Applies ToOutlook for Microsoft 365 Outlook 2024 Outlook 2021 Outlook 2019 Outlook 2016 Outlook 2013 Outlook Web App for Office 365 Outlook Web App for Office 365 Small Business Microsoft 365 admin Outlook.com Outlook Web App Light Outlook on the web for Exchange Server 2016 Outlook on the web for Exchange Server 2019

Last updated 17 December, 2018

Note: If you don't see a Clutter folder in your mailbox, you might have the Focused Inbox option. See Focused Inbox for Outlook for more information.

Turn off Clutter in Outlook 2016

  1. In Outlook 2016, right-click the Clutter folder and the select Manage Clutter. (If you don't see the Manage Clutter option, Clutter may have been disabled for your organization or you may be using Focused Inbox now. See the next section for more options.) 

  2. Sign in to Outlook on the web using your work or school account. For help, see Sign in to Outlook on the web.

    This will take you directly to the Clutter options page.

  3. Either uncheck the box Separate items identified as clutter or select the option Don't separate items identified as Clutter depending on which option you see on the Clutter options page.

    Clutter options

    To turn off clutter, clear the selections on this page and then choose Save.

  4. Click Save to turn off Clutter.

The Clutter folder remains in Outlook even after you turn off the feature.

Turn off Clutter in Outlook on the web

  1. Sign in to Outlook on the web. For help, see Sign in to Outlook on the web.

  2. At the top of the page, select the App launcher The app launcher icon in Office 365 > Outlook.

    The Microsoft 365 app launcher with the Outlook app highlighted.

  3. At the top of the page, select Settings Settings: update your profile, install software and connect it to the cloud, and under Your app settings, select Mail.

  4. Under Automatic processing, select Clutter.

    A screenshot of the cursor hovring over Clutter in the Settings menu.

  5. Either uncheck the box Separate items identified as clutter or select the option Don't separate items identified as Clutter depending on which option you see on the Clutter options page.

    Clutter options

    To turn off clutter, clear the selections on this page and then choose Save.

  6. Click Save to turn off Clutter.

The Clutter folder remains in Outlook even after you turn off the feature.

Turn on Clutter

Tip: If you're a Microsoft 365 admin and options to turn off/on Clutter disappeared for your users, please see Configure Clutter for your organization for instructions to re-enable Clutter.

If Focused Inbox is enabled for your organization, Clutter won't work. If you'd prefer to use Clutter over Focused Inbox, use the following steps.

Steps to turn on Clutter:

  1. Sign in to Outlook on the web. For help, see Sign in to Outlook on the web.

  2. At the top of the page, select the App launcher The app launcher icon in Office 365 > Outlook.

    The Microsoft 365 app launcher with the Outlook app highlighted.

  3. At the top of the page, select Settings Settings: update your profile, install software and connect it to the cloud, and under Your app settings, select Mail > Layout > Focused Inbox. Choose Don't sort messages.

  4. Refresh your browser.

  5. On the navigation bar, return to Settings Settings: update your profile, install software and connect it to the cloud and the Clutter options should now be available: Settings Settings: update your profile, install software and connect it to the cloud > Mail > Automatic processing > Clutter.

  6. Choose Separate items identified as Clutter > Save.

See Also

Use Clutter to sort low-priority messages in Outlook

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