How To Change Favorites In Outlook

If you have been wondering how to change favorites in outlook, you are not alone. Many users want to customize the top folder list for quicker access. This guide walks you through every method step by step.

Favorites in Outlook let you pin your most-used folders to the top of the navigation pane. Changing them is simple once you know where to look. Let us get started.

Understanding Outlook Favorites

Outlook Favorites is a section at the top of the folder pane. It shows folders you use often, like your Inbox or Sent Items. You can add, remove, or reorder them as needed.

This feature works in Outlook 2016, 2019, 2021, and Microsoft 365. It also works in Outlook for Mac and the web version. The steps may vary slightly between versions.

Here is the complete process to modify your favorites list. Follow these steps for a quick update.

Adding A Folder To Favorites

Open Outlook and look at the left navigation pane.
Find the folder you want to add. It can be in your mailbox or a public folder.
Right-click the folder name.
Select “Add to Favorites” from the menu.
The folder now appears under the Favorites section.

You can also drag and drop a folder directly into the Favorites area. This method is faster for some users.

Removing A Folder From Favorites

Go to the Favorites section in the navigation pane.
Right-click the folder you want to remove.
Choose “Remove from Favorites.”
The folder disappears from the list but stays in your mailbox.

Removing a favorite does not delete the folder itself. It only hides it from the top section.

Reordering Favorites

You can rearrange folders in any order you like. Simply click and drag a folder to a new position within the Favorites list. Release the mouse to drop it there.

This works for all versions of Outlook. The change saves automatically.

Changing Favorites In Outlook For Mac

The process on a Mac is slightly different. Here is how to do it.

Adding Favorites On Mac

Open Outlook for Mac.
In the left sidebar, find the folder you want.
Right-click (or Control-click) the folder.
Select “Add to Favorites.”
The folder appears at the top of the sidebar.

Removing Favorites On Mac

Click the Favorites section in the sidebar.
Right-click the folder you want to remove.
Choose “Remove from Favorites.”
Done.

Mac users can also drag folders in and out of the Favorites area. It is very intuitive.

Using Favorites In Outlook On The Web

Outlook on the web (OWA) also supports favorites. The steps are similar but not identical.

Adding Favorites In OWA

Log in to Outlook on the web.
On the left, click the “Folders” icon if needed.
Right-click a folder.
Select “Add to favorites.”
The folder moves to the Favorites section at the top.

Removing Favorites In OWA

Hover over the folder in Favorites.
Click the star icon next to it.
The folder is removed from favorites.

You can also right-click and choose “Remove from favorites.” Both methods work.

Tips For Managing Outlook Favorites

Here are some practical tips to get the most out of this feature.

Keep only your most-used folders in favorites. Too many can clutter the list.
Use subfolders as favorites. You can add any folder, even nested ones.
Reorder favorites based on priority. Put your Inbox first if you check it most.
Sync favorites across devices. If you use the same account, favorites sync automatically.
Test dragging if right-clicking does not work. Some versions have bugs.

Common Issues And Fixes

Sometimes changing favorites does not work as expected. Here are solutions to frequent problems.

Favorites Not Showing Up

If the Favorites section is missing, you may have it hidden. Go to View > Folder Pane > Favorites. Make sure it is checked.

In Outlook 2016 and later, you can also reset the navigation pane. Go to File > Options > Advanced. Under “Outlook panes,” click “Navigation Pane” and reset.

Cannot Add Folder To Favorites

This usually happens with shared or public folders. Try dragging the folder instead of right-clicking. If that fails, check your permissions.

Some folders, like search folders, cannot be added to favorites. This is by design.

Favorites Not Syncing

If your favorites do not sync between devices, check your account settings. Make sure you are signed in with the same Microsoft 365 account.

Also, try restarting Outlook. Sometimes a simple restart fixes sync issues.

Advanced Customization For Favorites

For power users, there are a few extra tricks.

