How to find unread emails in Outlook? (& Additional Filter)

With Microsoft Outlook, you can send emails, organize your emails, share files, and do countless other things. However, if you ever want to find unread emails, you need to know a few simple steps.

The best part of Microsoft Outlook, which I like the most is filtration, you can easily catch a fish by the rod in the river, all you need is the exact location.

How to view unread emails in Outlook, Earlier I use a Gmail account and it was so frustrating (clicking the Next .. Next button) to find an email 2 years old. Outlook provides an option to grab unanswered emails.

How to sort unread emails in Outlook

This section will show you how to view only unread messages in Outlook. There are two ways to get there, follow the steps.

  • Step 1 – Open Outlook >> Click to home Tab >> Go to Find group >> Click unread from the drop-down menu.
How to filter unread emails in Outlook 2019
  • Step 2 – Before clicking unread, it is mandatory to select the folder in which you required filtration.
  • Step 3 – Click Unread, you will get the list of unread messages.
How To Find Unread Mail In Outlook

While selecting an unread option, you may notice the text “isread:no” automatically appears in the search bar of MS Outlook.

That brings you to another option to find unread messages of the specific folder “isread:no” automatically filtering emails in outlook.

In addition, the search bar allows you to find an unread message using this code [isread:no] from other categories of folders, refer to snapshot.

automatically filter emails in outlook

Folder for unread emails in Outlook

There is another excellent feature, create an unread folder in outlook, which I like to share in this article.

You can easily create a separate folder of unread messages in outlook which allow you to bypass all the exercise and respond to those unread emails accordingly.

  • Click to the specific email address and folder (like:inbox) >> Click Folder tab >> Click New Search Folder
outlook highlight emails with no reply
  • A new search folder dialog box appears >> Click unread mail you can also search mail-in by selecting your email address below the dialog box.
Folder for unread emails in Outlook
  • Click Ok, now you can check an individual folder named – Unread mail appears, which includes only unread mail.
create unread folder in outlook

In this folder, you can always view only unread messages in Outlook, after reading the message is automatically wiped out from the folder.

How to Arrange Unread Emails in Outlook?

Proper arrangement and further filtration of your unread list bring your results more effective and fruitful.

What if you sort your list of email arrangements according to (date, subject, type, attachment, size, from, to & many more).

  • Click the View tab and you will get all the options click and get your results accordingly.
How to arrange unread emails in Outlook

How To Sort Emails by Unread Then Date in Outlook?

As we know, Microsoft Outlook sorts emails by received date by default. Sometimes, you may require showing all unread emails at the top, and keep emails sorted by date at the same time, it’s a double filtration process.

In the earlier article, searching an email by date in Outlook is noticeably clear to understand, the same formula also applies to unread mail.

You can opt for advance find an unread email folder, or you can use the search bar using both [isread:no] & [date range] ~ received:25/04/2019..30/04/2020.

For instance: (isread:no received:25/08/2019..17/04/2020) after entering this you will get the list of emails according to the input entered in the search bar. You can also go for (isread:no received:Amit) and you will get the results of mail received from “Amit”.

How to filter only unread emails in Outlook?

Finding unread emails with dates is quite simple, Outlook also arranges multiple parameters to find an unread message.

This process dryer up unwanted emails according to your search and give you targeted gems.

Let’s begin with~

How to check unread emails from specific sender?

Some of the users get hundreds of emails daily and opening and reading every message is not possible.

If you are interested in specific senders’ emails and unable to read them, here you can find out.

  • Step 1 – Open Outlook >> Click on instead search bar >> Go to the search tab above
  • Step 2 – Go to Refine section >> Click unread – You will get the list of unread emails and a text on the search bar “isread:no”
  • Step 3 – Now click on “from” from the refine section, you will get an additional text on the search bar along with “isread:no”, which is [isread:no from:”Sender Name”].
  • Step 4 – Replace Sender Name with the name or email id of the sender to get the results.
How to check unread emails from specific sender

How to check unread emails from a sender having a specific subject?

This part is an extension of the above filter if still, you are getting a huge list of emails, and you are searching for specific text in the subject line.

Click on a subject from the refine section, and an additional text is added in the search bar with the unread and sender name.

You need to replace the “keyword” text with the “subject line” of your requirement.

