How to Set Outlook to Accept Only Mail From Known Senders

This article explains how to automatically add known senders to the Safe Senders list in Outlook for Microsoft 365, Outlook 2019, 2016, 2013, 2010, and 2007.

Add Safe Senders in Outlook 2019, 2016, 2013, and 2010

You can set Outlook to display mail only from people you email and the ones you designate as safe senders. Outlook's junk email filter automatically considers your contacts to be safe senders, and anything that is not from one of those senders is sent to the junk email folder. The filter can be customized to suit your preferences.

1. Go to the Home tab.

2. In the Delete group, select Junk.

3. Select Junk E-mail Options from the drop-down menu.

4. In the Junk Email Options dialog box, select the Safe Senders tab.

5. Place a check mark in the box next to Automatically add people I email to the Safe Senders List.

6. Select OK to save the changes.

Add Safe Senders in Outlook 2007

To activate the Safe Senders list in older versions of Outlook, follow these steps:

1. Open your Outlook Inbox.

2. Select Actions > Junk E-mail > Junk E-mail Options.

3. In the Junk E-mail Options dialog box, select the Options tab.

4. Select Safe Lists Only: Only mail from people or domains on your Safe Senders List or Safe Recipients List will be delivered to your Inbox.

5. Switch to the Safe Senders tab of the Junk E-mail Options window.

6. Select the Automatically add people I e-mail to the Safe Senders List check box.

7. Click OK to save the changes.

In addition to treating all your contacts as safe senders, Outlook gives you the option to add individual senders or domains to the safe list.

It is prudent to check the Junk E-mail folder for valid mail from time to time, in case one of your contacts uses a new email address.