This article explains how to turn off / on the “Focus inbox” function in Outlook for Windows, Outlook for Mac, and Outlook Web Access (OWA).

Overview of Focused Inbox

Focused Inbox is a “filter” turned on by default in Outlook. It separates your inbox into two tabs:

• Focused
• Other

Focused Inbox is based on the way you interact with your contacts and the emails you receive. The most important emails are moved under the Focused tab, while the other remain accessible under the Other tab.

Please note: be mindful that there may be occasions where important or informative emails may filter into the Other inbox. Please remember to check both the Focused and Other tabs frequently or if you’d prefer, follow the instructions below to switch this feature off.

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Turning Focused inbox on / off

Outlook for Windows

New Outlook

1. Open Outlook

2. Select View

3. Select View settings

4. From the left sidebar, select Menu

5. Select the Layout tab

6. Go to the Focused Inbox section and select the right option for you:

• To turn it on, select the option Sort messages into Focused and Other
• To turn it off, select the option Don't sort my message

7. Select Save if you made any changes.

When Focused Inbox is turned on, you will find the Focused and Other tabs at the top of your mailbox.

You can switch between tabs and move emails from a tab to the other any time.

 

Change how your messages get organized in classic Outlook

1. From your inbox, select the Focused or Other tab

2. Right-click the message you want to move

3. From the drop-down menu, select Move. A new drop-down menu will appear:

• If you're moving from Focused to Other, select Move to Other if you want only the selected message moved. Select Always Move to Other if you want all future messages from the sender to be delivered to the Other tab:
  
• If you're moving from Other to Focused, select Move to Focused if you want only the selected message moved. Select Always Move to Focused if you want all future messages from the sender to be delivered to the Focused tab:
  

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Classic Outlook

1. Open Outlook

2. Select the View tab

3. Select the Show Focused Inbox button to turn it on / off

 
When Focused Inbox is turned on, you will find the Focused and Other tabs at the top of your mailbox:

 
If turned off, you will see the All and Unread tabs at the top of your mailbox:

 
You can switch between tabs and move emails from a tab to the other any time.

 

Change how your messages get organized in classic Outlook

1. From your inbox, select the Focused or Other tab

2. Right-click the message you want to move:

• If you're moving from Focused to Other, select Move to Other if you want only the selected message moved. Select Always Move to Other if you want all future messages from the sender to be delivered to the Other tab:
  
• If you're moving from Other to Focused, select Move to Focused if you want only the selected message moved. Select Always Move to Focused if you want all future messages from the sender to be delivered to the Focused tab:
  

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Outlook for Mac

New Outlook for Mac

1. Open Outlook

2. Open the View tab

3. From the drop-down menu, check or uncheck the option Turn on Focused Inbox

When Focused Inbox is turned on, you will find the Focused and Other tabs at the top of your mailbox:

You can switch between tabs and move emails from a tab to the other any time.

 

Change how your messages get organized in classic Outlook

1. From your inbox, select the Focused or Other tab

2. Right-click the message you want to move:

• If you're moving from Focused to Other, select Move to Other if you want only the selected message moved. Select Always Move to Other if you want all future messages from the sender to be delivered to the Other tab:
  
• If you're moving from Other to Focused, select Move to Focused if you want only the selected message moved. Select Always Move to Focused if you want all future messages from the sender to be delivered to the Focused tab:
  

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Legacy Outlook for Mac

1. Open Outlook 

2. Select the Organize tab

3. Select the Focused inbox

If turned on, the Focused and Other tabs will appear at the top of your mailbox:

If turned off, you will see no tabs at the top of your mailbox:

You can switch between tabs and move emails from a tab to the other any time.

 

Change how your messages get organized in classic Outlook

1. From your inbox, select the Focused or Other tab
2. Right-click the message you want to move:

• If you're moving from Focused to Other, select Move to Other if you want only the selected message moved. Select Always Move to Other if you want all future messages from the sender to be delivered to the Other tab:
  
• If you're moving from Other to Focused, select Move to Focused if you want only the selected message moved. Select Always Move to Focused if you want all future messages from the sender to be delivered to the Focused tab:
  

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Outlook Web Access (OWA)

1. Open Outlook

2. Select View

3. Select View settings

4. From the left sidebar, select Menu

5. Select the Layout tab

6. Go to the Focused Inbox section and select the right option for you:

• To turn it on, select the option Sort messages into Focused and Other
• To turn it off, select the option Don't sort my message

7. Select Save if you made any changes.

When Focused Inbox is turned on, you will find the Focused and Other tabs at the top of your mailbox.

You can switch between tabs and move emails from a tab to the other any time.

 

Change how your messages get organized in classic Outlook

1. From your inbox, select the Focused or Other tab

2. Right-click the message you want to move

3. From the drop-down menu, select Move. A new drop-down menu will appear:

• If you're moving from Focused to Other, select Move to Other if you want only the selected message moved. Select Always Move to Other if you want all future messages from the sender to be delivered to the Other tab:
  
• If you're moving from Other to Focused, select Move to Focused if you want only the selected message moved. Select Always Move to Focused if you want all future messages from the sender to be delivered to the Focused tab:
  

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