How to Manage Your Focused Inbox in Outlook for iOS

Keep important Outlook for iOS messages separate from other email

New message displaying on smartphone.

 Gerd Altmann/Pixabay

by Heinz Tschabitscher
An independent writer who has reviewed hundreds of email programs and services since 1997.
Updated June 13, 2019

The Outlook for iOS Focused Inbox puts important emails in a special inbox tab and opens to that tab automatically. Based on how you use email, Outlook for iOS sorts your email into either the Focused Inbox or the Other Inbox. For example, email from people you email frequently appear in the Focused Inbox and newsletters that you delete immediately go to the Other Inbox.

Instructions in this article apply to Outlook for iOS.

Better Automation Under Your Control

While Outlook learns your email habits, some emails that are important may go to the Other Inbox folder. When this happens, move the message to the Focused Inbox to teach Outlook what you want it to do. And, if junk emails appear in the Focused Inbox, move those messages to the Other Inbox. When you move individual misplaced emails, Outlook for iOS prompts you to set up a rule to accomplish just that for future emails.

Turn Focused Inbox On or Off in Outlook for iOS

To choose whether you want Outlook for iOS to guess what emails are most important to you and move these messages to the Focused Inbox:

  1. Go to Settings (the gear icon).

    Viewing the menu in Outlook for iOS.

  2. Turn on the Focused Inbox toggle switch if you want to use this feature. Turn off the Focused Inbox toggle switch to use a single inbox.

    Settings in Outlook for iOS.

  3. Close the Settings screen.

Move a Message to the Focused Tab

To move an important email that Outlook for iOS put in the Other Inbox:

  1. Open the message you want to mark important and move to the Focused Inbox.

  2. Select Menu (...).

    The Other inbox in Outlook for iOS.

  3. Select Move to Focused Inbox.

  4. If you want future messages from the same sender to be moved to the Focused Inbox automatically, select Always Move.

    Dialog prompting for move to focused inbox in Outlook for iOS.

  5. If you want to move only this message (and not set up a rule for the future), select Move Once.

Move a Message to the Other Tab

To move an email Outlook for iOS put in the Focused Inbox when you do not want to focus on it:

  1. Open the email you want to move to the Other Inbox.

    The Focused inbox in Outlook for iOS.

  2. Select Menu (...).

    Menu options in Outlook for iOS.

  3. Select Move to Other.

  4. If you want future messages from the same sender to be moved to the Other Inbox automatically, select Always Move.

    Dialog prompt about moving email to Other inbox in Outlook for iOS.

  5. If you want to move only this message (and not set up a rule for the future), select Move Once.

Only the current email and future messages are moved. Other emails from the same sender that already are in the Focused Inbox will stay there.