Skip to content

Create mailbox or account-wide email filters

Match messages and deliver, redirect or reject them using explicit rules.

Where Tools → Email → Email Filters or Global Email Filters

Before you start

  • Email Filters affects a selected mailbox; Global Email Filters can affect the entire account.
  • Write down a narrow condition and safe action before starting.

Steps

  1. 1

    Click Create a New Filter and enter a descriptive Filter Name.

  2. 2

    Under Rules choose the message part, comparison and text. For example Subject + contains + Invoice. Equals requires an exact match; contains allows a partial match.

  3. 3

    Use the Rules + button for more conditions. Check and versus or: and requires all conditions, while or accepts either condition.

  4. 4

    Click Create and review the filter order; rules run top to bottom. Use the test facility if available and send real matching and nonmatching test messages.

  5. 5

    For one address, open Email Filters and click Manage Filters beside it. For the account, open Global Email Filters.

    Manage Filters selects the scope of a mailbox-only rule.
  6. 6

    Under Actions choose the intended action and fill any destination field it reveals. The default is Discard Message—change it if you want a folder move or redirect. Use a reversible action while testing.

    Set matching rules and actions. Discard Message is initially selected.

Check it worked

  • Check the destination of both matching and nonmatching messages.
  • If mail goes missing, inspect global rules, mailbox rules and spam settings.