Outlook is sorting your emails into two tabs, and you want them in one place. If you’re tired of checking both “Focused” and “Other” inboxes, you’re not alone. This guide shows you exactly How To Get Rid Of Focused And Other In Outlook for good.
Microsoft’s Focused Inbox feature was designed to help you prioritize important messages. But for many users, it just adds confusion. You miss emails, waste time switching tabs, or worry something urgent got buried in “Other.”
The good news? Turning it off is simple. Whether you use Outlook on Windows, Mac, web, or mobile, we have the steps. Let’s get your inbox back to a single, unified view.
What Is Focused Inbox And Why You Might Want To Remove It
Focused Inbox splits your email into two tabs. “Focused” shows messages Outlook thinks are important. “Other” shows everything else—newsletters, social updates, and less critical mail.
This sounds helpful, but it has downsides. Outlook’s algorithm isn’t perfect. Important emails from clients or colleagues can land in “Other.” You might not notice them for hours or days.
Also, switching between tabs slows you down. If you process a lot of email, a single inbox is faster. You see everything chronologically and can decide what matters.
Turning off Focused Inbox merges both tabs into one. You get a traditional inbox where all messages appear in order. No more guessing or missing critical communication.
How To Get Rid Of Focused And Other In Outlook
Here is the complete process for every major Outlook version. Follow the section that matches your setup.
On Outlook For Windows (Microsoft 365 Or Office 2019/2021)
This is the most common desktop version. The steps are straightforward.
- Open Outlook on your Windows computer.
- Click the View tab at the top ribbon.
- In the “Arrangement” group, find the Show Focused Inbox button.
- Click it. The button will toggle off, and your inbox will merge into one view.
That’s it. Your inbox now shows all emails in a single list. No more tabs.
If you don’t see the button, make sure you’re looking at your main inbox folder. The option is only available when viewing the Inbox.
On Outlook For Mac
The Mac version works slightly differently but is just as easy.
- Open Outlook on your Mac.
- Go to the menu bar at the top of the screen.
- Click Organize (or sometimes View depending on your version).
- Select Focused Inbox from the dropdown menu.
- Click Turn Off in the submenu.
Your inbox will immediately revert to a single view. You can verify by checking that the “Focused” and “Other” tabs are gone.
On Outlook On The Web (Outlook.com Or Office 365 Web)
If you use Outlook in a browser, the setting is in your mailbox options.
- Log into Outlook on the web (outlook.com or your work portal).
- Click the gear icon in the top-right corner to open Settings.
- At the bottom of the Settings pane, click View all Outlook settings.
- In the new window, go to Mail > Layout.
- Scroll down to the “Focused Inbox” section.
- Uncheck the box that says Sort messages into Focused and Other.
- Click Save at the top.
Your inbox will refresh. All emails now appear in one feed. You might need to reload the page to see the change.
On The Outlook Mobile App (IOS And Android)
The mobile app also has Focused Inbox enabled by default. Here’s how to disable it.
- Open the Outlook app on your phone.
- Tap your profile picture or the hamburger menu (three lines) in the top-left corner.
- Tap the gear icon at the bottom of the menu to open Settings.
- Under “Mail,” tap Focused Inbox.
- Toggle the switch to Off.
The change applies immediately. Your inbox will show all messages in a single list. No more swiping between tabs.
What Happens After You Turn Off Focused Inbox
Once you disable Focused Inbox, your email organization changes. Here’s what to expect.
- All emails appear in one chronological list. Newest messages are at the top.
- You no longer see the “Focused” and “Other” tabs at the top of the inbox.
- Emails that were in “Other” will now appear mixed with your regular messages.
- Outlook stops learning from your moves. It won’t try to sort future emails.
- You can always re-enable Focused Inbox later if you change your mind.
Some users worry they’ll lose emails from “Other.” Don’t worry. Nothing is deleted. All messages are just merged into one view.
Alternative: Train Focused Inbox Instead Of Turning It Off
If you don’t want to fully disable Focused Inbox, you can train it. This helps Outlook learn which emails are important to you.
How To Move Emails Between Tabs
When an email is in the wrong tab, you can move it manually.
- On desktop: Right-click the email and select Move to Focused or Move to Other.
- On web: Right-click or use the three-dot menu, then choose the same option.
- On mobile: Tap the email, then tap the three dots and select Move to Focused or Move to Other.
Outlook remembers your choices. Over time, it gets better at sorting. But this takes weeks of consistent training.