Using Quick Steps With Favorites

You can create Quick Steps that move emails to favorite folders. This saves time for repetitive tasks.

Go to Home > Quick Steps.
Create a new Quick Step.
Choose “Move to folder” and select a favorite.
Assign a shortcut key if desired.

Adding Favorites To The Ribbon

You cannot directly add favorites to the ribbon, but you can pin folders to the Quick Access Toolbar. Right-click a folder and choose “Add to Quick Access Toolbar.”

This is not the same as favorites, but it gives you another way to access folders quickly.

Using Favorites With Rules

You can set up rules that move emails to favorite folders automatically. Go to File > Manage Rules & Alerts. Create a rule that moves messages to a specific folder.

This keeps your Inbox clean and your favorites organized.

How Favorites Differ From Pinned Folders

Some users confuse favorites with pinned folders. Here is the difference.

Favorites appear at the top of the folder pane. They are part of Outlook’s navigation.
Pinned folders are in the Quick Access Toolbar. They are separate from the folder list.
Favorites sync across devices. Pinned folders do not always sync.
You can have both. Use favorites for email folders and pinned for other items.

Changing Favorites In Outlook For Mobile

The Outlook mobile app also supports favorites. Here is how to manage them.

On IPhone Or IPad

Open the Outlook app.
Tap the folder icon at the bottom.
Find the folder you want to favorite.
Swipe left on it and tap the star icon.
The folder appears under Favorites.

On Android

Open Outlook for Android.
Tap the hamburger menu (three lines) at the top left.
Long-press a folder.
Select “Add to favorites.”
The folder moves to the top.

To remove a favorite on mobile, swipe left again or long-press and choose “Remove from favorites.”

Best Practices For Organizing Favorites

A well-organized favorites list improves productivity. Here are some best practices.

Limit favorites to 5-7 folders. Too many defeats the purpose.
Group related folders together. For example, put all project folders next to each other.
Use descriptive folder names. Rename folders if needed to make them clear.
Update favorites regularly. Remove folders you no longer use.
Use favorites for both email and calendar folders. You can favorite your calendar too.

How To Reset Favorites To Default

If you want to start fresh, you can reset your favorites. This removes all customizations.

Close Outlook.
Press Windows + R to open Run.
Type “outlook.exe /resetnavpane” and press Enter.
Outlook opens with default navigation settings.

This command resets the entire navigation pane, not just favorites. Use it with caution.

For Mac, there is no simple reset. You need to manually remove all favorites and add them back.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do I Change Favorites In Outlook For Multiple Accounts?

Each account has its own favorites list. Switch between accounts in the navigation pane and change favorites separately.

Can I Change Favorites In Outlook Without Using A Mouse?

Yes. Use keyboard shortcuts. Press Ctrl+6 to focus the folder pane, then use arrow keys to navigate. Right-click with the context menu key.

Why Did My Favorites Disappear In Outlook?

This can happen after an update or if the navigation pane is corrupted. Try restarting Outlook or resetting the navigation pane as shown above.

How Do I Change Favorites In Outlook For Shared Mailboxes?

Shared mailboxes appear in the folder list. Right-click the shared folder and add it to favorites. It works the same as personal folders.

Can I Change The Order Of Favorites In Outlook On The Web?

Yes. In OWA, drag and drop folders within the Favorites section to reorder them. The change saves automatically.

Final Thoughts On Managing Outlook Favorites

Changing your favorites in Outlook is a small change that makes a big difference. It saves you time every day by putting important folders front and center.

Remember that you can add, remove, and reorder favorites anytime. The steps are simple once you practice them a few times.

If you run into issues, check the common fixes above. Most problems are easy to solve.

Now you know exactly how to change favorites in outlook. Go ahead and customize your list to match your workflow. You will wonder why you did not do it sooner.

For further reading, explore Outlook’s folder management features. You can also learn about Quick Steps and rules to automate tasks. These tools work great with favorites.

Stay organized and keep your email under control. A few minutes spent on favorites setup pays off every day.