How to Create a Unified Inbox View in Outlook

Using the Search bar is the easiest way

6 min. read

Updated onFebruary 13, 2024

updated onFebruary 13, 2024

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If you have multiple email accounts configured in your Outlook, each would have a separate Inbox. You need to juggle between the inboxes to keep a check on the incoming emails and stay updated with the communication.

To reduce the hassle, you can create a unified inbox in Outlook to combine all inboxes from different email clients.

In this guide, we will discuss methods with step-by-step instructions to merge Outlook accounts to streamline communication.

What is a unified inbox in Outlook?

A unified inbox in Outlook is a common inbox with all of your email accounts, where you’ll receive messages from all of your email addresses. The benefits of having one are:

In Outlook 2016 and later versions, there’s also a similar feature calledFocused Inbox, but it works for one email address at a time. Here’s how toenable or disable it.

How can I create a unified inbox view in Outlook?

If you are looking for ways to combine inboxes in Outlook, know that there is no straightforward way to do it, but there are various workarounds to get the Outlook combined inbox view for better email management.

1. Use the Search bar

Once you have input a search query, you can access it in the future by clicking the Search bar, and choosing theRecent Searchesoption, thereby merging your inboxes on Outlook whenever you want.

Sometimes when you change settings or adjust filters, ifyou notice some emails have disappeared from the results, to fix that, you should try to adjust the filters or check your account settings.

2. Create a rule

First, you will have to create a folder. Here’s how to do that:

Now after creating a folder, you can create a rule with these steps:

The rule will be applied to the selected email account in a couple of minutes. Follow Step1to10to add all the email accounts you want to get a unified view.

Once done, all the Inbox emails will sync and appear in your Unified Inbox folder; you get to see all the important emails in the folder even if theInbox button is not workingfor you.

3. Use Visual Basic Code (Macros)

First, you will have to change the Macro settings:

After changing the settings, you can use the VBA, here’s how you can do that:

In the end, after changing the Macro settings and using VBA, you can run the code with the next steps:

The results displayed would be similar to the ones that we saw in the Search bar method. You can use either of them.

However, with time the query from the search bar will drop off the list as you search for other things. Therefore, the macros method is useful as it saves the query, and you can run it whenever you want.

But keep in mind that using macros in Outlook can sometimes lead to small errors, such asOutlook is not updating inbox, but we have dedicated guide addressing that.

If you are facing any problems or have any questions while following the instructions, feel free to mention them in the comments section. We will be happy to help!

How to Create a Unified Inbox View in Outlook#

What is a unified inbox in Outlook?#

How can I create a unified inbox view in Outlook?#

1. Use the Search bar#

2. Create a rule#

3. Use Visual Basic Code (Macros)#