Microsoft Outlook: Update the 'Mark as Unread' Settings

Tags Outlook Read

Overview

When you click on a message in your Inbox in Outlook, Outlook treats the message as though you have read it because of the reading pane feature.  The reading pane allows you to preview the message on the screen without actually opening it.  Since you can see the message in the reading pane, Outlook behaves as though you have read it if you click on it in your Inbox list.

Instructions

Outlook for Windows

If you would like to disable the reading pane setting in Outlook for Windows that causes unread messages to be marked as read:

  1. In Outlook, click on the File tab. 
  2. On the left side of the screen, choose Options.
  3. A window called Outlook Options will open.  In the left-hand menu, choose Mail.
  4. Under the Outlook panes section, click the Reading Pane button.
  5. The top three options will change the behavior for marking items as read or unread. Check or uncheck the boxes based on your desired behavior, then click OK.
  6. Click OK to close the Outlook Options window.

If you prefer not to disable the reading pane settings as described, you can still mark a message as unread if Outlook treats it as though you have read it. To mark an individual message as unread, right-click on the message in your Inbox list and choose Mark as Unread. The sender, subject line, and other information about the message will appear in bold print again.

Outlook for Mac

To update Mark as Read settings: 

  1. In Outlook, click Outlook in the upper-left corner of your screen. 
  2. Click Settings. 
  3. In the pop-up window, click Reading. 
  4. Under the Mark Mail as Read section, select the setting you prefer. 
    • Outlook for Mac offers 3 Mark as Read settings:
      • When viewed in the reading pane for these seconds: __ (enter how many seconds you prefer in the box)
      • When selection changes
      • Only when viewed in a separate window

If you prefer not to change the mark as read settings, you can still mark a message as unread if Outlook treats it as though you have read it. To mark an individual message as unread, right-click on the message in your Inbox list and choose Mark as Unread. The sender, subject line, and other information about the message will appear in bold print again.

Outlook on the Web

  1. Go to office365.utk.edu.
  2. Select Outlook in the left-side menu. 
  3. Click the Settings Gear Icon in the upper-right corner of the window. 
  4. Click View All Outlook Settings. 
  5. Click the Mail tab, then click Message Handling. 
  6. Under the Mark as Read section, select the setting you prefer. 
  7. Click Save. 

If you prefer not to change the mark as read settings, you can still mark a message as unread if Outlook treats it as though you have read it. To mark an individual message as unread, right-click on the message in your Inbox list and choose Mark as Unread. The sender, subject line, and other information about the message will appear in bold print again.

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