With the Classic version of Windows Outlook’s end-of-life date inching closer, using it has only gotten more frustrating. Now, users are reporting that the app outright crashes the moment they try to open or draft an email.

For instance, someone on Reddit shared a post on the r/sysadmin subreddit on June 6, mentioning that they’re having issues with Outlook crashing when they try to open messages, though the Preview pane still works fine.

Many chimed in with similar complaints, confirming that the issue isn’t isolated. While there’s no word on how widespread the problem is, it’s serious enough that Microsoft has officially acknowledged it and is investigating.

Though this could very well be one of Microsoft’s ways of nudging users toward the new Outlook, the good news is that the Redmond-based tech giant has also offered a temporary workaround that may get things running again while it works on a proper fix.

The fix is as simple as creating a new folder, but it may or may not work for everyone

In an article published on Microsoft’s support site on Friday, Microsoft acknowledged the issue where Outlook crashes “when you open or start a new email.”

The tech giant mentions that while the issue can occur for Outlook on “all Microsoft 365 Office channels,” the cases being reported are currently on virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI), meaning it could be more specific to users running Classic Outlook in virtual environments. Ultimately, users running Classic Outlook have a lower chance of being affected by this issue.

Microsoft also shared that the issue is occurring because Outlook is unable to access the Forms Library. And the fix for those affected is surprisingly simple: manually creating a folder named FORMS2 in the local Microsoft AppData directory.

Before you do so, make sure to close Outlook and all other Office applications. Then, head to Start > Run and type in the following path: %localappdata%\Microsoft, which’ll essentially take you directly to the Microsoft subfolder inside your user’s Local AppData directory in File Explorer.

Now, all you need to do is select New > Folder in the File Explorer menu to create a new folder. Simply name the new folder “FORMS2.”

Another option is switching to the new Outlook

What’s likely going on here is that Outlook is trying to access the FORMS2 folder, and when it can’t find that folder (possibly because it got deleted), the app crashes.

Manually creating the folder essentially tricks Outlook into thinking everything’s in place, and ultimately stops it from crashing when you attempt to open or compose a new email.

So, though this isn’t a guaranteed fix, since Microsoft mentions that “you may be able to work around the issue,” it’s your best bet until an official patch rolls out.

Another alternative is, well, to follow what Microsoft’s been encouraging users still hanging on to the legacy Classic Outlook to do: switch to the new Outlook experience. Microsoft wants all users off Classic Outlook by 2026, so this might be your cue to make the jump early.

More from Laptop Mag

• Microsoft's clever new tool gives Windows laptops a surprise battery boost
• Microsoft's next 50 years are all about making AI feel useful
• Windows users call Microsoft's latest update blunder "The greatest bug in living memory" — here's why

Are you wondering how to add emojis in Microsoft Outlook? The answer couldn't be simpler! Pepper your mail with some personality with these pictograms by showing the emotion behind your words, or enhance your email with some eye-catching icons to add some flair to your formality.

While making use of emojis in work or business emails isn't always seen as professional, there are plenty of emojis to make use of beyond expressive yellow faces. Some emojis, such as the blue diamond (🔹) can make for interesting bullet point replacements in emails, and other icons can be great for using in your calendar to quickly categorize upcoming events like a meeting (💼), meal (🍽), birthday (🎂), or vacation (🏝).

Whatever the reason, or occasion, here's out guide on how to add emojis in Outlook. 

How to add emojis in Outlook

If you're using a Windows PC or a Mac, then adding emojis to your outgoing mail, calendar, or signatures couldn't be simpler. All it requires is a simple keyboard shortcut.

For those on Windows PCs: Press and hold the Windows key ("⊞") and then press the period key ("."). This should bring up a small floating window containing a series of Native Windows emojis that you can freely make use of in most input boxes.

For those on Mac computers: Press and hold the control key ("⌘") and command key ("^"), then press the space bar. This will show the Character Viewer, where you can choose from a variety of different emojis and symbols.

That's all it takes! Remember, if you think the emojis look a little different to what you're used to, these pictures typically look different depending on the platform they're viewed on, so don't worry too much if the Windows variants look a little dull compared to the Android or iOS equivalents.

With that being said, you're good to go on bringing some emoji enhancement to your emails. Enjoy!

More from Laptop Mag

• How to share Outlook calendar
• How to add signature in Outlook
• How to add Outlook Calendar to Google Calendar

Copilot is Microsoft's new favorite AI chatbot child, and it’s coming soon to a Windows machine near you from September 26, 2023. After a long and storied history of attempting to bring the digital assistant to the forefront of tech, it looks like Microsoft has finally cracked it as it prepares to let Copilot steer second stick on future Windows experiences.

Microsoft’s initial ventures into AI chatbots resulted in the outlandishly politically incorrect Tay, the hilarious political correctness extremist that was Zo, before developing Sydney — the secret AI chatbot nobody wanted, but that we absolutely deserved. Sydney would eventually morph into what is now Bing Chat — a Large Language Model (LLM) powered by OpenAI’s GPT-4 tech.

Bing Chat’s successes have resulted in Microsoft transplanting the same technology directly into Windows 11. The new Copilot AI assistant is an entirely new way to interact with your system and could be the future of the Windows platform going forward.

But what is it that Copilot brings to the table that so dramatically changes the wider Windows experience, and what are some of the key benefits of adopting Microsoft’s AI companion? Let’s find out.

3 ways Microsoft Copilot changes the Windows experience 

Copilot is a Large Language Model (LLM) similar to other AI-powered software like ChatGPT and Bing Chat. However, while ChatGPT is constrained to a pre-2021 knowledge base and Bing Chat to a web search directive, Copilot has the freedom to access your entire system along with cloud storage services and email. It even works in tandem with Bing Chat, delivering all of its natural language interactions and search functionality directly to your desktop.

This expanded freedom affords Copilot greater functionality than a traditional chatbot and makes it an ideal virtual assistant — capable of simplifying processes, suggesting ways to improve your experience, searching for relevant content, and solving any number of computing queries you may have.

Copilot is everything that other digital cohorts like Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri, and even Microsoft’s own Cortana set out to be — and more. Here’s how Copilot will fundamentally change the Windows experience when it launches later this month.

1. Productivity — Think less, do more

Copilot is a productivity tool first and foremost. Microsoft’s AI companion is designed with user performance in mind — be it by reducing the cognitive load as you switch between tasks or simplifying your workflow with generative support. “Think less, do more” seems to be the goal Microsoft is reaching for when it comes to Copilot, and with a range of productivity-boosting functions available to all, they just might achieve it.

Copilot for Windows users can make use of the AI assistant’s features across native apps like Notepad, Outlook for Windows, and File Explorer. Here, users can quickly jot down notes and freely close the app without ever needing to save — with Copilot stashing their notes safely away for future access.

Apps like Outlook and File Explorer have deeper Copilot integration, allowing users to quickly summarize files and email threads, effortlessly search for important and relevant information, and even generate clear and concise copy for outgoing emails.

