But if a message takes longer than two minutes to deal with, defer it.
• We also used CiraSync to sync and update Outlook contacts to iPhone and Android devices.
• They are a useful tool to help you keep a clean inbox and to generally be more efficient at using Outlook.
• Make sure to respond to the Contact Group after the issue is resolved with the resolution.

To do this, select the Recurrence button and change the end date. If you find that you are often performing searches across your whole mailbox, you can set the default search scope to always search across all folders by going to the Backstage view. All search terms are additive, so if you want to find a message from someone with attachments, select the commands on the ribbon (From, Has Attachments) to build your search.

Fix Tech Issues Fast

But because it’s in your task list, you can move on to your next message, knowing that you will return reset cached Exchange mode to your flagged items later. If you receive a large volume of messages (more than 200 messages a day), search folders might be a good way for you to parse mail from different senders. If you are short on time, for example, between meetings, you can read the messages in blue – messages sent directly to you. Often these messages are waiting on you for the next step and are the most important.

Advanced: How do I create a Search Folder for email messages?

Outlook and Office 365 sync issues can be frustrating but are almost always fixable. Start with basic network checks, enable Cached Exchange Mode, and repair your data files if needed. For persistent problems, rebuild your Outlook profile or use FixTechGuide’s free diagnostic tools to automate detection of authentication and solve Office 365 mailbox sync delays IMAP errors in seconds.

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That's not to say that there isn't a need for browsing through messages that are all on a particular topic or project. Outlook provides better tools— such as categories and search folders— so you can search effectively. By viewing your messages in conversation view, you can easily see which conversations have had the most back-and-forth discussion. In those cases, you might want to read and respond to only the last message in the conversation.



Rules help this process by moving messages into folders based on criteria that you set. Rules filter the messages coming into your Inbox for must-read items only. Favorites, a subset of your mail folders, appear at the top of the navigation pane. Outlook’s Calendar Reminders feature helps users keep their calendars in order so they don’t miss any crucial appointments or meetings.