If you’re using New Outlook, you’ll be delighted to hear that Microsoft has finally given us back the option to choose the order of our folders instead of forcing them into alphabetical order. As someone who’s been eagerly waiting for New Outlook custom folder order to return, I’m thrilled to show you exactly how to organise your email folders the way you want them.
Why This Feature Matters for New Outlook Users
When Microsoft first rolled out New Outlook, one of the most frustrating changes was that all email folders were back to being arranged in alphabetical order!
Classic Outlook had (finally) given us the functionality to manually arrange our folder around 2010.
It felt like a real step backwards to discover it had been removed. Returning us to the need to add characters at the beginning of the folder name to force it into the order we wanted.
Fortunately, Microsoft has listened to user feedback and restored this essential functionality.
How to Rearrange Folders in New Outlook
The process is refreshingly simple once you know how to do it. When you create folders in New Outlook, they’ll initially appear in the order you created them. To rearrange them into your preferred order, follow these steps:
Step 1: Select Your Folder Find the folder you want to move. You can click on it if you’d like, though it’s not strictly necessary.
Step 2: Drag and Drop Click, hold, and drag the folder to your desired position. You’ll see a line appear between existing folders – this shows you exactly where the folder will be placed when you release your mouse.
Step 3: Watch for Accidental Subfolders Be careful if you see a folder becoming highlighted during the drag process. This means you’re about to create a subfolder rather than simply reordering. If you see highlighting, adjust the mouse position until you see the line indicator instead.
Creating Intentional Subfolders
Of course, you might actually want to create subfolders to better organise your emails. This drag-and-drop method works perfectly for that too. Simply drag one folder onto another, and it becomes a subfolder. You can create multiple levels of organisation this way, putting frequently used folders exactly where you need them.
Fixing Folder Organisation Mistakes
Made an accidental subfolder? Don’t worry – it’s easily fixed. Simply click and drag the misplaced folder again. I recommend positioning it underneath a top-level folder, or if you want it back at the main level, scroll up and place it underneath your mailbox name. Just double-check the positioning before releasing your mouse to ensure it goes exactly where you want it.
Things to Keep in Mind
When changing the order for your Outlook folders:
- You can only move one folder at a time
- The click and drag requires a bit of precision when positioning folders
Tip: Neither of these things is new, it’s the same in Outlook, whether you’re sticking with Classic or have moved to New.
Making the Most of Your Email Organisation
Now that you can arrange folders in your preferred order, I recommend putting your most frequently used folders at the top of the list. This simple change can save you time throughout your working day, as you won’t need to scroll through every alphabetical folder to find what you need most often.
Whether you prefer grouping by project, priority, or frequency of use, you now have the flexibility to organise your New Outlook folders in whatever way works best for your workflow.
Written with the help of Claude AI from an original transcription.
Struggling with the transition from Classic to New Outlook?
I’ve been tracking the differences I discover in a simple spreadsheet – what’s been removed and what’s new. It’s free after joining my mailing list. Get the spreadsheet here.
YouTube Videos
New Outlook Settings: Where Did File – Options Go?
Set Your Work Location in Outlook – Show Remote vs Office Days Automatically
New Outlook: Stop Your Calendars Overlapping – Split View Tutorial
Rearrange Folders in New Outlook – Custom Folder Order is Back!
How to Change Calendar Colours in Outlook (New & Classic Outlook)
New Outlook Favourites: What’s Changed & How to Use Hidden Features
How to Add Bank Holidays to New Outlook Calendar
Drag & Drop Magic: Turn (New) Outlook Emails into Calendar Events Instantly
New Outlook Tips: Creating Contacts & Tasks from Emails (Primary vs Secondary Accounts)
Outlook on the Web vs New Outlook Desktop: What’s the Difference?
Stop Email Disasters! 2 Essential Outlook Settings Everyone Should Know
Hidden Outlook Tricks: How to Ignore & Sweep Away Unwanted Emails
Outlook Quick Steps: Turn Multiple Email Actions into One Click
Other New Outlook Posts
Where Are the Settings in New Outlook?
How to Set Your Work Location in New Outlook
Split Multiple Calendars in New Outlook: Stop the Overlapping Mess
Custom Folder Sorting Returns to New Outlook – Here’s How (current post)
Customise Your Outlook Calendar Colours for Better Organisation
New Outlook Favourites: Hidden Changes You Need to Know
Adding Public Holidays to New Outlook Calendar
How to Convert Outlook Emails to Calendar Events
New Outlook Removed Drag Options for Contacts and Tasks
Outlook Web vs Desktop: What You Need to Know
Make Email Mistakes Disappear With These Outlook Options
Ignore and Sweep – Outlook’s Features You Need to Know
Making use of Outlook Quick Steps to Save Time
Recent Posts
- Ready to Create Your First Microsoft Loop Workspace?
If you read last week’s blog, you’ll already know what Microsoft Loop is and who can access it. Now it’s time to get hands-on and create your first Microsoft Loop workspace. Don’t worry if you’re not sure where to start — by the end of this post, you’ll have your own workspace set up and… Read more: Ready to Create Your First Microsoft Loop Workspace? - Microsoft Loop – Time to Actually Use What’s Already in Your M365 Toolkit
If you’ve been asking yourself what is Microsoft Loop, you’re not alone. It’s one of those tools that quietly appeared in your Microsoft 365 apps and left you wondering, “what on earth is that?” In this post, I’m going to break it down in plain English so you can decide whether it’s worth exploring. So,… Read more: Microsoft Loop – Time to Actually Use What’s Already in Your M365 Toolkit - Busy But Not Out of Office? Teams Has You Covered
If you’ve ever wished there was a way to let people know you’re heads-down on something without setting up a full out of office, the Microsoft Teams status message is exactly what you need. It’s a small but mighty feature that sits quietly in Teams, waiting to be discovered. In this post, I’m walking you… Read more: Busy But Not Out of Office? Teams Has You Covered - The Quickest Way to Navigate Microsoft Teams
If you spend a lot of time in Microsoft Teams, you’ll know the struggle — endless scrolling through chats and channels trying to find the one you need. The Microsoft Teams GoTo command is here to fix that. It’s a simple keyboard shortcut that takes you straight where you need to go, no scrolling required.… Read more: The Quickest Way to Navigate Microsoft Teams - Can’t Find Your Unread Teams Messages? Try This First
Have you ever noticed a notification in Microsoft Teams telling you there’s an unread message, but no matter where you look, you just can’t track it down? You’re not alone — it’s one of those small but genuinely frustrating things that can eat up your time. The good news is there’s a really simple way… Read more: Can’t Find Your Unread Teams Messages? Try This First
new outlook custom folder order, how to organize folders in outlook, rearrange email folders in outlook