# How to Filter Email in Outlook

[![image.png](https://wiki.towne.org/uploads/images/gallery/2024-01/scaled-1680-/image.png)](https://wiki.towne.org/uploads/images/gallery/2024-01/image.png)

Is your Outlook inbox so unorganized that you can't find what you're looking for? Fortunately, it's easy to filter messages into different folders based on email address (sender or receiver), words, and phrases in any version of Outlook, including Microsoft Outlook 365. We'll show you how to create rules in Outlook to automatically filter incoming email messages, plus how to sort your existing emails.

## Method 1

#### <span class="mw-headline" id="bkmrk-filtering-by-email-a-1">Filtering by Email Address</span>

<div aria-hidden="true" class="step_num" id="bkmrk-1-click-a-message-se">1 **Click a message sent to or from an address you want to filter.** This opens the message in the right panel.</div><div class="step" id="bkmrk-for-example%2C-if-you-">- For example, if you want to filter all mail sent from one email address, click an email from that sender.
- If you want to filter messages sent to one of your email addresses, click a message addressed to that address.

</div>[![image.png](https://wiki.towne.org/uploads/images/gallery/2024-01/scaled-1680-/uuwimage.png)](https://wiki.towne.org/uploads/images/gallery/2024-01/uuwimage.png)

2 **Click the **<span class="nowrap" title="This is not a clickable button; it illustrates the button one should find.">Home</span>** tab.** It’s near the top-left corner of the window.

[![image.png](https://wiki.towne.org/uploads/images/gallery/2024-01/scaled-1680-/I8Bimage.png)](https://wiki.towne.org/uploads/images/gallery/2024-01/I8Bimage.png)

<div aria-hidden="true" class="step_num" id="bkmrk-3-click%C2%A0rules.%C2%A0it%E2%80%99s-">3 Click **<span class="nowrap" title="This is not a clickable button; it illustrates the button one should find.">Rules</span>**.** It’s in the row of icons near the top of the screen, toward the center.</div><div class="step" id="bkmrk-if-you-don%27t-see-thi">- If you don't see this option, click the three dots at the far-right corner of the toolbar.
- You can also right-click a message or folder and select **Rules**

</div>[![image.png](https://wiki.towne.org/uploads/images/gallery/2024-01/scaled-1680-/JJoimage.png)](https://wiki.towne.org/uploads/images/gallery/2024-01/JJoimage.png)

<span class="whb">4 </span>**Click **<span class="nowrap" title="This is not a clickable button; it illustrates the button one should find.">Always Move Messages From &lt;sender&gt;</span>** or **<span class="nowrap" title="This is not a clickable button; it illustrates the button one should find.">Always Move Messages To &lt;address&gt;</span>**.** A list of folders on your account will appear.

[![image.png](https://wiki.towne.org/uploads/images/gallery/2024-01/scaled-1680-/UG2image.png)](https://wiki.towne.org/uploads/images/gallery/2024-01/UG2image.png)

<div aria-hidden="true" class="step_num" id="bkmrk-5-select-the-folder-">5 **Select the folder to which you want these messages filtered.** If you don’t see a folder you want to use, click **New** to create one, then select it.</div>[![image.png](https://wiki.towne.org/uploads/images/gallery/2024-01/scaled-1680-/XHYimage.png)](https://wiki.towne.org/uploads/images/gallery/2024-01/XHYimage.png)

<div aria-hidden="true" class="step_num" id="bkmrk-6-click%C2%A0ok.-future-e">6 **Click **<span class="nowrap" title="This is not a clickable button; it illustrates the button one should find.">OK</span>**.** Future email sent to or from the email address you selected will be moved to the selected folder upon receipt.</div>[![image.png](https://wiki.towne.org/uploads/images/gallery/2024-01/scaled-1680-/gPhimage.png)](https://wiki.towne.org/uploads/images/gallery/2024-01/gPhimage.png)


## Method 2

#### <span class="mw-headline" id="bkmrk-filtering-by-words-1">Filtering by Words</span>

<div aria-hidden="true" class="step_num" id="bkmrk-1-click-a-message-co">1 **Click a message containing a word or phrase you want to filter.** The word or phrase can be anywhere in the message, such as the subject, body, or header.</div>[![image.png](https://wiki.towne.org/uploads/images/gallery/2024-01/scaled-1680-/uwbimage.png)](https://wiki.towne.org/uploads/images/gallery/2024-01/uwbimage.png)

