How To Report As Spam In Outlook

Marking unwanted commercial email as spam in Outlook trains your filter to catch similar messages in the future. If you are wondering how to report as spam in outlook, this guide covers every method across desktop, web, and mobile apps. Spam clutters your inbox and can hide important messages, so knowing the right steps keeps your email clean and secure.

Outlook offers multiple ways to flag junk. Whether you use Outlook 365, Outlook.com, or the mobile app, the process is simple. This article walks you through each approach with clear steps and screenshots in mind.

Before we dive into specific versions, understand the core idea. Reporting spam tells Outlook’s filter that a message is unwanted. Over time, the filter learns and automatically moves similar emails to the Junk folder. This reduces manual work.

You can report spam from the ribbon menu, right-click context menu, or keyboard shortcuts. Each method works slightly different depending on your Outlook version. Below we cover all major platforms.

Report Spam In Outlook Desktop App (Microsoft 365 And Outlook 2019/2021)

The desktop app is the most common version. Here is how to report spam in Outlook for Windows:

Open Outlook and select the email you want to report.
On the Home tab, locate the Delete group.
Click the Junk dropdown button.
Choose Block Sender or Report as Junk.
Confirm the action if prompted.

Alternatively, right-click the email in your inbox. From the context menu, select Junk then Report as Junk. This sends a copy of the message to Microsoft for analysis.

If you accidentally report a legitimate email, open your Junk Email folder. Right-click the message and choose Junk > Not Junk. This trains the filter to allow similar emails.

Keyboard Shortcut For Reporting Spam

Power users can use the keyboard. Select the email and press Ctrl + Alt + J on Windows. This instantly marks it as junk and moves it to the Junk folder. No confirmation dialog appears.

Report Spam In Outlook On The Web (Outlook.com)

Outlook.com is the free web version. Reporting spam here is equally straightforward:

Log in to Outlook.com and open your inbox.
Select the checkbox next to the spam email.
Click the Junk button in the toolbar (looks like a stop sign with an exclamation mark).
Choose Report as junk from the dropdown.

You can also right-click the email. From the menu, select Mark as junk. The email moves to the Junk folder, and Microsoft receives a report.

If you see a phishing email, use the Report phishing option instead. This is more serious and helps protect others.

Block Sender Vs Report As Junk

Outlook.com gives you two options. Block Sender adds the address to your blocked list and deletes all future emails from that sender. Report as junk only flags this specific message. Use block for persistent spammers.

Report Spam In Outlook Mobile App (IOS And Android)

The mobile app works similarly but with touch gestures. Here is how to report spam in Outlook on your phone:

Open the Outlook app and tap the email you want to report.
Tap the three dots (More actions) in the top-right corner.
Select Report Junk from the menu.
Confirm by tapping Report.

You can also swipe left on an email in your inbox. A red Junk button appears. Tap it to report immediately. This is the fastest method on mobile.

On Android, the swipe action might be slightly different. Check your app settings if swiping does not work. Some versions require you to enable swipe gestures in Settings.

Managing Junk Folder On Mobile

After reporting, the email moves to your Junk folder. To review, tap the folder icon and select Junk Email. If you find a legitimate email there, tap it and choose Not Junk from the three-dot menu.

Report Spam In Outlook For Mac

Outlook for Mac has a different layout. Here are the steps:

Select the email in your inbox.
Click the Junk button in the toolbar (looks like a stop sign).
Alternatively, go to the Message menu and choose Mark as Junk.

Right-clicking also works. Choose Junk Mail from the context menu. The email moves to the Junk folder, and Microsoft receives a report.

Mac users can also use the keyboard shortcut Command + Shift + J to mark as junk quickly.

Report Spam In Outlook For Windows 10 Mail App

If you use the built-in Mail app on Windows 10, the process is different:

Open the Mail app and select the email.
Click the Junk icon in the toolbar (a stop sign with an exclamation).
Confirm by clicking Junk again.

This moves the email to the Junk folder but does not send a report to Microsoft. For better spam filtering, consider using the full Outlook desktop app or Outlook.com.

What Happens After You Report Spam?

When you report spam, several things occur:

The email moves to your Junk Email folder.
Outlook’s filter learns from the report.
Future emails from the same sender may be automatically filtered.
If you choose “Report as Junk,” a copy is sent to Microsoft for analysis.

Reporting phishing emails helps Microsoft update its security systems. This protects all users from similar attacks.

How To Automatically Filter Spam In Outlook

Besides manual reporting, you can adjust settings to catch more spam:

Go to Settings > Mail > Junk email.
Choose a filter level: Low, High, or Safe Lists Only.
Add trusted senders to your Safe Senders list.
Enable the option to permanently delete suspected spam.

These settings reduce the amount of spam reaching your inbox. Combine them with manual reporting for best results.

Safe Senders And Blocked Senders Lists

You can manage these lists manually:

Safe Senders: Emails from these addresses never go to Junk.
Blocked Senders: Emails from these addresses are always sent to Junk.
Safe Domains: Add entire domains like @company.com.

To edit these lists, go to Settings > View all Outlook settings > Mail > Junk email.

Common Mistakes When Reporting Spam

Users often make these errors:

Reporting legitimate emails as spam by accident.
Not confirming the report action.
Forgetting to check the Junk folder regularly.
Using “Block Sender” when “Report as Junk” is more appropriate.

If you make a mistake, quickly move the email back to your inbox and mark it as “Not Junk.” This corrects the filter’s learning.

Why Reporting Spam Matters

Spam emails can contain malware, phishing links, or scams. Reporting them protects you and others. Microsoft uses aggregated reports to improve its spam detection algorithms. The more users report, the better the system becomes.

Regular reporting also keeps your inbox organized. You spend less time sorting through junk and more time on important messages.

