How to Add an Address or Domain to Safe Senders in Outlook

An easy way to improve Outlook's spam filtering

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by Heinz Tschabitscher
An independent writer who has reviewed hundreds of email programs and services since 1997.
Updated June 06, 2019

One way to help Outlook achieve better spam filtering accuracy is by adding known senders to its list of safe senders. This makes sure email from these senders goes to your Outlook Inbox, no matter what the junk mail algorithm directs. The Safe Senders List overrides the Outlook standard spam detection filters. You can also whitelist complete domains using the Safe Senders List.

Instructions in this article apply to Outlook 2019, Outlook 2016, Outlook 2013, and Outlook for Office 365.

Add an Address or Domain to Safe Senders in Outlook

To add an address or domain to the Safe Senders list in Outlook:

  1. Go to the Home tab.

    Selecting the Home tab in Outlook.

  2. In the Delete group, select Junk.

    Selecting Junk in Outlook.

  3. Select Junk E-mail Options.

    Selecting Junk email options in Outlook.

  4. In the Junk Email Options dialog box, go to the Safe Senders tab.

    Viewing the Junk email options in Outlook.

  5. Select Add.

    Selecting to add a new email or domain in safe senders in Outlook.

  6. In the Add address or domain dialog box, enter the email address or domain name you want to whitelist. For example, janedoe@example.com or @example.com.

    Entering an email address into the safe senders list in Outlook.

  7. Select OK.

    A domain has been entered into the add an email or domain dialog box in Outlook.

  8. The email address or domain appears in the Safe Senders List.

    The list of safe sender in Outlook.

  9. Select OK.

Add an Address From an Email to the Safe Senders List

If you have a message from a sender you want to add to the Safe Senders List in your Outlook Inbox (or the Junk E-mail folder), select the message to add the sender to the list.

  1. Select a message from the sender you want to add to the Safe Senders List, then go to the Home tab.

    Selecting the Home tab in Outlook.

  2. In the Delete group, select Junk.

    Selecting Junk in Outlook.

  3. Select Never Block Sender.

    Selecting to never block sender in Outlook.

  4. In the confirmation dialog box, select OK.