How to Use the Junk Email Filter in Microsoft Outlook on Windows 11

Posted on 17th June 2023

Introduction

If you’re using Microsoft Outlook on Windows 11, you can take advantage of the Junk Email Filter to help protect your inbox from spam and other unwanted email. This feature is turned on by default, but you can adjust the level of protection to fit your needs. In this article, we’ll show you how to use the Junk Email Filter in Microsoft Outlook on Windows 11.

Configuring the Junk Email Filter

To adjust the Junk Email Filter settings in Microsoft Outlook on Windows 11, open Outlook and click on the File tab. Then click Options. In the Outlook Options window, click on the Junk Email button in the left sidebar. In the Junk Email Options window, you can adjust the level of protection from the Safety options for unsafe attachments drop-down menu. You can also choose to have Outlook move suspected junk email to the Junk Email folder or delete it outright. To add email addresses or domains to the Safe Senders or Blocked Senders lists, click on the Safe Senders or Blocked Senders tab and enter the addresses or domains in the corresponding text box. When you’re finished, click OK to save your changes.

Using the Junk Email Filter

The Junk Email Filter in Microsoft Outlook on Windows 11 works by comparing the sender’s email address and the content of the message to a set of rules. Messages that match the criteria for junk email are moved to the Junk Email folder or deleted outright, depending on your settings. You can also choose to mark messages as junk email manually by right-clicking on the message and selecting Junk > Mark as Junk from the menu. If a message is incorrectly marked as junk email, you can right-click on the message and select Junk > Not Junk from the menu to move it back to your inbox.

Conclusion

The Junk Email Filter in Microsoft Outlook on Windows 11 can help protect your inbox from spam and other unwanted email. To use the Junk Email Filter, open Outlook and click on the File tab. Then click Options. In the Outlook Options window, click on the Junk Email button in the left sidebar. In the Junk Email Options window, you can adjust the level of protection from the Safety options for unsafe attachments drop-down menu. You can also choose to have Outlook move suspected junk email to the Junk Email folder or delete it outright. To add email addresses or domains to the Safe Senders or Blocked Senders lists, click on the Safe Senders or Blocked Senders tab and enter the addresses or domains in the corresponding text box. When you’re finished, click OK to save your changes.

The Junk Email Filter in Microsoft Outlook on Windows 11 can help you manage your email more effectively by automatically moving suspected junk email to a separate folder. By default, the Junk Email Filter is turned on and set to Low, which means that only the most obvious junk email is moved to the Junk Email folder.

You can change the level of protection against junk email by going to Junk Email Options.

There are four levels of protection:

Low: Only the most obvious junk email is moved to the Junk Email folder.

Medium: Less obvious junk email is moved to the Junk Email folder.

High: Most junk email is moved to the Junk Email folder.

Safe Lists Only: Only email from addresses or domains on your Safe Senders List or Safe Recipients List is allowed in your Inbox. Email from addresses and domains not on your lists is moved to the Junk Email folder.

To change the level of protection against junk email:

1. In Outlook, click the File tab.

2. Click Options.

3. Click the Mail tab.

4. Under Junk Email, click Junk Email Options.

5. In the Junk Email Options dialog box, under Options, click the level of protection that you want:

Low: Only the most obvious junk email is moved to the Junk Email folder.

Medium: Less obvious junk email is moved to the Junk Email folder.

High: Most junk email is moved to the Junk Email folder.

Safe Lists Only: Only email from addresses or domains on your Safe Senders List or Safe Recipients List is allowed in your Inbox. Email from addresses and domains not on your lists is moved to the Junk Email folder.

6. Click OK.

You can also choose to have Outlook automatically delete junk email instead of moving it to the Junk Email folder. To do this, select the Delete all messages that arrive in the Junk E-mail folder check box.

When you turn on the Junk Email Filter, by default Outlook moves suspected junk email to the Junk Email folder. If you want, you can also choose to have Outlook automatically delete junk email instead of moving it to the Junk Email folder. To do this, select the Delete all messages that arrive in the Junk E-mail folder check box.

If you find that the Junk Email Filter is moving wanted email to the Junk Email folder, you can add the sender’s email address or domain to your Safe Senders List or Safe Recipients List. Outlook will then no longer move email from those addresses or domains to the Junk Email folder, even if the email is considered junk email by the filter.

To add an email address or domain to your Safe Senders List or Safe Recipients List:

1. In Outlook, click the File tab.

2. Click Options.

3. Click the Mail tab.

4. Under Junk Email, click Junk Email Options.

5. In the Junk Email Options dialog box, click the Safe Senders or Safe Recipients tab.

6. To add an email address to your Safe Senders List, enter the email address in the Enter an address or domain box and click Add.

7. To add an entire domain to your Safe Senders List, enter the domain in the Enter an address or domain box and click Add.

8. To add an email address to your Safe Recipients List, enter the email address in the Enter an address or domain box and click Add.

9. Click OK.