Pros And Cons Of Training Vs. Turning Off
Training is good if you like the idea of smart sorting but want better accuracy. It works well for people who get lots of newsletters but still want to see them.
Turning off is better if you want complete control and no surprises. It’s simpler and requires no ongoing effort.
Most power users prefer turning it off. They rely on rules, folders, and search instead of algorithmic sorting.
Common Issues When Removing Focused Inbox
Sometimes the setting doesn’t stick or the tabs reappear. Here are fixes for common problems.
Option Grayed Out Or Missing
If the “Show Focused Inbox” button is grayed out in Outlook for Windows, try this:
- Make sure you are viewing your main Inbox folder, not a subfolder or search results.
- Restart Outlook completely.
- Update Outlook to the latest version via File > Office Account > Update Options.
Focused Inbox Keeps Turning Back On
This can happen if you have multiple devices. Outlook syncs settings across devices. If you turn it off on your phone but not your computer, it may re-enable.
Check all your devices and turn it off on each one. Also check Outlook on the web, as that setting often overrides others.
Emails Still Appear Separated After Turning Off
Sometimes the view doesn’t refresh immediately. Try these steps:
- Click the View tab and toggle “Show Focused Inbox” on and off again.
- Restart Outlook.
- Clear your Outlook cache (search online for instructions specific to your version).
How To Keep Your Inbox Organized Without Focused Inbox
Once you remove Focused Inbox, you need other ways to manage email volume. Here are practical strategies.
Use Rules To Automatically Sort Emails
Outlook rules let you move, flag, or delete emails automatically. For example, you can move all newsletters to a “Read Later” folder.
- Go to File > Manage Rules & Alerts.
- Click New Rule.
- Choose a template like “Move messages from someone to a folder.”
- Set conditions (sender, subject, etc.) and actions.
- Name the rule and click Finish.
Rules are more reliable than Focused Inbox because you control the logic. They work silently in the background.
Use Categories And Flags
Color categories help you visually group emails. Flags mark items for follow-up.
- Right-click an email and choose Categorize to assign a color.
- Click the flag icon to mark an email as a task.
- Use the “To-Do Bar” in Outlook to see all flagged items in one place.
Search Instead Of Sorting
When you have a single inbox, search becomes your best friend. Use keywords, sender names, or date ranges to find emails fast.
Outlook’s search bar is powerful. Type “from:john” to see all emails from John. Or “hasattachments:yes” to find files.
Use Quick Steps For Repetitive Actions
Quick Steps let you perform multiple actions with one click. For example, you can create a step that moves an email to a folder and marks it as read.
- Go to the Home tab and find the Quick Steps group.
- Click Create New.
- Choose actions like “Move to Folder” and “Mark as Read.”
- Give it a name and assign a shortcut key.
Frequently Asked Questions About Focused Inbox
Does Turning Off Focused Inbox Delete Any Emails?
No. All emails remain in your inbox. They are just no longer separated into tabs. Nothing is deleted or hidden.
Can I Turn Focused Inbox Back On Later?
Yes. You can re-enable it anytime by following the same steps and toggling the setting back on. Your previous training data may still be there.
Why Does Outlook Keep Putting Emails In “Other” Even After I Move Them?
Outlook learns slowly. It takes multiple moves of the same sender before it adjusts. If you’re frustrated, it’s easier to just turn off Focused Inbox.
Does Focused Inbox Work The Same On All Devices?
Yes, the feature is consistent across Windows, Mac, web, and mobile. Turning it off on one device usually syncs to others, but it’s best to check each one.
Will I Miss Important Emails If I Turn Off Focused Inbox?
No. In fact, you’re less likely to miss emails because everything is in one place. You see all messages as they arrive, not just the ones Outlook deems important.
Final Thoughts On Managing Your Outlook Inbox
Deciding How To Get Rid Of Focused And Other In Outlook is a personal choice. For many, the single inbox is simpler and more reliable. You don’t have to trust an algorithm with your communication.
The steps in this guide work for all current versions of Outlook. If you run into trouble, restart the app or check for updates. The setting is usually easy to find.
Once you switch, give yourself a few days to adjust. You might feel overwhelmed at first by the flood of emails. But with rules, categories, and search, you’ll quickly regain control.
Your inbox should work for you, not the other way around. Turning off Focused Inbox is one small change that can make a big difference in your daily workflow.
Try it today. You can always revert if you miss the tabs. But most users find that a unified inbox is all they ever needed.