<div aria-hidden="true" class="step_num" id="bkmrk-2-click-the%C2%A0home%C2%A0tab-1">2 **Click the **<span class="nowrap" title="This is not a clickable button; it illustrates the button one should find.">Home</span>** tab.** It’s near the top-left corner of the screen.</div>[![image.png](https://wiki.towne.org/uploads/images/gallery/2024-01/scaled-1680-/pZcimage.png)](https://wiki.towne.org/uploads/images/gallery/2024-01/pZcimage.png)

<div aria-hidden="true" class="step_num" id="bkmrk-3-click%C2%A0rules.%C2%A0it%E2%80%99s--1">3 **Click **<span class="nowrap" title="This is not a clickable button; it illustrates the button one should find.">Rules</span>**.** It’s in the row of icons near the top of the screen, toward the center.</div><div class="step" id="bkmrk-if-you-don%27t-see-thi-1">- If you don't see this option, click the three dots at the far-right corner of the toolbar.
- You can also right-click a message or folder and select **Rules**.

</div>[![image.png](https://wiki.towne.org/uploads/images/gallery/2024-01/scaled-1680-/nOvimage.png)](https://wiki.towne.org/uploads/images/gallery/2024-01/nOvimage.png)

<div aria-hidden="true" class="step_num" id="bkmrk-4-click%C2%A0manage-rules">4 **<span class="whb">Click </span>**<span class="nowrap" title="This is not a clickable button; it illustrates the button one should find.">Manage Rules &amp; Alerts</span>**.**</div>[![image.png](https://wiki.towne.org/uploads/images/gallery/2024-01/scaled-1680-/H0Yimage.png)](https://wiki.towne.org/uploads/images/gallery/2024-01/H0Yimage.png)

<div aria-hidden="true" class="step_num" id="bkmrk-5-click%C2%A0new-rule.-it">5 **Click **<span class="nowrap" title="This is not a clickable button; it illustrates the button one should find.">New Rule</span>**.** It’s at the top-left corner of the window.</div>[![image.png](https://wiki.towne.org/uploads/images/gallery/2024-01/scaled-1680-/VQdimage.png)](https://wiki.towne.org/uploads/images/gallery/2024-01/VQdimage.png)

<div aria-hidden="true" class="step_num" id="bkmrk-6-select%C2%A0move-messag">6 **Select **<span class="nowrap" title="This is not a clickable button; it illustrates the button one should find.">Move messages with specific words in the subject to a folder</span>**.** Even if you don’t want to filter only words in the subject, select this option for now.</div><div class="step" id="bkmrk--12"></div>[![image.png](https://wiki.towne.org/uploads/images/gallery/2024-01/scaled-1680-/15Pimage.png)](https://wiki.towne.org/uploads/images/gallery/2024-01/15Pimage.png)

<div aria-hidden="true" class="step_num" id="bkmrk-7-click%C2%A0next.-a-list">7 **Click **<span class="nowrap" title="This is not a clickable button; it illustrates the button one should find.">Next</span>**.** A list of options and check boxes will appear.</div>[![image.png](https://wiki.towne.org/uploads/images/gallery/2024-01/scaled-1680-/vvZimage.png)](https://wiki.towne.org/uploads/images/gallery/2024-01/vvZimage.png)

<div aria-hidden="true" class="step_num" id="bkmrk-8-remove-the-check-m">8 **Remove the check mark from “with specific words in the subject.”** You can skip this step if you only want the filter to look at words in the subject line.</div>[![image.png](https://wiki.towne.org/uploads/images/gallery/2024-01/scaled-1680-/hwIimage.png)](https://wiki.towne.org/uploads/images/gallery/2024-01/hwIimage.png)

<div aria-hidden="true" class="step_num" id="bkmrk-9-select-the-parts-o">9 **Select the parts of the message where the filter will look for the words.** Choose at least one of these options:</div><div class="step" id="bkmrk-with-specific-words-">- **with specific words in the subject or body**
    - Example: You want to filter messages with the word “coupon” in either the subject or the body to a folder called Coupons.
- **with specific words in the message header**
    - Example: You want messages sent through a certain mail server to go straight to the trash.
- **with specific words in the recipient’s address**
    - Example: You want mail sent to support@yourdomain.com to go to a folder called Support.
- **with specific words in the sender’s address**
    - Example: You want messages sent from anyone with the word “wiki” in their email address to a folder called Wiki.