However, if you really want to take advantage of Copilot’s productivity enhancements you’ll need to look toward Microsoft 365 Copilot — the enterprise edition of the Windows chatbot. The business-focused element of Copilot is designed to streamline and simplify your workday throughout Microsoft’s productivity suite of office apps.

Whether you’re looking to spruce up a document in Word, visualize your data in Excel, or draft a proposal in PowerPoint, Copilot’s generative capabilities will be right alongside you in order to rapidly accomplish your goals. Copilot aims to cut the filler from your day spent formatting and proofreading, allowing you to focus on what’s really important, getting results that matter.

2. Creativity — Your imagination is the limit

Copilot’s features aren’t all about boosting the productivity of number crunchers and pencil pushers. In fact, with complete access to Bing Chat’s improved suite of GPT-4 and DALL.E 3-powered features, Copilot is a fantastic tool for getting those creative juices flowing for aspiring authors and creative pros alike.

As mentioned, Bing’s improved Image Creator now makes use of OpenAI’s latest DALL.E 3 model to deliver incredible art from simple, natural-language prompts. The new model will be a huge step up from Bing Chat’s current image generator which currently runs on the original DALL.E framework and will see the LLM able to accurately render previously troubling details such as eyes and hands with far greater accuracy.

The same feature will also be present in Paint as CoCreate — allowing you to generate images based on a text prompt and potentially even a sketch as the feature expands. Other native apps now featuring AI include Clipchamp and Photos, where you can effortlessly edit images or generate video projects using Copilot’s generative capabilities.

You can access this image generator directly from Copilot, and even from within Microsoft Designer. You’ll also have access to further AI tools from within Designer such as generative expand and generative fill to grow images beyond their borders and erase unwanted subjects. Copilot’s impressive AI graphics capabilities exist to help you to channel pro-level art into all your projects from custom wallpapers, to social media posts.

Copilot is also capable of the same three conversational modes as Bing Chat, meaning you can switch your Windows assistant into creative mode and start bouncing ideas back and forth with the bot to fine-tune ideas for writing, or how to tackle your next personal project.

You can even make use of Bing Chat’s search capabilities to have Copilot help you brainstorm by using the latest information from around the web to spot trends, find tutorials, and even hunt down reference images to help inspire you.

3. Organization — Everything, everywhere, all at once

Finally, Copilot’s introduction to Windows 11 brings vastly improved organization through improved search and file previewing capabilities. Windows File Explorer’s new modernized look isn’t all to do with aesthetics, it will now make it easier to find important and relevant content in half the time.

You can fine-tune your searches to narrow down results using natural language and even make use of a new gallery view with accurate aspect ratio thumbnails to make browsing photos easier and faster. You can even search for photos based on content or location taken, saving you the hassle of remembering file names or dates as you search through your snaps.

One thing that sets Copilot aside from other LLMs is its ability to offer contextual suggestions to users based on what they’re currently doing. For example, if you’re constantly juggling between windows, Copilot may pop up without a prompt to suggest an alternative window layout (or split screen) better suited to keeping your desktop organized and preventing your workflow from being impeded.

Copilot’s improved search capabilities don’t just extend to the contents of your hard drive either. If you’re making use of OneDrive cloud storage, Copilot will include this within each search to make sure everything you’re looking for is captured accurately. 

Outlook

Microsoft is going all out for Copilot’s arrival to Windows 11 with over 150 new features included in the update. 

Remember, this is just the start of Copilot on Windows. More features will no doubt make their way into the Windows Insider program soon, with Microsoft steadily building on top of its digital companion’s all-new foundations.

We may not have heard much from Microsoft about Windows 12 during this year’s Surface event, but Windows 11 is about to feel like a whole new operating system in and of itself once Copilot launches on Sept. 26, 2023.

The Backbone One is easily my favorite smartphone game controller, but the launch of iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro has raised some questions about the future of it.

Namely, there are two: will the USB-C version for Android be compatible? And what’s happening to the pre-existing Lightning option? 

To answer these real quick, thanks to a universal technology (patent-pending), the Android version will work with new iPhones, and if you already have an old model, you’re going to have to pony up for a new one.

USB-Cya soon, Lightning controller!

With the likes of Resident Evil Village and Assassin's Creed Mirage debuting on iPhone 15 Pro over the next few months, a controller will be needed. Backbone has answered the call with Universal Compatibility for its USB-C model across both iOS and Android.

If you are making the jump to the iPhone 15 series, and you already have a Backbone for your pre-existing model, it’s time to trade up. Every new Backbone sold from the launch of the new iPhone onwards will have this tech built-in with no additional firmware needed.

Meanwhile, if you already have a USB-C version of the Backbone, it will automatically receive a firmware update through the Backbone app to be made compatible with USB-C iPhones. 

This does mean that if you have a Lightning version of the controller, you are left high and dry with the need to buy another controller, though.

Outlook

Let's be honest — this was the only scenario for iPhone users with a Backbone One. There was never going to be a lightning to USB-C adapter sold separately because the rigidity of the device’s controller would be compromised, and the ergonomics would be thrown way off.

It’s going to mean another purchase for those who have loved Backbone in the past, which is a little annoying. However, with the likes of the above games and Death Stranding (as Hideo Kojima announced on his Instagram) coming to the iPhone, a controller is going to be essential, and this is one of the best.

Life comes at us fast and we all have busy schedules to manage, so sharing your Outlook calendar with a loved one or people within your circle can be vital to staying on top of everything.

We recently covered how to share Google Calendar and how to add Google Calendar to Outlook, but if you are a fervent user of Outlook, we can help you out with a few simple steps.

How to share Outlook calendar

Step 1) Hop on over to your Outlook calendar, then click Calendar > Share Calendar.

Step 2) Choose the calendar you want to share.

Step 3) Click Add, and then navigate through your contacts to select who to share your calendar with, and select Add again.

Step 4) Select OK and you'll see the list of people you're sharing with as well as their permission level.

Step 5) Now you can mess around with their permission level to provide the right kind of access. Click a name, choose the access, and select OK.

It's as simple as that. Now you and your partners in crime will know exactly how to balance your schedules around one another. If you're interested, we have some other tips and tricks for Outlook, like how to change signature in Outlook and how to recall an email in Outlook.

Otherwise, happy scheduling!

Whether you use Gmail, Microsoft Outlook, or the iOS Mail app, it probably does a good job minimizing the amount of junk or spam emails that land in your inbox. When it comes to promotional emails that you chose to sign up for — and might now regret signing up for — that’s a different story. 

Some retailers make it difficult for you to unsubscribe by forcing you to navigate through multiple menus before officially unsubscribing. Even worse, they could make you try to remember your account login info. 

Luckily, if Gmail, Microsoft Outlook, or the iOS Mail app detect an unsubscribe option in an email, you can unsubscribe directly through your email app instead of through a retailer’s website. Here’s how to do it. 

How to unsubscribe from emails in Gmail

Gmail is the most popular email service, whether you're on Android or iOS. It’s easy and intuitive to use, integrates well with other Google services, and comes with a ton of helpful features, including the ability to quickly unsubscribe from emails in only a few steps. 

