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Global Insight Network

What happened to my clutter folder in Outlook?

Author

Michael King

Updated on April 22, 2026

Microsoft recognized that Clutter wasn't working and pretty quickly replaced it with Focused Inbox.” That statement applies to Outlook users. It doesn't apply to people who use a different mail client, for whom Focused Inbox won't work at all, and here's why. Clutter is an entirely different folder.

People also ask, how do I get my clutter folder back in Outlook?

Steps to turn on Clutter:

  1. Sign in to Outlook on the web.
  2. At the top of the page, select the App launcher.
  3. At the top of the page, select Settings.
  4. Refresh your browser.
  5. On the navigation bar, return to Settings and the Clutter options should now be available: Settings.
  6. Choose Separate items identified as Clutter > Save.

Additionally, how do I activate clutter in Outlook? Turn on Clutter

  1. Sign in to Outlook on the web. For instructions, see How to sign in to Outlook on the web.
  2. Go to Settings. > Options.
  3. On the left navigation bar, go to Mail > Automatic processing > Clutter.
  4. Select Separate items identified as Clutter, and then click.

Accordingly, what is the clutter folder in Outlook?

Clutter is an email sorting tool available to Office 365 customers. Clutter analyzes your email habits, and based on your past behavior, it determines the messages that you're most likely to ignore. It then moves those messages to a folder called Clutter, where you can review them later.

How do I stop emails going to clutter?

Turn Clutter on or off

  1. Sign in to Outlook on the web. For help, see Sign in to Outlook on the web.
  2. In the upper-left corner of the page, choose the App launcher. > Outlook.
  3. On the navigation bar, go to Settings. > Options > Mail > Automatic processing > Clutter.
  4. Choose Separate items identified as Clutter > Save .

Related Question Answers

Why is my clutter folder not working?

In Outlook 2016, right-click the Clutter folder and the select Manage Clutter. (If you don't see the Manage Clutter option, Clutter may have been disabled for your organization or you may be using Focused Inbox now. See the next section for more options.) Sign in to Outlook on the web using your work or school account.

Can you turn off clutter in Outlook?

>Your app settings - Mail > Options - Mail > Automatic processing > Clutter. To activate clutter management, choose Separate items identified as Clutter, then Save. You can turn Clutter off anytime by selecting Don't separate items identified as Clutter.

Will Microsoft teams replace Outlook?

MS Teams will no doubt replace email for many message amongst team members, just as Yammer replaced email for messages inside your organization.

What is the difference between focused and other in outlook?

Focused Inbox for Outlook. Focused Inbox separates your inbox into two tabs—Focused and Other. Your most important email messages are on the Focused tab while the rest remain easily accessible—but out of the way—on the Other tab.

How do I get rid of focused inbox in Outlook app?

Turn off Focused Inbox on Android Click 3 dots on the right, then Settings. Toggle Focused Inbox off. You'll need to close and restart the Outlook app for the change to apply.

How do I get rid of the focused inbox in Outlook?

1. Disable Focused Inbox on Outlook
  1. Go to the View tab and select Show Focused Inbox.
  2. The Focused and Other tabs will no longer be visible at the top of your mailbox.
  3. Now go to Settings > Display settings > Focused Inbox.
  4. Under When email is received > select Don't sort messages > click OK.

What is outlook focused?

Focused Inbox separates your inbox into two tabs—Focused and Other. Your most important email messages are on the Focused tab while the rest remain easily accessible—but out of the way—on the Other tab. Notes: In Outlook for Windows, Focused Inbox is available only for Microsoft 365, Exchange, and Outlook.com accounts.

How do I permanently move emails from clutter to inbox?

If you see a message that was sent to Clutter by mistake, right-click the message and choose Move to inbox, or drag the email from the Clutter folder and drop it in your Inbox.

How do you stop cluttering?

All you need is a little commitment to some basic principles.
  1. Live within your means.
  2. Purge often.
  3. Have a place for everything.
  4. Don't underestimate the importance of a junk drawer.
  5. Become a habitual putter-awayer.
  6. Store things where you use them.
  7. Stop clutter before it enters your home with a landing strip.
  8. Go paper-free.

Where is automatic processing in Outlook?

At the top of the page in Outlook Web App, select Settings > Options, and then select one of the following:
  1. Organize email > Inbox rules > New. OR.
  2. Mail > Automatic processing > Inbox rules > New > Create a new rule for arriving messages.

What is move to clutter?

Clutter is an email sorting tool available to Office 365 customers. Clutter moves your low priority messages out of your Inbox so you can easily scan for important messages. It then moves those messages to a folder called Clutter, where you can review them later.

Why do emails go to clutter in Outlook?

The email server keeps track of the email you read and the ones you don't. Once you turn it on, Clutter is automatic. As new email comes in, it takes messages you're most likely to ignore and puts them into the "Clutter" folder.

How does clutter storage work?

Clutter photographs and catalogs everything it stores to help customers when they need to have items retrieved. In such cases, Clutter's workers pick the items from storage and deliver them to customers on their doorsteps. Clutter says it reunites owner with their belongings within 48 hours of the initial request.

How do I turn off clutter in Outlook Web App?

Turn off Clutter
  1. Follow the steps at the beginning of this document to sign in to Outlook Web App. Then, go to Settings. > Options > Mail > Automatic processing > Clutter.
  2. Select Don't separate items identified as Clutter, and then click. Save.

How do I turn off clutter in Outlook for Mac?

Turn Clutter off In the left pane, under Options, click Mail > Automatic processing > Clutter. In the right pane, under Clutter, clear the checkbox next to Separate items identified as clutter, and then click Save.

What is the difference between clutter and junk in Outlook?

Clutter is automatically enabled for all mailboxes just like Junk, but the way it processes emails is slightly different. The rules that automatically sort emails into Junk are generic for all users, whereas Clutter's processing is based on your personal behaviour signals.