How to check unread emails from a sender having specific subject

The above image explains itself; all three filters gave you results of unread emails received from WordPress and having smartly in the subject line.

Outlook also highlights your specifics, and the list is truly clear.

In addition, if you further filter your unread search with attachments or time, you can get the results accordingly.

How to Change Unread Email Color in Outlook 365?

By default, unread messages are displayed as blue font color silty bond as compared to read messages, what if you check whose unread email message with a completely different attire, it helps to visualize instantly.

Changing the Color of unread messages in outlook 365 looks effective, you can separate the email messages (changing font, style, size, and color using the ‘Outlook conditional formatting unread’ option.

Let’s understand the step-by-step process:

  • Open Outlook >> Go to your inbox >> Click View Tab >> Then hit view setting
outlook unread mail settings
  • Advanced view settings dialog box appears >> click conditional formatting.
change unread email color in Outlook
  • Conditional formatting opens another dialog box that consists of several options by default one of the options is unread messages.
  • Select the Checkbox of unread messages and hit font.
How to change unread email color
  • Font dialog popups, adjust font, style, size, and color drop-down list, and select color as per user choice.
  • Check the preview on the sample box [refer snapshot]
How to change unread email color in Outlook 365
  • Hit OK three times, and the result is clear. You can check the unread messages in different colors. As soon as you click the unread message, it will not only convert into a read message but also change the color of the read message by default.
unread messages

Bonus Tip

Finding unread mail from any folder of specific email, click to unread on the left-hand side of the search bar, Microsoft Outlook by default reveal all the mails, select the unread message and you will directly get the list of required mail.

unread email

How to make read mail unread in Outlook?

Every time you received an email message in your inbox, it holds a new mail character, after opening it changes into reading mode, and the characteristics/visibility also changes.

Some users what to mark real mail as unread, why?

There are multiple reasons, depending upon the user, here you can learn, how to do it?

There are two methods: First

Click the right mouse button on the read email message and select “Mark as unread”. That will convert the read message into an unread message.

make read mail as unread in Outlook

View unread emails in Outlook 365 Web

When Outlook 365 was launched, many users were pleasantly surprised to discover that it was possible to view unread emails when viewed on Outlook 365 Web.

In Outlook 365, all emails are synchronized with the Outlook desktop application. So, if you have unread emails in Outlook 365, they will synchronize to your email client as well.

To find the unread email in Outlook web, a couple of clicks give you desired results:

  • Open Outlook.com >> Login to your account.
  • Select the folder (Focused/Other) you like to sort unread emails.
  • Click on Filter [refer to images below] and select Unread from the drop-down list.
View unread emails in Outlook 365 Web
  • Once you click on Unread, all emails visible are unread, you can check them out one by one.
unread email outlook web

To remove the filter, you can click on the cross icon, which brings actual data.

How to Automatically Mark Deleted Messages as Read in Outlook?

Once you’ve deleted your email messages, right-click the Deleted Items folder in the Navigation Pane, then click Mark All as Read.

How to Delete all Unread Emails in Outlook?

All the above methods assemble all unread emails on your screen, One of the biggest productivity struggles is keeping your inbox in order.

The easiest way to do this is to delete all unread emails in Outlook. It can be a very effective way to start fresh and focus on your most significant emails.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to deleting all unread emails in Outlook.

Note: There are two ways to select all emails in the mailing list:

  • Click any one of the emails in the mail list, and then press the Ctrl + A keys at the same time.
  • Click the first email in the mail list, and then press the Ctrl + Shift + End keys simultaneously.

Once all the emails are selected click the Delete button from your keyboard or click the mouse right button and hit delete from the dropdown list.

Final Words

In conclusion, all the above methods are extremely easy to execute you can use the new search bar to find unread emails. The search bar is located on the top of the main window and has the same features as Windows Explorer.

You can now search for any emails or contacts on your computer, in your Outlook folders, and on your Exchange Server.

I easily find and filter emails I have not answered in Outlook using all the above methods, What about you?

Also Read:

Amit Bansal

My Name is Amit Bansal, and I am the founder of "Mail Smartly", With a track record of penning in-depth blogs and producing informative YouTube videos, for a deeper dive into solutions and tutorials, visit my YouTube Channel

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