</div>[![image.png](https://wiki.towne.org/uploads/images/gallery/2024-01/scaled-1680-/Tjfimage.png)](https://wiki.towne.org/uploads/images/gallery/2024-01/Tjfimage.png)

<div aria-hidden="true" class="step_num" id="bkmrk-10-click%C2%A0next.">10 **Click **<span class="nowrap" title="This is not a clickable button; it illustrates the button one should find.">Next</span>**.**</div>[![image.png](https://wiki.towne.org/uploads/images/gallery/2024-01/scaled-1680-/mL2image.png)](https://wiki.towne.org/uploads/images/gallery/2024-01/mL2image.png)

<div aria-hidden="true" class="step_num" id="bkmrk-11-type-the-word-or-">11 **Type the word or phrase and click **<span class="nowrap" title="This is not a clickable button; it illustrates the button one should find.">Add</span>**.** You can add multiple words and phrases if you wish.</div>[![image.png](https://wiki.towne.org/uploads/images/gallery/2024-01/scaled-1680-/Lvjimage.png)](https://wiki.towne.org/uploads/images/gallery/2024-01/Lvjimage.png)

<div aria-hidden="true" class="step_num" id="bkmrk-12-click%C2%A0ok.-this-br">12 **Click **<span class="nowrap" title="This is not a clickable button; it illustrates the button one should find.">OK</span>**.** This brings you back to the list of filter conditions.</div>[![image.png](https://wiki.towne.org/uploads/images/gallery/2024-01/scaled-1680-/iNximage.png)](https://wiki.towne.org/uploads/images/gallery/2024-01/iNximage.png)

<div aria-hidden="true" class="step_num" id="bkmrk-13-click-the%C2%A0specifi">13 **Click the **<span class="nowrap" title="This is not a clickable button; it illustrates the button one should find.">specified</span>** link.** It’s in the box at the bottom of the window as a part of the phrase “specified folder.” A list of folders on your email account will appear.</div>[![image.png](https://wiki.towne.org/uploads/images/gallery/2024-01/scaled-1680-/nYbimage.png)](https://wiki.towne.org/uploads/images/gallery/2024-01/nYbimage.png)

<div aria-hidden="true" class="step_num" id="bkmrk-14-select-the-folder">14 **Select the folder you to which you want these messages filtered.** If you don’t see a folder you want to use, click **New** to create one, then select it.</div>[![image.png](https://wiki.towne.org/uploads/images/gallery/2024-01/scaled-1680-/izSimage.png)](https://wiki.towne.org/uploads/images/gallery/2024-01/izSimage.png)

<div aria-hidden="true" class="step_num" id="bkmrk-15-click%C2%A0ok.">15 **Click **<span class="nowrap" title="This is not a clickable button; it illustrates the button one should find.">OK</span>**.**</div>[![image.png](https://wiki.towne.org/uploads/images/gallery/2024-01/scaled-1680-/LFXimage.png)](https://wiki.towne.org/uploads/images/gallery/2024-01/LFXimage.png)

<div aria-hidden="true" class="step_num" id="bkmrk-16-click%C2%A0next.-now-y">16 **Click **<span class="nowrap" title="This is not a clickable button; it illustrates the button one should find.">Next</span>**.** Now you’ll see a list of actions Outlook can take based on the filter you created.</div>[![image.png](https://wiki.towne.org/uploads/images/gallery/2024-01/scaled-1680-/m9bimage.png)](https://wiki.towne.org/uploads/images/gallery/2024-01/m9bimage.png)