If you’re sorting through emails on the desktop, you’ll see an unsubscribe link to the right of the sender’s email address when you open an email. A pop-up message asks if you’re sure, and then you can press the blue Unsubscribe button. The process is similar in the mobile app, with only three steps after opening the Gmail app. 

1. Select an email from a retailer you’d like to unsubscribe from. 

2. Tap the three vertical dots in the top right corner. If Google detects the option to unsubscribe in that email, you can select the Unsubscribe option from the menu. 

3. Confirm that you’d like to unsubscribe from that email sender by tapping Unsubscribe in the pop-up box.  

How to unsubscribe from emails in iOS mail

Whether you're looking at Apple's email app on desktop or mobile, the steps to unsubscribe from retailers are just as simple. 

1. From the iOS Mail app, select an email from a retailer you'd like to unsubscribe from. 

2. If there's an unsubscribe link in the email, you'll see a message under the email's subject line that reads "This message is from a mailing list." Select the clickable Unsubscribe button next to this message. 

3. When the confirmation pop-up appears, select Unsubscribe again to confirm your decision. 

How to unsubscribe from emails in Microsoft Outlook

Unsubscribing from emails in Microsoft Outlook is almost identical to the process in Gmail. If your email is pulled up on the desktop, you’ll see a message at the top of certain emails below the subject line that reads “Getting too much email?” with a clickable Unsubscribe link beside it. With the mobile Microsoft Outlook app open, unsubscribing from retailers takes three steps.

1. Open an email from a company you’d like to unsubscribe from.  

2. If there’s an unsubscribe link in the email, you can tap the clickable Unsubscribe link below the email’s subject line.

3. When the pop-up message asks if you’re sure you want to unsubscribe, select Unsubscribe. 

It's easy to quickly blurt out your email when you're at the checkout counter and an employee prompts you to sign up for their rewards program. But when you give out your email to 20+ different retailers, those promotional emails start to pile up faster than you can delete them in your inbox. Unsubscribing via your preferred email app makes this filtering process simpler. For an even better email experience, check out how to stop invisible email tracking pixels. 

Google is currently rolling out a new feature to Gmail and it might just end all of the kerfuffle involved in scheduling events over email. The two new features allow Gmail users to quickly identify the perfect time to schedule meetings or events with one another (currently limited to 1:1 appointments only)

As the feature rolls out over the next few weeks, users will notice a new Calendar icon in their compose windows — here’s where you’ll find Gmail’s two new perks: “Offer times you’re free” and “Create an event.” 

New Gmail features: Create an event & Offer times you’re free 

Clicking the “Create an event button” is self explanatory — it will generate a Google Calendar event between yourself and all of the current email chain’s recipients. 

This will expand the calendar flow on the right-hand side of the screen and allow you to assign additional invitees, an event title, and a brief summary of what to expect before sending it off as an invite to others.

On the other hand, choosing the new “Offer times you’re free” option will similarly open up the calendar flow on the right, only this time allowing you to highlight free spots on your Google Calendar where you’ll be available for an event or meeting. You’ll even be able to highlight separate blocks of time across multiple days.

Once you’ve selected the times you’re free, you can fire off your email and let the recipient choose a time that works best for them, with you both receiving an event notification and calendar update afterward.

Outlook

This Gmail update won’t set the world on fire, but it does enable a super convenient way to arrange events and meetings without all of the haggling for time you might currently face.

It might be a small step in refining Google’s email service but it’ll be a noticeable one for many, and it’s nice to know Google still have minor tweaks like this in mind instead of throwing all of its eggs into the generative AI basket. 

Guess what, macOS users? Microsoft just announced that Outlook, the company's popular email and task management app, is now free to use. Previously, you had to purchase a Microsoft 365 subscription or an Office license to access all of Outlook's useful features. 

On top of that, Microsoft added new features for Outlook for Mac. Curious about how Microsoft redesigned, tweaked and enhanced the app? Stick around to find out.

New features on Outlook for Mac

One of the best use cases for Microsoft Outlook is that you can manage all of your inboxes in one hub, including Google, iCloud, Yahoo! and more. As a cherry on top, Microsoft boasts "enterprise-grade security" with Outlook, ensuring your messages, contacts, calendars and files are protected.

However, Microsoft claims that it has made Outlook even better with the following new features:

• Handoff  — pick up tasks where you left off between iOS and Mac devices. For example, you can pick up your iPhone 14 Pro Max after leaving your 13-inch M2 MacBook Pro, continuing your Outlook workflow seamlessly.

• Outlook Profiles — connect your email accounts to Apple's Focus experience. This ensures you don't get unwanted, distracting notifications while you're trying to say in the zone (coming soon).

• New peek feature — get a sneak peek of upcoming calendar events via the menu bar (coming soon).

Note: To use the Handoff feature, you'll need to make sure that your iOS and MacOS devices are logged into the same Apple ID.

How to get the free Outlook for Mac

To take advantage of the updated, redesigned, free Outlook for Mac, you can download it in the Mac App Store. Your Mac must have macOS 11 Big Sur or newer to experience the complimentary app.

This updated version of Outlook is optimized for Apple Silicon, so expect zippier performance and faster sync speeds 

Figuring out how to set up out of office replies in Outlook is easy when you're a Microsoft 365 subscriber, but if you don't have a Microsoft 365 plan, you're out of luck.

If you haven't taken advantage of Microsoft's 30-day free trial yet, click here to employ it to see if you can use the out-of-office reply feature. If not, better luck next time! For those who do have Automatic Replies support, check out the step-by-step tutorial below on how to set up "out of office" in Outlook.

How to set up 'out of office' in Outlook

The following steps are for Microsoft 365 subscribers only.

1. Open the Microsoft Outlook app.

2. Click on File.

3. Click on Automatic Replies (Out of Office).

4. Click on Send automatic replies and type in your out-of-office message.

5. Click on Only send during this time range to select the dates and times you'd like your out-of-office reply to send.

6. Next, hit OK and your out of office reply is now good to go!

Be sure to check out our other Microsoft Outlook guides, including how to add a signature on Outlook and how to change a signature on Outlook.

"How to change signature in Outlook" is blowing up on Google Search at the moment. Users of the popular Microsoft email client have no idea how to modify the end-of-email texts from their messages.

If you're a part of that camp, don't worry! We have an easy, step-by-step tutorial that details exactly how you can change your signature in Outlook seamlessly and efficiently. By the way, if you want to know how to add a signature in Outlook, click here.

How to change signature in Outlook

First things first, in order to change your signature in Outlook, you must have a Microsoft 365 plan. If you're not interested in purchasing a subscription, but you still need to modify your signature, consider checking out Microsoft's Microsoft's 30-day free trial. This way, you can make the changes you need without paying a cent.

Once you're all signed up for a Microsoft 365 subscription, follow the steps below to change your signature in Outlook.

1. Fire up the Microsoft Outlook app.

2. Go to File in the top-right corner.

3. Click on Options. 

4. Go to Mail followed by Signatures.

5. Click on the signature you'd like to edit.

6. Next, play around with the formatting options to change your signature to your liking.

7. Don't forget that you can use the icons below to add pictures and links.

To see how your newly changed signature will appear to recipients, click on New Email.

