Create a rule

Outlook includes rule templates for common scenarios. Use these rule templates, or create design your own custom rules.

Use Outlook rule templates

  1. Click the File tab.

  2. Click Manage Rules & Alerts.

  3. In the Rules and Alerts dialog box, on the E-mail Rules tab, click New Rule.

  4. Under Step 1: Select a template, select the template that you want from the Stay Organized or Stay Up to Date collection of templates.

  5. Under Step 2: Edit the rule description, click an underlined value. For example, if you click the people or public group link, the Address Book opens.

  6. Click Next.

  7. Under Step 1: Select condition(s), select the conditions that you want the messages to meet for the rule to apply.

  8. Under Step 2: Edit the rule description, click an underlined value for any condition that you added, and then specify the value.

  9. Click Next.

  10. Under Step 1: Select action(s), select the action that you want the rule to take when the specified conditions are met.

  11. Under Step 2: Edit the rule description, click an underlined value for any action that you added, and then specify the value.

  12. Click Next.

  13. Under Step 1: Select exception(s), select any exceptions to the rule, and then click Next.

  14. Under Step 2: Edit the rule description, click an underlined value for any exception that you added, and then specify the value.

  15. Click Next.

  16. Under Step 1: Specify a name for this rule, enter a name.

  17. Under Step 2: Setup rule options, select the check boxes for the options that you want.

    • If you want to run this rule on messages that already are in the Inbox, select the Run this rule now on messages already in “Inbox" check box.

    • By default, the new rule is turned on. To turn off the rule, clear the Turn on this rule check box.

    • To apply this rule to all email accounts set up in Outlook, select the Create this rule on all accounts check box.

  18. Click Finish.