Outlook Search Folders Move to Settings With New Filters on the Way

Microsoft Outlook has faced a rough few weeks, with users reporting broken POP accounts and other bugs that make the email client difficult to use. The problems appear linked to a recent Windows update, and while Microsoft has acknowledged some Outlook-related issues, a full fix has yet to roll out.

Despite the ongoing reliability concerns, the company continues to push ahead with new Outlook features, as outlined in the latest Microsoft 365 Roadmap.

Search Folders move to Settings in Outlook

According to the roadmap, Microsoft plans to move Search Folders into the Settings area of Outlook. The goal is to improve discoverability and better align Outlook with modern email organization workflows, especially for users managing large inboxes.

By relocating Search Folders, Microsoft aims to make advanced filtering tools easier to find, rather than keeping them buried in legacy menu structures that many users overlook.

New Search Folder types and filtering options

The update also introduces new Search Folder types designed to streamline inbox management. These include predefined views such as mail with attachments, old mail, large mail, and additional categories aimed at common cleanup and review tasks.

Users will also gain the option to filter Search Folders by specific mail folders, giving them more precise control over how messages get grouped and displayed. This should help users focus on relevant content without scanning entire inboxes or archives.

The feature remains in development, but Microsoft expects it to arrive in February for both desktop and web versions of Outlook.

In related news, Microsoft has also begun blocking Intune-managed email access on non-compliant devices, reinforcing its broader push toward stricter security and device management policies across its ecosystem.