How To Report Spam In Outlook For Business (Exchange)

If your organization uses Exchange or Microsoft 365 Business, reporting spam may be handled by your IT team. Some companies use third-party spam filters. Check with your admin before reporting.

In most business environments, you can still use the Junk button. The email moves to your Junk folder, but the report may not go to Microsoft. Instead, it goes to your organization’s spam filter.

Some businesses enable the Report Message add-in. This adds a dedicated button for reporting phishing and junk to your security team.

Using The Report Message Add-In

If your organization has this add-in:

Select the suspicious email.
Click the Report Message button in the ribbon.
Choose Junk or Phishing.
Confirm the report.

This sends a copy to your organization’s security team for analysis.

How To Report Spam In Outlook For Legacy Versions (Outlook 2010, 2013, 2016)

Older versions of Outlook have similar steps:

Select the email.
On the Home tab, click the Junk dropdown.
Choose Report as Junk.

Right-clicking also works. The interface may look dated, but the functionality is the same.

How To Report Spam In Outlook For Office 365 Government

Government users have additional security. Reporting spam works the same as the standard desktop app. However, some features may be disabled by policy. Contact your IT department if you have questions.

How To Report Spam In Outlook For Personal Accounts (Outlook.com)

Personal accounts on Outlook.com have the simplest process:

Select the email.
Click the Junk button.
Choose Report as junk.

You can also use the Sweep feature to delete all emails from a sender at once.

How To Report Spam In Outlook Using Rules

Advanced users can create rules to automatically report spam:

Go to Settings > Mail > Rules.
Click Add new rule.
Set conditions like “From contains certain words.”
Choose action: “Move to Junk folder.”
Save the rule.

This automates reporting for known spam patterns.

How To Report Spam In Outlook For Shared Mailboxes

If you manage a shared mailbox, reporting spam works the same. Select the email and use the Junk button. The report applies to the shared mailbox’s filter.

How To Report Spam In Outlook For IMAP Accounts

IMAP accounts (like Gmail) in Outlook may not support the Junk button. Instead, use the web interface of your email provider. Outlook’s spam filter only works with Exchange, Microsoft 365, or Outlook.com accounts.

How To Report Spam In Outlook For POP3 Accounts

POP3 accounts also lack full spam reporting. You can manually move emails to a Junk folder, but the filter will not learn. Consider switching to IMAP or Outlook.com for better spam protection.

How To Report Spam In Outlook For Multiple Emails

To report several spam emails at once:

Hold Ctrl (Windows) or Command (Mac) and click each email.
Right-click one of the selected emails.
Choose Junk > Report as Junk.

This reports all selected emails simultaneously.

How To Report Spam In Outlook For Phishing Emails

Phishing emails are more dangerous than regular spam. Report them separately:

In Outlook desktop: Select the email, click Junk > Report as Phishing.
In Outlook.com: Select the email, click Junk > Report phishing.
In mobile: Tap the three dots, choose Report Phishing.

Phishing reports are sent to Microsoft’s security team for immediate action.

How To Report Spam In Outlook For Newsletters

If a newsletter becomes spam, report it. But first, try unsubscribing. If the unsubscribe link is broken or ignored, report it as junk. This helps others avoid the same sender.

How To Report Spam In Outlook For Attachments

Emails with suspicious attachments should be reported immediately. Do not open the attachment. Use the Junk button and select Report as Phishing if the email looks fraudulent.

How To Report Spam In Outlook For Calendar Invitations

Spam calendar invitations are common. To report them:

Open the calendar invitation.
Click Junk in the toolbar.
Choose Report as Junk.

This removes the invitation and reports the sender.

How To Report Spam In Outlook For Contact Requests

If you receive a spam contact request, ignore it. You can also block the sender. Reporting contact requests as spam is not directly supported, but you can report the email that contained the request.

How To Report Spam In Outlook For Teams Integration

Outlook and Teams are integrated. If you receive a spam email in Teams, report it through Outlook. The email will appear in your Outlook inbox if it was forwarded.

How To Report Spam In Outlook For Mac Outlook 365

The Mac version of Outlook 365 follows the same steps as Outlook for Mac. Use the Junk button or right-click menu. Keyboard shortcut Command + Shift + J works.

How To Report Spam In Outlook For Windows 11

Windows 11 users can use the Outlook desktop app or the new Outlook for Windows. The new Outlook has a simplified interface. Look for the Junk button in the toolbar. Right-clicking also works.

How To Report Spam In Outlook For Android Tablet

On an Android tablet, the Outlook app behaves like the phone version. Tap the email, then the three dots, then Report Junk. Swiping left also works.

How To Report Spam In Outlook For IPad

On iPad, the Outlook app has a split view. Select the email, tap the three dots, and choose Report Junk. You can also swipe left on the email in the list.

How To Report Spam In Outlook For Chromebook

Chromebook users can use Outlook on the web. Follow the steps for Outlook.com. The desktop app is not available on Chrome OS.

How To Report Spam In Outlook For Linux

Linux users can access Outlook through a browser. Use the web version. There is no native Outlook app for Linux.

How To Report Spam In Outlook For Offline Use

Reporting spam requires an internet connection. If you are offline, mark the email as junk manually. The report will be sent when you reconnect.

How To Report Spam In Outlook For Multiple Accounts

If you have multiple accounts in Outlook, select the correct account first. Then report the spam. Each account has its own Junk folder and filter.

How To Report Spam In Outlook For Shared Folders

Shared folders in Exchange can have spam reported by any user with permissions. The report affects the folder’s filter.

How To Report Spam In Outlook For Public Folders

Public folders are less common. Reporting spam in public folders works the same as regular folders. Use the Junk button.