How to Mark Messages As Read when Clicked on Outlook

This wikiHow teaches you how to make Outlook for Windows automatically mark messages as “Read” when clicked.

Things You Should Know

  • Open Outlook and go to File > Options > Mail > Reading Pane.
  • Click the “Mark items as read when viewed in the Reading Pane” box.
  • Type a 0 in the "“Wait ___ seconds” section. Click OK to save.

Steps

  1. Image titled Mark Messages As Read when Clicked on Outlook Step 1
    1
    Open Outlook. Look for an envelope icon with an “O.” It may be yellow or blue, depending on your version of Outlook.
  2. Image titled Mark Messages As Read when Clicked on Outlook Step 2
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    Click File. It’s at the top-left corner of the screen.
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  3. Image titled Mark Messages As Read when Clicked on Outlook Step 3
    3
    Click Options. It’s in the menu along the left side of the screen.
  4. Image titled Mark Messages As Read when Clicked on Outlook Step 4
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    Click Mail. It’s near the top of the left column.
  5. Image titled Mark Messages As Read when Clicked on Outlook Step 5
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    Click Reading Pane. It’s a button in the main panel, close to the middle of the list. A pop-up will appear.
  6. Image titled Mark Messages As Read when Clicked on Outlook Step 6
    6
    Check the “Mark items as read when viewed in the Reading Pane” box. It’s the first option in the pop-up window.
  7. Image titled Mark Messages As Read when Clicked on Outlook Step 7
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    Type a "0" into the “Wait ___ seconds” box.
  8. Image titled Mark Messages As Read when Clicked on Outlook Step 8
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    Click OK. Messages will now be marked as “Read” as soon as they appear in the Reading Pane.
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About This Article

Nicole Levine, MFA
Written by:
Nicole Levine, MFA
wikiHow Technology Writer
This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Nicole Levine, MFA. Nicole Levine is a Technology Writer and Editor for wikiHow. She has more than 20 years of experience creating technical documentation and leading support teams at major web hosting and software companies. Nicole also holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Portland State University and teaches composition, fiction-writing, and zine-making at various institutions. This article has been viewed 41,309 times.
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Co-authors: 2
Updated: October 25, 2022
Views: 41,309
Categories: Outlook
Article SummaryX

1. Open Outlook.
2. Click File.
3. Click Options.
4. Click Mail.
5. Click Reading Pane.
6. Check the “Mark items as read” box.
7. Type “0” in the “Wait” box.
8. Click OK.

Did this summary help you?
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