Tip: Want more of a more sophisticated look to your signature? Try downloading pre-made Microsoft signature templates here.

"How to add signature in Outlook" is currently trending on Google Search as users of the popular Microsoft email app scratch their heads on how to add end-of-email blocks of text.

Signatures add a sweet dose of professionalism to your emails, and it gives recipients information about who you are, what you do, and how to contact you. That being said, if you have no idea how to add a signature to Outlook, you've come to the right place. Check out our step-by-step tutorial below.

How to add signature in Outlook

First, in order to add a signature in Outlook, you must have a Microsoft 365 subscription. If you can't afford to purchase a subscription, check out Microsoft's 30-day free trial so that you can make the appropriate changes without paying a fee.

Once you're all signed up for a Microsoft 365 plan, follow the instructions below to add a signature in Outlook.

1. Open the Microsoft Outlook app.

2. Go to File in the top-right corner.

3. Click on Options. 

4. Go to Mail followed by Signatures.

5. Tap New to give your signature a title. Click OK.

6. In the Edit Signature field, type add in your signature.

7. You can add logos and links by clicking on the icons labeled below.

To double-check how your newly added signature looks to recipients, click on New Email.

Pro tip: If you want a more sophisticated look to your signature, consider downloading pre-made Microsoft signature templates here.

Outlook is infinitely customizable. Aside from removing ribbon items, hiding extra mailboxes or pick-and-choosing which items go where, you can also set the default font and resize it to your liking. Whether enlarging it to ease that chronic eye pain, or making it smaller to fit more things in a single window, it’s a fairly straight forward.

1. Open Outlook’s desktop client.

2. Click the File tab.

3. Select Options from the sidebar on the left.

4. In the Mail category, click Stationery and Fonts. You can find it in the Use stationery to change default fonts, styles, colors and backgrounds section.

5. Click Font under New mail messages and select the desired font, style, size, color, and any embellishments.

6. Click OK.

7. Repeat step five and six for Replying or forwarding messages as well as composing and reading plain text messages, if so desired.

8. Press OK to close the window.

9. Click OK again.

Microsoft Outlook Tips

• Previous Tip
• Next Tip

• Block a Sender in Outlook 2016
• How to Instantly Mark Messages as Read in Outlook 2016 and Prior
• Edit New Message Alerts in Outlook
• How to Mail Merge in Office 2016
• Set an Out of Office Reply in Outlook
• How to Create Custom Groups in Outlook 2016
• Download Your Address Book in Outlook 2016 and Prior
• How to Archive Mail in Outlook 2016
• Create an Email Signature in Outlook 2016 and Prior
• Attach a Calendar Event to an Email
• Set Up a Universal Inbox
• Import Contacts to macOS Address Book
• Purge Deleted Messages
• Delete Addresses in Outlook Autocomplete
• Change the Attachment Size Limit in Outlook
• Import Contacts via CSV
• Back Up Outlook Data
• Export Contacts to CSV
• Add an Image to Your Signature
• Set Up Out-of-Office Messages
• Create Email Templates
• Restrict Notifications to Important Emails Only
• Get Read Receipts
• Use Two Time Zones for Meetings
• Recall an Email
• Save Common Searches
• Filter Email
• Block Unwanted Mail
• Stop Sending Winmail.dat
• Automate Repetitive Actions
• Schedule Outgoing Mail
• Create Canned Replies

Whether moving to a different email platform or just making routine backups of all your contacts, Outlook makes it easy. In just a few clicks, you’ll be able to download your entire address book to a CSV that’s importable anywhere that accepts the file -- Excel, Google Docs, Pages (on Mac), etc.

1. Open the Outlook desktop client.

2. Click the File tab at the top left.

3. At the top of the sidebar on the left, click Open & Export.

4. Click Import/Export.

5. Click Export to a file and click Next.

6. Select Comma Separated Values and click Next.

7. Select Contacts (This computer only) and click Next.

8. Name the file, or click Browse to find an existing export file (if you’ve done this previously) and then click Next.

9. Click Finish.

The file will now save to your documents folder for easy import into any service that accepts CSV files.

Microsoft Outlook Tips

• Previous Tip
• Next Tip

• Block a Sender in Outlook 2016
• How to Instantly Mark Messages as Read in Outlook 2016 and Prior
• Edit New Message Alerts in Outlook
• How to Mail Merge in Office 2016
• Set an Out of Office Reply in Outlook
• How to Create Custom Groups in Outlook 2016
• Download Your Address Book in Outlook 2016 and Prior
• How to Archive Mail in Outlook 2016
• Create an Email Signature in Outlook 2016 and Prior
• Attach a Calendar Event to an Email
• Set Up a Universal Inbox
• Import Contacts to macOS Address Book
• Purge Deleted Messages
• Delete Addresses in Outlook Autocomplete
• Change the Attachment Size Limit in Outlook
• Import Contacts via CSV
• Back Up Outlook Data
• Change Fonts in Outlook
• Add an Image to Your Signature
• Set Up Out-of-Office Messages
• Create Email Templates
• Restrict Notifications to Important Emails Only
• Get Read Receipts
• Use Two Time Zones for Meetings
• Recall an Email
• Save Common Searches
• Filter Email
• Block Unwanted Mail
• Stop Sending Winmail.dat
• Automate Repetitive Actions
• Schedule Outgoing Mail
• Create Canned Replies

When creating an email signature, you aren’t stuck with the default method of text with few embellishments. Nowadays, you have the option to add just about anything to an email signature, including images and GIFs. In fact, it’s no more difficult than creating a standard signature, which we’ve outlined here. 

1. Open Outlook on your PC.

2. Click the File tab.

3. Select Options from the sidebar.

4. Click Mail and then find the Signatures section under Create or modify signatures for messages.

5. Click New under Select signature to edit.

6. Name the signature and click OK.

7. Click the image icon and find your chosen image.

8. Click Insert.

9. Drag the middle or corners of the images to resize, or press OK to add the signature.

10. Press OK again to save.

Microsoft Outlook Tips

• Previous Tip
• Next Tip

• Block a Sender in Outlook 2016
• How to Instantly Mark Messages as Read in Outlook 2016 and Prior
• Edit New Message Alerts in Outlook
• How to Mail Merge in Office 2016
• Set an Out of Office Reply in Outlook
• How to Create Custom Groups in Outlook 2016
• Download Your Address Book in Outlook 2016 and Prior
• How to Archive Mail in Outlook 2016
• Create an Email Signature in Outlook 2016 and Prior
• Attach a Calendar Event to an Email
• Set Up a Universal Inbox
• Import Contacts to macOS Address Book
• Purge Deleted Messages
• Delete Addresses in Outlook Autocomplete
• Change the Attachment Size Limit in Outlook
• Import Contacts via CSV
• Back Up Outlook Data
• Change Fonts in Outlook
• Export Contacts to CSV
• Set Up Out-of-Office Messages
• Create Email Templates
• Restrict Notifications to Important Emails Only
• Get Read Receipts
• Use Two Time Zones for Meetings
• Recall an Email
• Save Common Searches
• Filter Email
• Block Unwanted Mail
• Stop Sending Winmail.dat
• Automate Repetitive Actions
• Schedule Outgoing Mail
• Create Canned Replies

Most email users have a handful of messages they find themselves constantly sending. Outlook makes it easy to save these messages for later and use them when the time is right. This feature -- called Outlook Templates -- lets you store the text of any email so next time you can just select it as a canned response.

