Outlook: How to Modify a Rule

Overview

Edit, delete, or enable/disable any rule that was created. For example, if I have a rule that automatically sends my school related emails to a folder, I can delete the rule when I graduate and don't need it anymore.

Considerations

• These steps only apply to New Outlook & Outlook for Mac. They may differ lightly from other versions, for example, Outlook on the web, or classic Outlook. 
• Currently, new Outlook does not support rules for managing third-party accounts like Gmail, Yahoo, and iCloud. 
• Some rules created in classic Outlook can't be processed by new Outlook because they are running through your own local device. To fix a rule that was migrated from classic Outlook, create a new rule to replace it.

Edit a rule (Windows)

1. At the top of the page, select the gear icon , labeled "Settings.". 

2. Select Mail > Rules. 

3. In the rule you want to edit, select Edit. 

4. Press Save to save your edited rule. 

Note: Some rules created in classic Outlook can't be processed by new Outlook because they are running through your own local device. To fix a rule that was migrated from classic Outlook, create a new rule to replace it. 

Delete a rule (Windows) 

1. At the top of the page, select the gear icon , labeled "Settings."

2. Select Mail > Rules. 

3. In the rule you want to delete, select the trash icon . 

Set the order in which rules are applied to incoming messages (Windows)

Inbox rules are applied to incoming messages based on the order they're in within the Inbox rules list. You can arrange the order in which the rules you create are applied to messages coming into your inbox. 

1. At the top of the page, select the gear icon , labeled "Settings." 

2. Select Mail > Rules. 

3. Select a rule and then use the Up arrow or Down arrow to change the order in which the rule is applied to incoming messages. 

Edit a rule (MacOS)

1. On the Outlook menu, select Settings. 

2. Under Email, select Rules. 

3. In the Rules window, click on the three dots (...) next to the rule you would like to edit, select the Edit rule   button. 

4. After making the edits you want, select Save. 

Delete a rule (MacOS)

1. On the Outlook menu, select Settings. 

2. Under Email, select Rules. 

3. Click on the three dots (...) next to the rule you would like to delete, select the Delete rule  button. 

Set the order in which inbox rules are applied to incoming messages (MacOS) 

Inbox rules are applied to incoming messages based on the order they're in within the Inbox rules list. You can arrange the order in which the rules you create are applied to messages coming into your inbox. You can do this in two ways: 

1. In the rules tab, you can click on the three dots (...) and move the rule up or down, to the top, or to the bottom. 

2. In the rules tab, next to the rules, you can simply click the up and down arrow next to the specific rule you want to move, moving the rule up or down. 

Tips (Windows & MacOS)

If you want to turn the rule off temporarily, select the "Disable rule" next to the rule. It will disable it until you click the same button again.