Outlook Not Moving Emails to Folder: How to Fix

Outlook not moving emails to a folder can disrupt how you organize messages. Sometimes, it’s the result of corrupted rules, unexpected sync issues, or restrictions that stop messages from being transferred. Errors like Outlook cannot move the items or cases where rules are not moving email to folder are common examples. In more severe situations, Outlook may refuse to move or even prevent folder changes altogether.

This guide explains the most likely reasons behind these problems and shows you effective ways to fix them.

How do I force emails to a folder in Outlook?

1. Create Inbox Rules

1. Right-click the specific message you want to set a rule for in your message list.
2. Click on Message and select Rules.

   

3. Click on the From (sender) check box in the Create rule dialog box.
4. Then, choose your preferred folder to which messages from the sender will get moved, then click OK twice.

   

And the rules will be applied to your incoming messages. This should fix your Outlook not moving emails to folder rule.

2. Repair Corrupt PST Outlook File

Tip

Outlook has provoked some issues in the past, that’s why software specialized in Outlook repairs was created. Kernel for Outlook PST Repair is a tool that we hope will solve this issue.

It provides mailbox recovery with a complete structure like folders, inboxes, contacts, drafts, journals, etc. This tool will process all files and remove any existing corruption.

1. Start the Microsoft Outlook client and click on the File.
2. Click on Account Settings.

   

3. Click on the Data Files tab in the Account Settings window.

   

4. Highlight the Outlook data file (.PST), then click on Open File Location.
5. Right-click on the PST file, then click on Properties.

   

6. If your PST file has grown more extensive, you can repair it with an inbuilt utility known as Scanpst.exe.

   

7. Exit Outlook and check for Scanpst.exe in the specified Outlook location below: Outlook 2019: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\Office19 Outlook 2016: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\OffiRepair Outlook 2013: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office15 Outlook 2010: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office14 Outlook 2007: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office12
8. Open the exe file and click Browse to open the corrupt PST file.
9. To begin scanning, click on the Start button.
10. Click on Repair to fix the errors displayed.
11. After the Repair, launch Microsoft Outlook with the repaired PST file.

You can now open Outlook to check whether the error is fixed.

3. Create a new Outlook profile

1. Start the Microsoft Outlook client and click on the File.
2. Select Account Settings and then click on Manage Profiles.

   

3. Right-click to Show Profiles and click on Add button.

   

4. Set a new name for the Profile in the Profile name box, then click on the OK button to confirm.

   

You can now check if the outlook emails moved to folders still appear in the inbox.

4. Clean All Rules for your email

1. Close the Outlook client.
2. Press Windows + R to begin the Run prompt.
3. Type in outlook.exe /cleanrules in the prompt and press Enter.

   

This should delete all your rules, even where you have overlapping rules. Then, you can set new rules.

5. Restart Outlook

1. Hold down the Ctrl and Alt keys together and press the Delete key.
2. Click Task Manager on the new screen.
3. Right-click on Outlook in the list of running programs, then click on End Task to close Outlook.

   

4. Restart Outlook and check if the issue is fixed; if not, you can troubleshoot the Outlook client.
5. Press Windows + R and enter outlook.exe /resetnavpane in the Run dialog box.

   

6. Press Enter to run Outlook.

You can work through any fixes above to know which works best for you.

6. Disable Conflicting Add-ins

Add-ins sometimes interfere with Outlook rules and folder actions.

1. Press Windows + R, type outlook.exe /safe, and press Enter.
2. Try moving an email to a folder. If it works, an add-in is the cause.
3. In Outlook, go to File > Options > Add-ins.
4. At the bottom, choose COM Add-ins > Go.
5. Uncheck suspicious add-ins and restart Outlook.

7. Check Folder Permissions

If Outlook cannot move the items or Outlook couldn’t move folder, permissions may be restricted.

1. Right-click the folder > Properties.
2. Select the Permissions tab.
3. Ensure your account has Owner or at least Editor rights.
4. Apply the changes and restart Outlook.

8. Clear the Sync Issues Folder

If Outlook does not move emails to folder consistently, sync logs may be bloated.

1. In the folder list, expand Sync Issues.
2. Right-click Conflicts, Local Failures, and Server Failures.
3. Choose Empty Folder for each.
4. Restart Outlook and test moving messages again.

9. Rebuild the OST File

A damaged OST often prevents smooth email movement between folders.

1. Close Outlook.
2. Navigate to %localappdata%\Microsoft\Outlook.
3. Locate the .ost file for your account and rename it (e.g., old.ost).
4. Reopen Outlook — it will generate a fresh file automatically.

10. Update Outlook and Windows

Outdated versions can cause Outlook rules not moving email to folder or messages failing to transfer.

1. In Outlook, go to File > Office Account > Update Options > Update Now.
2. Run Windows Update from Settings to install the latest patches.
3. Restart your device and test again.

Why are my Outlook folders not syncing?

This could result from poor internet connectivity or some other reasons that the content and folders in Outlook do not get updated automatically.

Hence, it will prevent Outlook from syncing the folder. Also, if the OST files are corrupt, the offline works may not sync with the other folders when the connection is turned on.

Syncing might also be responsible for creating duplicate emails. Our guide on how to delete duplicate emails in Outlook will help you fix that.

These are the best fixes for Outlook not moving emails to folder problems. Once the steps highlighted have been followed, all your emails should sync without hassles.

You can also check our detailed guide on fixing disappearing emails if you find some of your emails are missing on Outlook.

If you have managed to fix the issue, you might also be interested in reading our guide on how to color code Outlook emails for better viewing.

Leave your comments and suggestions in the section below. We’d like to hear from you.