How to Specify a Reply-To Address in Outlook.com

Directional arrow painted on the street, close-up
Send email replies this way. StockUnlimited
by Heinz Tschabitscher
An independent writer who has reviewed hundreds of email programs and services since 1997.
Updated September 17, 2018

If you send a message from your Outlook Mail on the web, Outlook.com or Windows Live Hotmail account, but want to receive replies at another email address, you can use the Reply-to: header.

Receive Replies at a Different Address Sending From Outlook Mail on the Web

Outlook Mail on the web will not let you set a Reply-to: address different from your the address used in the From: line. You can, however, change that address in the From line.

To pick a From: address for an email you are sending from Outlook Mail on the web (so you receive replies at that address instead of your main Outlook Mail on the web email address):

  1. Make sure the email address you wish to use for receiving replies is set up for sending in Outlook Mail on the web. (See below.)

  2. Start a new message, reply or forward.

  3. Click the More commands icon (⋯) in the composition pane or window's top toolbar.

  4. Select Show From from the menu that has appeared.

  5. Click From.

  6. Now select the desired address from the menu that has shown.

Set up any Email Address for Sending (in the From: Line) Using Outlook Mail on the Web

To add an email address to the list of addresses you can use in the From: line when you are sending an email from Outlook Mail on the web:

  1. Click the settings gear icon (⚙) in the top Outlook Mail on the web navigation bar.

  2. Select Options from the menu that has appeared.

  3. Open the Mail | Accounts | Connected accounts category on the Options screen.

  4. To add a Gmail address to Outlook Mail on the web for sending:

    • Click Gmail under Add a connected account.

  5. To add another email address to Outlook Mail on the web for sending:

    • Click Other email accounts under Add a connected account.
    • Type the email address you wish to use under Email address.
    • Enter the email account's password under Password. If the email account (e.g. Yahoo! Mail) uses 2-step authentication, you may need to create an application password and use that instead of the main account password.

  6. Typically, make sure Create a new folder for imported email, with subfolders like the account you connect is selected.

    • This will make it easier to keep the imported emails separate and, perhaps, delete them without fear of affecting other mail in your Outlook Mail on the web account.

  7. Click OK.

  8. With a Gmail account:

    • Sign in to Gmail.
    • Allow Microsoft to access your Gmail email and certain Google account data.

  9. Click OK again.

  10. Outlook Mail on the web will import messages and folders in the background; this need not concern you much right now just for sending.

Specify a Default From Address in Outlook Mail on the Web

To have Outlook Mail on the web use a specific email address as the default in the From: line when you send a message using the web interface:

  1. Click the settings gear icon (⚙) in Outlook Mail on the web.

  2. Choose Options from the menu.

  3. Go to the Mail | Accounts | Connected accounts category.

  4. Make sure the address you wish to use is connected to Outlook Mail on the web. (See above.)

  5. Follow the Change your from address link under From address.

  6. Select the desired address under From address.

  7. Click Save.

Specify a Reply-To Address in Outlook.com

To have replies to emails you send from the Outlook.com web interface go to an address different from your Outlook.com address by default:

  1. Click the settings gear icon (⚙) near your Outlook.com's top navigation bar's right corner.

  2. Select Options from the menu that has appeared.

  3. Follow the Reply-to address link under Writing email on the Options screen.

  4. Make sure Other address is selected under Reply-to address.

  5. Enter the email address at which you want to receive replies when you send an email using the Outlook.com web interface under Other address.

  6. Click Save.

What Happens with a Reply-to Header Set?

Email programs and services should—and typically do—prefer the address in the Reply-to: header when starting a direct reply to the address in the From: line.

If a recipient of a message you sent with a different Reply-to address from Outlook.com starts a reply, the address in the Reply-to: header will be in the To: line (instead of the Outlook.com address in the From: line).

Specify a Reply-To Address in Windows Live Hotmail

To set replies to messages you send from Windows Live Hotmail to arrive at a different address:

  1. Select Options | More Options... (in Windows Live Hotmail) or Options (in Windows Live Hotmail classic) from the toolbar.

  2. Follow the Reply-to address link under Customize your mail.

  3. Make sure Other address is selected.

  4. Type the email address where you want to receive replies in the entry field.

  5. Click Save.

(Updated August 2016, tested with Outlook Mail on the web and Outlook.com in a desktop browser)