How to Create Folders in Windows Live Mail or Outlook Express

by
Heinz Tschabitscher
Heinz Tschabitscher
Writer
A former freelance contributor who has reviewed hundreds of email programs and services since 1997.
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Heinz Tschabitscher
Updated on February 22, 2021

What to Know

  • Select File > Folder > Create new folder. Enter a name for the folder, then highlight the folder where you want the new one to appear.
  • If you have more than a handful of folders, learn how to sort the folders list in Windows Mail.

A Windows Mail Inbox can fill up quickly. You can create folders in Windows Live Mail, Windows Mail, and Outlook Express to sort and organize all those messages.

Create Folders

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

    • Windows Live Mail 2011: Go to your Inbox and open the Folders tab and select New folder.
    • Windows Live Mail 2009 or earlier, Windows Mail, and Outlook Express: Select File > Folder > Create new folder (or File > Folder > New).

  2. Under Folder Name, enter the name of the folder you want to create.

  3. Under Select the folder in which to create the new folder, highlight the folder where you'd like the new one to be placed. To create a top-level folder, highlight Local Folders.

    Folders can be nested in Windows Live Mail, Windows Mail, and Outlook Express, so you can put the new folder under any other folder.

  4. 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

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.

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