1. Open Outlook and create a new email message.

2. Click the File tab.

3. Choose Save as.

4. Choose Outlook Template from the dropdown and name the file.

5. Click Save.

Now you’ll have the message saved for future use. To learn how to use your canned responses, read on.

6. Click New Items > More Items > Choose Form.

7. Select "User Templates in File System" from the the dropdown.

8. Find your file and click Open.

Microsoft Outlook Tips

• Previous Tip
• Next Tip

• Block a Sender in Outlook 2016
• How to Instantly Mark Messages as Read in Outlook 2016 and Prior
• Edit New Message Alerts in Outlook
• How to Mail Merge in Office 2016
• Set an Out of Office Reply in Outlook
• How to Create Custom Groups in Outlook 2016
• Download Your Address Book in Outlook 2016 and Prior
• How to Archive Mail in Outlook 2016
• Create an Email Signature in Outlook 2016 and Prior
• Attach a Calendar Event to an Email
• Set Up a Universal Inbox
• Import Contacts to macOS Address Book
• Purge Deleted Messages
• Delete Addresses in Outlook Autocomplete
• Change the Attachment Size Limit in Outlook
• Import Contacts via CSV
• Back Up Outlook Data
• Change Fonts in Outlook
• Export Contacts to CSV
• Add an Image to Your Signature
• Set Up Out-of-Office Messages
• Restrict Notifications to Important Emails Only
• Get Read Receipts
• Use Two Time Zones for Meetings
• Recall an Email
• Save Common Searches
• Filter Email
• Block Unwanted Mail
• Stop Sending Winmail.dat
• Automate Repetitive Actions
• Schedule Outgoing Mail
• Create Canned Replies

Read receipts send you (the sender) a notification when someone first opens your message. Delivery receipts, send the same notification when it reaches their email server (but hasn’t been read). Outlook allows you to enable both, should you need to keep tight tabs on a specific email or enable one or both features globally.

Fair warning, the receipts tend to get annoying so it’s probably best to use just the single message version (starting on Step 4).

Enable Receipts for All Emails You Send

1. Click Options under the File tab.

2. Find the Mail category and scroll down to Tracking.

3. Check both the Delivery receipt and Read receipt or either of the above and click OK.

Alternatively, you can select either of the two options for individual messages so you don't annoy yourself and others over even the most minor missives.

Enable Receipts for Single Messages

1. Open a new email and click the Options tab.

2. Check either of the two boxes, or both to receive a notification once it reaches the server, or the other party has opened it.

3. Send the message as usual.

It’s important to note that not all servers will comply with the request to send a read/delivery receipt. It’s not foolproof, but it’s a handy tool when it works. When it’s successful, however, you’ll get an audible tone and a pop-up with a message that says it’s successful.

Microsoft Outlook Tips

• Previous Tip
• Next Tip

• Block a Sender in Outlook 2016
• How to Instantly Mark Messages as Read in Outlook 2016 and Prior
• Edit New Message Alerts in Outlook
• How to Mail Merge in Office 2016
• Set an Out of Office Reply in Outlook
• How to Create Custom Groups in Outlook 2016
• Download Your Address Book in Outlook 2016 and Prior
• How to Archive Mail in Outlook 2016
• Create an Email Signature in Outlook 2016 and Prior
• Attach a Calendar Event to an Email
• Set Up a Universal Inbox
• Import Contacts to macOS Address Book
• Purge Deleted Messages
• Delete Addresses in Outlook Autocomplete
• Change the Attachment Size Limit in Outlook
• Import Contacts via CSV
• Back Up Outlook Data
• Change Fonts in Outlook
• Export Contacts to CSV
• Add an Image to Your Signature
• Set Up Out-of-Office Messages
• Create Email Templates
• Restrict Notifications to Important Emails Only
• Use Two Time Zones for Meetings
• Recall an Email
• Save Common Searches
• Filter Email
• Block Unwanted Mail
• Stop Sending Winmail.dat
• Automate Repetitive Actions
• Schedule Outgoing Mail
• Create Canned Replies

When you’re working with multiple time zones, mistakes are inevitable. Attempts to schedule a meeting when you're on PST and your colleague is halfway across the world on GMT are typically an experience that requires a fair bit of math, or a quick Google search to try to nail down the appropriate time.

Outlook can solve this problem for you, with no Googling required. Here’s how it’s done.

1. Navigate to the File tab in Outlook.

2. Click Options.

3. Select Calendar from the sidebar and then scroll down to Time zones. 

4. Check ‘Show a second time zone’ and add the second time zone from the dropdown menu.

5. Click OK. Now, once you schedule an appointment on the Calendar, you’ll see two time zones, for PST and EST (or whatever you selected).

Microsoft Outlook Tips

• Previous Tip
• Next Tip

• Block a Sender in Outlook 2016
• How to Instantly Mark Messages as Read in Outlook 2016 and Prior
• Edit New Message Alerts in Outlook
• How to Mail Merge in Office 2016
• Set an Out of Office Reply in Outlook
• How to Create Custom Groups in Outlook 2016
• Download Your Address Book in Outlook 2016 and Prior
• How to Archive Mail in Outlook 2016
• Create an Email Signature in Outlook 2016 and Prior
• Attach a Calendar Event to an Email
• Set Up a Universal Inbox
• Import Contacts to macOS Address Book
• Purge Deleted Messages
• Delete Addresses in Outlook Autocomplete
• Change the Attachment Size Limit in Outlook
• Import Contacts via CSV
• Back Up Outlook Data
• Change Fonts in Outlook
• Export Contacts to CSV
• Add an Image to Your Signature
• Set Up Out-of-Office Messages
• Create Email Templates
• Restrict Notifications to Important Emails Only
• Get Read Receipts
• Recall an Email
• Save Common Searches
• Filter Email
• Block Unwanted Mail
• Stop Sending Winmail.dat
• Automate Repetitive Actions
• Schedule Outgoing Mail
• Create Canned Replies

This one is typically a longshot, but if you catch it early enough and run into a fair bit of luck, you can often stop email errors before the other party sees them. Essentially, it all boils down to luck and timing. The faster you are at spotting the mistake, and requesting to recall (aka unsend) the email, the better it works.

Unfortunately, the recall function usually only works if it’s going to another Outlook user. Here's how to recall a mistakenly-sent email.

1. Navigate to the Sent folder to bring up your recently sent items.

2. Double-click the message you intend to recall.

3. Click "Actions" and select "Recall this message" from the drop-down.

4. Decide whether to delete the message outright, or replace it with a corrected version.

5. Check the box to receive confirmation if it worked, and press OK. 

Hopefully, your message is recalled before anyone reads it.

