Technology

Outlook Focused Inbox

Last modified 12/4/2024

The Outlook Focused inbox places your most important emails in the "Focused" inbox and all other emails in "Other" using a system built by Microsoft. This system takes into account emails and contacts with whom you interact, and filters out automatically generated or bulk emails. The more you use the different folders, the better the system gets at sorting the emails into the correct folders. This system can be utilized or turned off if you prefer your emails to be all in one place. Focused inbox is turned off by default on ISU email accounts. You must turn it on in order to utilize the feature.

Turning the Focused Inbox On/Off

  • Outlook Online

To turn the Focused Inbox on/off in Outlook Online, do the following:

  1. Log in to Outlook online
  2. Select the Settings Gear in the upper right corner
  3. Select the Sort messages into Focused and Other button

Your Focused Inbox is now on/off in Outlook Online. If you would also like it on or off in the application, follow the instructions for Outlook Application. 

  • Outlook Application

To turn the Focused Inbox on/off in the Outlook Application do the following: 

  1. Open your Outlook Application
  2. Select View in the top menu bar and View settings
  3. Select the Sort messages into Focused and Other button

Your Focused Inbox is now on/off in your Outlook application. If you would also like it on or off in Outlook online, follow the instructions for Outlook Online. 

Using the Focused Inbox

  • Classifying Email

If an email ends up in the wrong inbox, follow the instructions below to reclassify it:

  1. Open the email
  2. Select Move to
  3. Select Move to Focused inbox or Move to Other Inbox

Classifying these emails will help the system sort better in the future. 

How to Get Help

Technical assistance is available through the Illinois State University Technology Support Center at:


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