<div aria-hidden="true" class="step_num" id="bkmrk-17-check-the-boxes-n">17 **Check the boxes next to what you’d like to happen.** Make sure “move it to the specified folder” (the second option) is checked so the message lands in its folder. The others are optional, but can be helpful based on your needs.</div><div class="step" id="bkmrk--24"></div>[![image.png](https://wiki.towne.org/uploads/images/gallery/2024-01/scaled-1680-/Rbaimage.png)](https://wiki.towne.org/uploads/images/gallery/2024-01/Rbaimage.png)

<div aria-hidden="true" class="step_num" id="bkmrk-18-click%C2%A0next.">18 **Click **<span class="nowrap" title="This is not a clickable button; it illustrates the button one should find.">Next</span>**.**</div>[![image.png](https://wiki.towne.org/uploads/images/gallery/2024-01/scaled-1680-/5qfimage.png)](https://wiki.towne.org/uploads/images/gallery/2024-01/5qfimage.png)

<div aria-hidden="true" class="step_num" id="bkmrk-19-enter-a-name-for-">19 **Enter a name for the filter.** This is how it will appear in your list.</div><div class="step" id="bkmrk--27"></div>[![image.png](https://wiki.towne.org/uploads/images/gallery/2024-01/scaled-1680-/V0Ximage.png)](https://wiki.towne.org/uploads/images/gallery/2024-01/V0Ximage.png)

<div aria-hidden="true" class="step_num" id="bkmrk-20-check-the-box-nex">20 **Check the box next to “Turn on this rule.”** If you’d like, you can also check “Run this now” so the filter will scan the mail you’ve already received.</div>[![image.png](https://wiki.towne.org/uploads/images/gallery/2024-01/scaled-1680-/aASimage.png)](https://wiki.towne.org/uploads/images/gallery/2024-01/aASimage.png)

<div aria-hidden="true" class="step_num" id="bkmrk-21-click%C2%A0finish.-fut">21 **Click **<span class="nowrap" title="This is not a clickable button; it illustrates the button one should find.">Finish</span>**.** Future incoming messages will now be sorted based on the word or phrase you entered.</div>[![image.png](https://wiki.towne.org/uploads/images/gallery/2024-01/scaled-1680-/cThimage.png)](https://wiki.towne.org/uploads/images/gallery/2024-01/cThimage.png)

## Method 3

#### <span class="mw-headline" id="bkmrk-sorting-your-outlook-1">Sorting Your Outlook Inbox</span>

<span class="mw-headline">**1 Open Microsoft Outlook.** It’s usually in the **Microsoft Office** folder, which you’ll find in the **All Apps** area of the Start menu.</span>

- You'll want to use this method to search or filter all your current email.

[![image.png](https://wiki.towne.org/uploads/images/gallery/2024-01/scaled-1680-/8mQimage.png)](https://wiki.towne.org/uploads/images/gallery/2024-01/8mQimage.png)

<div aria-hidden="true" class="step_num" id="bkmrk-2-click%C2%A0filter-email">2 **Click **<span class="nowrap" title="This is not a clickable button; it illustrates the button one should find.">Filter Email</span>**.** This is next to a funnel icon in the "Find" grouping of the *Home* tab.</div>[![image.png](https://wiki.towne.org/uploads/images/gallery/2024-01/scaled-1680-/ZdWimage.png)](https://wiki.towne.org/uploads/images/gallery/2024-01/ZdWimage.png)

<div aria-hidden="true" class="step_num" id="bkmrk-3-select-your-filter">3 **Select your filter.** You can see all the emails marked as unread, has attachments, when they were received, if they are categorized, flagged or marked important, or based on the "Sent to" field.</div><div class="step" id="bkmrk-for-example%2C-if-you--1">- For example, if you select "Has attachments," you will see a list of emails that have attachments (even if they are categorized into email folders that aren't the Inbox).
- To clear the filter search, click the **x** in the search box.<sup aria-label="Link to Reference 2" class="reference trusted" id="bkmrk-%5B2%5D">[\[2\]](https://www.wikihow.com/Filter-Email-in-Outlook#_note-2)</sup>

</div>[![image.png](https://wiki.towne.org/uploads/images/gallery/2024-01/scaled-1680-/mtPimage.png)](https://wiki.towne.org/uploads/images/gallery/2024-01/mtPimage.png)