Microsoft Outlook Tips

• Previous Tip
• Next Tip

• Block a Sender in Outlook 2016
• How to Instantly Mark Messages as Read in Outlook 2016 and Prior
• Edit New Message Alerts in Outlook
• How to Mail Merge in Office 2016
• Set an Out of Office Reply in Outlook
• How to Create Custom Groups in Outlook 2016
• Download Your Address Book in Outlook 2016 and Prior
• How to Archive Mail in Outlook 2016
• Create an Email Signature in Outlook 2016 and Prior
• Attach a Calendar Event to an Email
• Set Up a Universal Inbox
• Import Contacts to macOS Address Book
• Purge Deleted Messages
• Delete Addresses in Outlook Autocomplete
• Change the Attachment Size Limit in Outlook
• Import Contacts via CSV
• Back Up Outlook Data
• Change Fonts in Outlook
• Export Contacts to CSV
• Add an Image to Your Signature
• Set Up Out-of-Office Messages
• Create Email Templates
• Restrict Notifications to Important Emails Only
• Get Read Receipts
• Use Two Time Zones for Meetings
• Save Common Searches
• Filter Email
• Block Unwanted Mail
• Stop Sending Winmail.dat
• Automate Repetitive Actions
• Schedule Outgoing Mail
• Create Canned Replies

Two-factor authentication (2FA) is a step each of us should take to protect our email. Instead of relying solely on the password, those logging in now must complete a second step -- or authentication method -- to access an email account. In this case, as with most, the second step is an application that provides a single-use code to log in.

Now, unless a thief has your mobile device, your password is useless when it comes to accessing your Gmail account. Unfortunately, integration with Outlook leaves a lot to be desired. Luckily, there’s a workaround.

1. Open Outlook and click on the File tab.

2. Click Account Settings and then Add and remove accounts.

3. Double click the account you wish to add 2FA to.

We’re going to leave this open and move on to step four. Don’t close this window, as we’ll need it in a minute.

4. Log in to your Google account if necessary, and navigate to the Sign-in & Security page.

5. Scroll down to App passwords and click it.

6. Click Select app, and then Other from the dropdown.

7. Name the app password and click Generate. In this case, we’re going to call it Outlook.

8. Copy the app password and click Done.

9. Go back to Outlook and paste the app password into the Password section and click Next.

10. Close Outlook and restart.

Microsoft Outlook Tips

• Previous Tip
• Next Tip

• Block a Sender in Outlook 2016
• How to Instantly Mark Messages as Read in Outlook 2016 and Prior
• Edit New Message Alerts in Outlook
• How to Mail Merge in Office 2016
• Set an Out of Office Reply in Outlook
• How to Create Custom Groups in Outlook 2016
• Download Your Address Book in Outlook 2016 and Prior
• How to Archive Mail in Outlook 2016
• Create an Email Signature in Outlook 2016 and Prior
• Attach a Calendar Event to an Email
• Set Up a Universal Inbox
• Import Contacts to macOS Address Book
• Purge Deleted Messages
• Delete Addresses in Outlook Autocomplete
• Change the Attachment Size Limit in Outlook
• Import Contacts via CSV
• Back Up Outlook Data
• Change Fonts in Outlook
• Export Contacts to CSV
• Add an Image to Your Signature
• Set Up Out-of-Office Messages
• Create Email Templates
• Restrict Notifications to Important Emails Only
• Get Read Receipts
• Use Two Time Zones for Meetings
• Recall an Email
• Save Common Searches
• Filter Email
• Block Unwanted Mail
• Stop Sending Winmail.dat
• Automate Repetitive Actions
• Schedule Outgoing Mail
• Create Canned Replies

Using encryption is the only safe way to send an email, even though most of our communications aren't under threat. For the typical email experience, Gmail and other third-party email providers typically work great in terms of security. The message reaches its intended target, has a low risk for intercept and everything works smoothly and easily enough for the typical user to handle.

There are times, however, where you’ll send secure documents online. Mortgage applications, social security numbers, or even scanned photos of your passport or drivers license are all examples of messages you should at least consider securing. Outlook makes this easy through a really simple to use encryption tool that comes baked into the platform.

1. Open Outlook and click New Email.

2. Click the Options tab near the top of the page.

3. Click More Options.

4. Open the Security Settings by pressing the button in the pop-up menu.

5. Select Encrypt message contents and all attachments.

6. Press OK, and then Close on the tab to follow.

7. Type your message and send the email as normal.

If your workplace doesn’t use Outlook, and you’ve never set up a Secure ID, it’s possible you’ll need to get one. If that’s the case, you’ll need to get one by following the instructions in Step 8.

8. On the File tab, click Options > Trust Center > Trust Center Settings > Email Security > Get a Digital ID. The webpage to follow will send you a digital ID with further instructions via email.

Microsoft Outlook Tips

• Previous Tip
• Next Tip

• Block a Sender in Outlook 2016
• How to Instantly Mark Messages as Read in Outlook 2016 and Prior
• Edit New Message Alerts in Outlook
• How to Mail Merge in Office 2016
• Set an Out of Office Reply in Outlook
• How to Create Custom Groups in Outlook 2016
• Download Your Address Book in Outlook 2016 and Prior
• How to Archive Mail in Outlook 2016
• Create an Email Signature in Outlook 2016 and Prior
• Attach a Calendar Event to an Email
• Set Up a Universal Inbox
• Import Contacts to macOS Address Book
• Purge Deleted Messages
• Delete Addresses in Outlook Autocomplete
• Change the Attachment Size Limit in Outlook
• Import Contacts via CSV
• Back Up Outlook Data
• Change Fonts in Outlook
• Export Contacts to CSV
• Add an Image to Your Signature
• Set Up Out-of-Office Messages
• Create Email Templates
• Restrict Notifications to Important Emails Only
• Get Read Receipts
• Use Two Time Zones for Meetings
• Recall an Email
• Save Common Searches
• Filter Email
• Block Unwanted Mail
• Stop Sending Winmail.dat
• Automate Repetitive Actions
• Schedule Outgoing Mail
• Create Canned Replies

When sending email, there are times where we’d rather not reply immediately. If you’re negotiating, for example, you might not want to seem to eager. Or, perhaps you don’t want to give clients the idea that you’re reachable at all hours of the evening. There are a number of reasons you might want to delay a message, but few services make it as easy as Outlook.

No matter what the reason, setting up an outgoing message on a delay is quite simple in Outlook. With just a bit of work, Outlook can save you the trouble of remembering to reply to messages later, all while giving you the ability to reply at your leisure (but send later).

1. Open Outlook and click New Email (or press Ctrl + N) to send a message.

2. Click the Options tab.

3. Click Delay Delivery.

4. Select the date and time you’d like to send the message in the Do not deliver before section.

5. Click Close.

6. Press Send.

Your email will now go out after the time and date you set. If you change your mind and would like to send it immediately, keep reading.

