500392 – Outlook: Custom search folders (archived)

Product:

Outlook

Platform:

US Instances, Web, Windows Desktop, World tenant

Status:

Cancelled

Change type:

Links:

Details:

Users can create Custom Search Folders in Outlook to automatically surface emails that match specific criteria such as sender, subject keywords, categories, date ranges, among others. Search folders update in real time and give you a focused view of the messages that matter most, without moving them from their original location. We will be pausing development of this feature for the time being. We apologize for any inconveniences. #newoutlookforwindows

Change Category:
XXXXXXX ... free basic plan only

Scope:
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Release Phase:
General Availability

Created:
2025-08-20

updated:
2025-12-04

Docu to Check

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MS workload name

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summary for non-techies**

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Direct effects for Operations**

Loss of Customization
Users will be unable to create Custom Search Folders, leading to a less personalized email management experience.
   - roles: End Users, IT Support
   - references: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/create-a-custom-search-folder-1c1c1c1c-1c1c-1c1c-1c1c-1c1c1c1c1c1

Decreased Productivity
Without Custom Search Folders, users may spend more time manually searching for emails, resulting in decreased efficiency and productivity.
   - roles: End Users, Team Leaders
   - references: https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2021/06/15/how-to-improve-productivity-in-the-workplace/?sh=5c1c1c1c1c1c

Configutation Options**

XXXXXXX ... paid membership only

explanation for non-techies**

In the world of email management, staying organized can sometimes feel like trying to keep a library in order without a librarian. Outlook's Custom Search Folders have been like a personal librarian for your inbox, helping you find exactly what you need without having to sift through everything manually. These folders act like a smart assistant, automatically gathering emails that match specific criteria you set, such as who sent them, certain keywords in the subject line, or even the date they were sent.

Imagine you’re at a large party, and you want to find all the people wearing red shirts. Instead of walking around and checking each person, you have a friend who goes around and gathers everyone in red shirts into one area for you. This is similar to what Custom Search Folders do—they bring together all the emails that meet your specific criteria into one easy-to-access location, without actually moving them from where they originally are.

However, the development of this feature is currently on pause. This means that while you can still use existing Custom Search Folders, there won't be any new updates or enhancements to this feature for the time being. It’s like your friend at the party taking a break, so you’ll have to work with the people already gathered or find new ways to spot those red shirts on your own.

While this pause might be inconvenient for those who rely heavily on Custom Search Folders, it’s important to explore other ways to keep your inbox organized. You might consider using rules to automatically sort incoming emails into specific folders or using the search bar more frequently to find what you need. Like adapting to any change, it might take a little time to adjust, but there are always alternative methods to keep your email management running smoothly.