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How to Filter One Sender's Mail to a Certain Folder Automatically in Outlook

By Heinz Tschabitscher, About.com

Whether it's mail from your smart daughter, best client, oldest friend, latest colleague, favorite neighbor or must-read newsletter: wouldn't it be great if it went to the right folder, right away?

Outlook can send all incoming messages to any folder automatically using a filter. Fortunately, it's easy to set up, too — especially if you have a message from the sender ready.

Filter One Sender's Mail to a Certain Folder Automatically in Outlook

To have Outlook file a particular sender's messages automatically:

  • Click with the right mouse button on a message from the sender whose messages you want to filter.
  • Select Create Rule... from the menu that comes up.
  • Make sure From {Sender} is checked.
  • Also check Move the item to folder:.
  • Click Select Folder....
  • Highlight the desired target folder.
  • Click OK.
  • Click OK again.
  • To move all existing messages from the sender (albeit only in the current folder) to the filter's target folder right away, check Run this rule now on messages already in the current folder.
    • Either way, the rule will automatically file the sender's all newly incoming messages in the future, of course.
  • Click OK once more.
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