The fastest way to stop spam in Outlook

The quickest action is to move a message to Junk, which trains Outlook's filter and removes similar messages automatically going forward. Right-click any spam email, select Junk, then choose Block Sender. That sender's future emails go straight to your Junk folder. For newsletters or marketing you no longer want, look for an Unsubscribe link at the bottom of the email — clicking it removes you from that list, though it takes a few days to take effect.

If spam is overwhelming, create a rule that catches it before it reaches your inbox. In Outlook on the web, open any spam message, click the three dots, select Create a rule, and tell Outlook to move messages from that sender or containing certain words straight to Junk. Desktop Outlook works the same way: go to Home tab, click Rules, then Create Rule.

Key Takeaways

  • Block individual senders by right-clicking spam and selecting Junk > Block Sender, which stops their future emails from reaching your inbox.
  • Create rules in Outlook to automatically send emails matching certain words or senders to your Junk folder without manual action.
  • Unsubscribe links at the bottom of marketing emails remove you from those lists, though the process takes several days.
  • Safe Senders and Safe Recipients lists let you whitelist people and domains so their emails never land in Junk by mistake.
  • Never reply to spam or click unsubscribe on messages you do not recognize, as this confirms your email is active and increases spam volume.

Using Outlook's Safe Senders and Safe Recipients lists

Outlook's filter sometimes catches legitimate emails and sends them to Junk. If you notice important messages disappearing, add those senders to your Safe Senders list so they always reach your inbox. In Outlook on the web, click the three dots on a message from that sender and select Add to Safe Senders. In desktop Outlook, go to Home > Junk > Junk Email Options, then click the Safe Senders tab and add the email address or domain.

You can also add entire domains to your Safe Senders list. If all emails from your company's domain keep landing in Junk, add the domain itself (for example, @yourcompany.com) rather than individual addresses. This prevents the filter from catching messages from colleagues you have not emailed before.

Setting up rules to catch spam patterns

Rules let you handle spam automatically without checking your inbox. If you receive repeated spam with the same word in the subject line — for example, "Congratulations, you won!" — create a rule that catches it. In desktop Outlook, go to Home > Rules > Create Rule. Check Subject contains, type the phrase, then select Move the message to a folder and choose Junk.

You can also create rules based on sender address, domain, or recipient. If spam always comes from addresses ending in a certain domain, add that domain to a rule. Rules run on all incoming mail, so they catch spam before you see it. You can create as many rules as you need, and Outlook processes them in the order you set.

Adjusting your Junk Email filter level

Outlook has three filter levels: Low, Standard, and High. Standard is the default and catches most spam without blocking legitimate mail. If spam is still reaching your inbox, switch to High. If important emails keep landing in Junk, lower it to Low. In Outlook on the web, click the settings gear, select View all Outlook settings, go to Mail > Junk email, and choose your filter level. In desktop Outlook, go to Home > Junk > Junk Email Options and select the Options tab.

High filtering is more aggressive and may catch some legitimate emails, so check your Junk folder regularly if you use it. Standard filtering works for most people and catches the majority of spam without false positives.

What to avoid when dealing with spam

Never reply to spam or click links inside it, even to unsubscribe. Replying confirms your email address is active and monitored, which increases the volume of spam you receive. The same applies to clicking "unsubscribe" on emails you do not recognize — legitimate marketing emails have real unsubscribe links, but spam often uses fake ones to verify your address.

Do not forward spam to Microsoft or your email provider unless they specifically ask you to. Instead, use Outlook's built-in report feature. In Outlook on the web, click the three dots and select Report phishing if the email looks like a scam, or Report junk for ordinary spam. This trains Outlook's filters without cluttering support channels.

Reporting phishing and scam emails

Phishing emails pretend to be from banks, PayPal, Microsoft, or other services and ask you to click a link or enter your password. These are more dangerous than ordinary spam and should be reported. In Outlook on the web, open the email, click the three dots, and select Report phishing. In desktop Outlook, go to Home > Junk > Report Phishing. Microsoft uses these reports to improve its filters and may investigate the sender.

If you clicked a link or entered information in a phishing email, change your password when ready and check your account for unauthorized activity. Enable two-factor authentication on important accounts like email and banking so a stolen password alone cannot access your account.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I recover emails I moved to Junk by mistake?

Yes. Open your Junk folder, find the email, right-click it, and select Move > Inbox or another folder. You can also select the sender and click Add to Safe Senders to prevent future emails from that person landing in Junk.

What is the difference between blocking a sender and creating a rule?

Blocking a sender sends their emails directly to Junk. A rule is more flexible — it can catch emails based on subject line, domain, or keywords, not just the sender's address. Use blocking for individual senders and rules for patterns of spam.

Will blocking a sender prevent them from emailing me at all?

No. Blocked emails still arrive on Microsoft's servers and go to your Junk folder. The sender does not receive a bounce-back message. You can still see and recover blocked emails if you check your Junk folder.

How do I stop emails from a domain I do not recognize?

Create a rule that catches the entire domain. In desktop Outlook, go to Home > Rules > Create Rule, check From, type the domain (for example, @spammydomain.com), and move matching messages to Junk. This catches all emails from that domain without blocking individual addresses.

Should I use a third-party spam filter with Outlook?

Outlook's built-in filter handles most spam effectively. Third-party filters add complexity and may conflict with Outlook's rules. Try Outlook's standard settings and filter level adjustments first. Only add a third-party filter if spam remains a problem after using all of Outlook's built-in tools.