How to Create Folders in Windows Live Mail or Outlook Express

Stacked files
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by Heinz Tschabitscher
An independent writer who has reviewed hundreds of email programs and services since 1997.
Updated March 17, 2019

A Windows Mail Inbox attracts tons of emails — messages of all kinds. It's a veritable chaos.

Fortunately, you can set up all kinds of folders in Windows Live Mail, Windows Mail, and Outlook Express, too — folders to sort and organize the messages in.

Create Folders

To create a folder in Windows Live Mail, Windows Mail or Outlook Express:

  • Go to your Inbox.
  • In Windows Live Mail 2011:
    • Open the Folders tab in the ribbon.
    • Select New folder.
  • In Windows Live Mail 2009 and earlier, Windows Mail and Outlook Express:
    • Select File > Folder > Create new folder (or File > Folder > New) from the menu.
  • Enter the name of the folder you want to create under Folder name.
  • Highlight the folder that you want to put the new folder in under Select the folder in which to create the new folder.
    • Folders can be nested in Windows Live Mail, Windows Mail, and Outlook Express, so you can put the new folder under any other folder.
    • To create a top-level folder, highlight Local Folders.
  • Select OK.

Sort the List of Folders

If you have more than a handful of folders in Windows Live Mail, Windows Mail or Outlook Express, you may want to sort them by priority.

Filter Email Automatically

Of course, you don't have to move all incoming mail to the appropriate folder by hand. It's easy to set up filters for that job in Windows Live Mail, Windows Mail or Outlook Express.