6. Open the Outbox folder and click to open your message.

7. Click the Options tab.

8. Click Delay Delivery.

9. Uncheck the box and click Close.

10. Send the message.

Microsoft Outlook Tips

• Previous Tip
• Next Tip

• Block a Sender in Outlook 2016
• How to Instantly Mark Messages as Read in Outlook 2016 and Prior
• Edit New Message Alerts in Outlook
• How to Mail Merge in Office 2016
• Set an Out of Office Reply in Outlook
• How to Create Custom Groups in Outlook 2016
• Download Your Address Book in Outlook 2016 and Prior
• How to Archive Mail in Outlook 2016
• Create an Email Signature in Outlook 2016 and Prior
• Attach a Calendar Event to an Email
• Set Up a Universal Inbox
• Import Contacts to macOS Address Book
• Purge Deleted Messages
• Delete Addresses in Outlook Autocomplete
• Change the Attachment Size Limit in Outlook
• Import Contacts via CSV
• Back Up Outlook Data
• Change Fonts in Outlook
• Export Contacts to CSV
• Add an Image to Your Signature
• Set Up Out-of-Office Messages
• Create Email Templates
• Restrict Notifications to Important Emails Only
• Get Read Receipts
• Use Two Time Zones for Meetings
• Recall an Email
• Save Common Searches
• Filter Email
• Block Unwanted Mail
• Stop Sending Winmail.dat
• Automate Repetitive Actions
• Create Canned Replies

Your supervisor is breathing down your neck, tapping her foot impatiently as you dig through your inbox, looking for that contractor invoice she needs right now. Searching for specific words brings up a ton of irrelevant emails, while looking for the contractor's email address returns unnecessary messages. With search folders in Outlook 2013, you can sort your messages by sender and other conditions, making it much easier to find a specific message. 

Here's how to filter your messages in Outlook 2013 so they're nicely organized and you'll never spend more than a minute looking for items again.

1. Click the Folder tab in the Outlook navigation pane.

2. Choose New Search Folder.

3. Select the type of folder you want to create. There are many options to choose from, such as urgency, sender and keywords. You can repeat the process several times until your inbox is organized the way you want it. 

When you select a folder that requires you to set some conditions, a field appears at the bottom of the window to indicate that more options need to be defined.

If you want to file away a weekly report called Weekly Financial Summary, for instance, you can create a folder that files messages with those words in the subject line. 

Or if you want to file all emails from your supervisor in a folder, you can specify the sender whose messages you want organized.

4. Click OK once you've defined your folder. 

5. Click on the folder you want to search on the left panel of your screen. This will bring up all messages that matches your conditions. 

6. Enter keywords into the bar at the top of the folder to search for messages that meet that requirement. 

Now you can search within these smaller pockets of messages for that elusive proposal or tiny detail sent by your boss from eons ago without having to go into the cesspool that is your newsletter-and-junk-ridden inbox.

Outlook 2013 Tips

• Previous Tip
• Next Tip

• Create an Email Signature
• Recall a Message
• Enable Conversation View
• Set Up Auto Forwarding
• Change the Color Scheme in Outlook
• Filter Email into Search Folders
• Turn Off Message Preview
• Configure Gmail in Outlook 2013
• All Outlook 2013 Tips

New to Outlook 2013 is a feature that has already been around in other mail service providers like Gmail. Conversations allow you to reduce clutter in your inbox and follow email chains by grouping similarly-titled emails together. Unfortunately it isn't immediately clear to first-time users how to turn this feature on, while those who have the feature inexplicably turned on sometimes can't find how to turn it off.

Here's how you can enable Conversation View in three really quick steps.

1. Click the View tab at the top of  your Outlook home screen.

2. Check the box that says Conversations. To turn it off instead, uncheck the box.

3. Select the folder you want to apply Conversations view to. 

And you're done! If you've just turned the feature on, you'll notice little arrows next to emails that have been threaded. Clicking on the arrow reveals all the messages that have been grouped together under that thread.

Outlook 2013 Tips

• Previous Tip
• Next Tip

• Create an Email Signature
• Recall a Message
• Enable Conversation View
• Set Up Auto Forwarding
• Change the Color Scheme in Outlook
• Filter Email into Search Folders
• Turn Off Message Preview
• Configure Gmail in Outlook 2013
• All Outlook 2013 Tips

Most people use Outlook for professional correspondence, so making a blunder via email can be incredibly embarrassing and damaging to your career. Fortunately, the Outlook 2013 Recall Sent Message feature allows you to retrieve and fix your typo-ridden, attachment-less messages from your recipient's inbox, as long as they haven't read it yet.

Here's how to quickly delete or fix your sent messages in six easy steps.

1. Go to your Sent Messages folder.

2. Double click the message you want to recall. This will open the message in a new window with more options in a dedicated ribbon at the top. 

3. Click Actions in the Move section at the top center of the window. 

4. Click Recall This Message.

 5. Select Delete Unread Copies Of This Message. Outlook will warn you if some of your recipients have already read the message, and you won't be able to recall those messages. 

If you just want to add an attachment or fix a typo, select "Delete unread copies and replace with a new message" instead. This opens a new window with your message already in edit mode so you can quickly correct your mistake(s).

6. Click Ok and wait for Outlook to tell you if the recall had been successful. If you did not uncheck the box that says "Tell me if recall succeeds or fails for each recipient", you should get a message from Outlook informing you of the status of your recall.

If the recall was successful, the message will disappear from your recipient's inbox. Otherwise, Outlook 2013 will let you know that the recall has failed, and you'll have to prepare to face the music. But the quicker you react, the better your chances.

Outlook 2013 Tips

• Previous Tip
• Next Tip

• Create an Email Signature
• Recall a Message
• Enable Conversation View
• Set Up Auto Forwarding
• Change the Color Scheme in Outlook
• Filter Email into Search Folders
• Turn Off Message Preview
• Configure Gmail in Outlook 2013
• All Outlook 2013 Tips

With Outlook 2013, you can now turn off the message preview in your inbox to avoid the clutter of the first lines of your email. That means you can free up more space in the panel to see more messages on your screen without having to scroll. Here's how to disable Message Preview in Outlook 2013 in four easy steps.

1. Click View on the navigation panel to open  up the View tab. 

2. Click Message Preview right below the View tab. 

3. Select Off from the dropdown list of options. 

4. Click This Folder to turn off message previews in your current inbox. If you have more than one inbox in Outlook and want to turn off message previews for all of them, click All Mailboxes. 

And you're done! Now your inbox is significantly less cluttered and you can see more mail without having to scroll down your inbox. 

Conversely, if you want to preview more of your messages, just repeat steps 1 and 2, and select 2 Lines or 3 Lines in step 3. 

Outlook 2013 Tips

• Previous Tip
• Next Tip

• Create an Email Signature
• Recall a Message
• Enable Conversation View
• Set Up Auto Forwarding
• Change the Color Scheme in Outlook
• Filter Email into Search Folders
• Turn Off Message Preview
• Configure Gmail in Outlook 2013
• All Outlook 2013 Tips

Outlook 2013's default layout and color scheme has almost no contrasting colors to show where the navigation bars and sections are. Whether you want to make your inbox easier to look at or simply want a change of inbox "scenery," it can be very helpful to change Outlook's colors. Here's how to do so in five easy steps.

