How to View Multiple Inboxes at Once in Outlook 365

Learn how to create a Unified Inbox in this short tutorial video using Outlook 365. Have multiple email accounts each with their own inbox? Rather than constantly checking each inbox separately, merge them all together so you only need to look at one inbox. I show three different techniques, including using a search folder, writing a macro, and lastly setting up rules. Unfortunately, Outlook on the PC does not support a unified inbox out of the box. However, using these steps, you can easily create a one inbox view that aggregates all of your inboxes together.

For the Macro technique, use the following code:
~~~~~~~Create a unified inbox~~~~~~~
Sub UnifiedInbox()
Dim myOlApp As New Outlook.Application
txtSearch = "folder:Inbox received: (this week)"
myOlApp.ActiveExplorer.Search txtSearch, olSearchScopeAllFolders
Set myOlApp = Nothing
End Sub
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~Create a Unified Sent Folder~~~~~~~
Sub UnifiedSentbox()
Dim myOlApp As New Outlook.Application
txtSearch = "folder: (Sent Mail) sent: (this week)"
myOlApp.ActiveExplorer.Search txtSearch, olSearchScopeAllFolders
Set myOlApp = Nothing
End Sub
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As full disclosure, I work at Microsoft as a full-time employee.

[imagesbyraphael]

I used Outlook 2007 for many years until February 2022! It had a unified Inbox. After I finally upgraded to Outlook 2021, I was surprised to learn that there hasn't been a built in unified Inbox for over a decade despite requests from many users!

[JayDoRaD]

Thank you, but none of these "workarounds" are practicable. Why does microsoft refuse to add an all mail inbox on windows?

[lauraa]

Nothing like paying good money towards software that I have to "re-program" to make usable/logical. Completely ridiculous.

[Hariden-lzdn]

Hi! Just to point out that at 3:40 in the video, using method 1, when you click on the saved search, it actually applies it to 'current mailbox' again. So you have to then also click on 'all mailboxes', which just makes this method a tiny bit less nice to use.

But, I opted for option two, which works well for me. Thank you!

[CherylPhair]

oh my god... thank you. I have 8 emails I monitor and this has made my YEAR my FULL YEAR

[ccchase]

Desperately needed this to be less complicated than it is. Guess I'll resign to clicking several inboxes all day like an absolute cro magnon 👍

[michaelhulle]

Obviously I have a similar feeling to others - very unfortunate that this does not come in the native settings, but a really GREAT (can't emphasize enough how great it really is) solution video with multiple options for every style.

[CyanicCore]

If only this video appeared a few hours ago, two different app installations could have been avoided! While workarounds are not perfect, this resolves one of the app's biggest issues.

[jayjanetbeller]

GoDaddy just forced me to convert all my POP/SMTP accounts to Exchange, making each account a separate folder. You saved me tons of time with these techniques!

[lmrotbo]

Thank you. I have been a WLM user and loved the UNREAD Inbox all mailboxes view feature. All the new updates stepped on WLM and erased many subfolders. Now I can use outlook with the same ease that the WLM Essentials. Keep up the good work- I understood your instructions and was able to follow them.

[lorenzoo]

Kevin. I am a manufacturing guy who fell into this technology but was not raised in it. Yes, we used slide rules in school until the calculator.
therefore from my background i can say you did a perfect job here explaining my options and why, as well as leading me thru each and every step. You did not assume i knew some of the steps. (i.e. the save before closing comment). thank you so much.

[daveburrows]

Well, this explanation is the first that has allowed me to createa unified inbox in Outlook. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU... The lack of a standard unified inbox is hardly your fault.

[michaelmurphy]

You taught me more in 10 mins than all the online "courses" I took - combined!!!

[louromm]

I appreciate Kevin's video; he does a good job explaining this. The macro solution works best for me. But this is soooo Microsoft to make users go through this headache! WHY??? Old versions of Outlook had a unified Inbox/Sent Mail (I used Office2007 until recently). And most Microsoft competitors have a unified Inbox (like my iPhone mail). Why is it so hard for Microsoft to do something simple for it's overpaying customers? Wake up, it's 2020 - not 1990's anymore! Come-on guys!!!!

[observador]

Great job in explaining this process Kevin. But it's utterly ridiculous to leave out a built in unified unread, inbox and sent message folder feature. Wasn't that part of older releases of Outlook?

[michaelsobolev]

Outlook is a horrible app with inconsistent UI.

[miltonsbells]

Great explanation on how to view multiple inboxes at once! You have a very clear and concise way of explaining technical subjects that make complex issues simple.

[scottlinklater]

How is it possible that this isn't just a button built in to the program? It hurts my brain that companies that employ so many smart people can **** up basic stuff like this. Your explanation was really well articulated, it just shouldn't be required.

[scorbett]

Thanks for this, Kevin. I am terrible about keeping up with my personal email, especially during the work week, and this unified view through a macro is a game changer. I wish it was an embedded feature, but this is a good workaround. Well done!

[carolynschott]

Thank you thank you. Outlook used to allow a unified inbox easily. On my last laptop, I was able to juryrig something using POP3 accounts. But I was DREADING moving to a new computer and having to fight this battle again. The forwarding option is simple and should work perfectly for what I need!