1. Click File at the top left of the screen to pull up a backstage panel.

2. Click Options. This opens an Outlook Options window to edit more settings.

3. Select your preferred background. Under the "Personalize your copy of Microsoft Office" section, look for the field that says Office Background. This changes the small decorative pattern at the top right of your screen. 

Outlook provides a list of 14 backgrounds for you to choose from. We selected Doodle Diamonds for this example. 

4. Select Theme. In the Office Theme field below Office Background, choose from White, Light Gray or Dark gray. This decides the color of your navigation bars. For greater contrast, we picked the Dark Gray theme.

5. Click Ok. You're done. Here's a preview of what those changes will look like.

You'll see that scrollbars, navigation panels and the left sidebar are now all gray (if you chose gray like we did), making it easier to distinguish one of part of the Outlook window from another.

Outlook 2013 Tips

• Previous Tip
• Next Tip

• Create an Email Signature
• Recall a Message
• Enable Conversation View
• Set Up Auto Forwarding
• Change the Color Scheme in Outlook
• Filter Email into Search Folders
• Turn Off Message Preview
• Configure Gmail in Outlook 2013
• All Outlook 2013 Tips

You have four, maybe five, email addresses. Keeping up with all of them can be exhausting; constantly opening separate windows and programs to monitor all your different inboxes. Wouldn't it be nice to get all the most important mail forwarded to one inbox that you look at all the time? With the right know-how you can. 

Here's an easy-to-follow guide to help you set up auto forwarding on Outlook 2013 so you can get your important messages sent to your desired inbox. 

1. Click File on the top left of Outlook's main page. This brings up Outlook's settings panel.

2. Click "Manage Rules & Alerts" in the Account Information panel to bring up the Rules and Alerts window.

3. Click New Rule at the top left corner of the Rules and Alerts window. This brings up a Rules Wizard window.

4. Select "Apply rule on messages I receive" under the Start From A Blank Rule section. Click Next.

5. Select your desired conditions. If you want to forward all emails from a person or group of people, check the box next to "From People Or Public Group". If you want to make sure you get important messages, check the boxes next to "Marked As Importance" and "Flagged For Action". 

As you select conditions, they will start appearing in the window below with links to conditions that need further definition. 

6. Click on underlined links to specify rule descriptions.

If you selected "From People Or Public Group", the last four words will be underlined. Click any of the underlined words to edit the condition.

7. Enter value for condition. In this example, we want to forward all mail that comes from the hypothetical group "laptop". If the address is already stored in your address book, you can  search for it. Otherwise, type the email address(es) into the From field. Click Ok.

If you've selected an email address that is a group, Outlook will advise that you choose to receive emails that are sent to that group rather than emails sent from it to avoid getting too many unnecessary messages. Click No if you want to make sure that emails sent from anyone in that group will get forwarded. 

8. Select "Forward It To People Or Public Group" for messages that meet the condition. 

 9. Click the underlined words in the descriptions to specify where the messages get forwarded. 

10. Enter the email address where you want your messages forwarded. Click Ok.

Your email address should show up in the Rules Wizard window. Click Next.

11. Create exceptions to filter out messages that are not important. For instance if an email has the word "Promotion" or "Advertisement" in the Subject line, you may choose to not forward it.  You may choose to skip this step. Hit Next when you're done.

12. Name your rule and check to see that your settings are correct. You can choose to apply the rule to existing messages in your inbox to forward all existing email from your chosen group to your email address. If everything is in order, click Finish.

13. Click Ok in the Rules and Settings window to apply your new rule.

You're done! The messages you've selected will be sent to the email address you designated. Since the messages are all forwarded, the sender listed will always be your email address tied to that inbox rather than directly from the original sender. 

Outlook 2013 Tips

• Previous Tip
• Next Tip

• Create an Email Signature
• Recall a Message
• Enable Conversation View
• Set Up Auto Forwarding
• Change the Color Scheme in Outlook
• Filter Email into Search Folders
• Turn Off Message Preview
• Configure Gmail in Outlook 2013
• All Outlook 2013 Tips

Email signatures are the shoes of the corporate world. Sometimes you just need a short, to-the-point one for chain replies. Sometimes you need a formal, official-looking one. Unfortunately, Microsoft Outlook's signature options can be somewhat hard to find, buried deep in the abyss of its backstage mode for options. 

Here's how to create a signature in Outlook 2013 in five quick steps.

1. Click New Email at the top left corner of the Home tab.

2. Click Signature from the top panel, next to Attach Item. A dropdown menu will appear, with options to add an existing signature to the email you're working on. Select Signatures from this menu to open a Signatures and Stationery window.

3. Click New in the Signatures and Stationery window to create a new signature template. 

4. Compose your signature in the editing window. If you have your contact information already saved in Outlook, you can simply import all that information as a business card by clicking Business Card at the top right of the edit options.

You can add images to your signature, like a logo or banner, by pasting them into the editor or clicking the button to the right of the Business Card button. URLs will be automatically hyperlinked, but if you want to add your own link, you can click the Insert Hyperlink button on the extreme right. Click OK, and your signature will be saved for future use. 

5. Designate your new signature as your default in the Signatures and Stationery window if you want to make sure it is included with every new message and replies or forwards you send. 

If you don't want a default signature , you can insert the signature into individual email messages by clicking Signature in the Compose window as in Step 1, and selecting the signature you just created.

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In the summer of 2012, Gmail stole away Hotmail’s long-standing title as the world’s largest web-based email service. Around that same time, Microsoft released a preview version of Outlook.com, a new service the company promised would "reimagine email." Today, Outlook.com is out of its preview phase, and Microsoft has announced plans to move, or "upgrade", each of Hotmail’s 360 million users to the new service by summer 2013.

Hotmail users will experience no disruption in service when transitioned to Outlook.com, and all passwords, messages, folders, and contacts will remain the same. The change can be initiated by users themselves by signing in at Outlook.com. For those concerned about losing their @hotmail email addresses, Microsoft confirmed that while users will have the option to switch to an @outlook.com address, the Hotmail-faithful will be able to keep their old addresses if they want to.

Outlook's  interface includes Sweep, a feature familiar to Hotmail users. In Outlook.com, Sweep helps users keep their inbox manageable with the ability to move or delete all messages from a particular user with a drop down menu command or by automating the action so that the messages never appear in the inbox in the first place. This feature will be highlighted in an upcoming commercial campaign for Outlook.  Other  features of the new interface include integration with Facebook, Twitter, and Skydrive, as well as the appearance of the Windows 8 Tile interface in a drop down menu at the top of the browser.

Outlook.com may prove to be a make-or-break showcase for Microsoft’s talent at user interface design, as millions of former-Hotmail users will soon be faced with the new interface whether they want it or not. If they feel that the interface lives up to Microsoft’s promise of a cleaner, more intuitive, more social way to conduct email, Outlook is in a prime position to absorb millions of new users into a service that ties closely into other Microsoft properties such as Skydrive , Windows 8 and Bing (ad links for products on Bing Shopping appear in Outlook.com's sidebar). But if they don't think the user experience is top notch, some of those former-Hotmail users may do the unthinkable and take their business across the street to Gmail.

• Outlook.com Hands-on: Microsoft’s Gmail and Clutter Killer
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