How to select multiple emails in outlook

Managing emails efficiently is crucial in today’s fast-paced digital world. Outlook, one of the most popular email management applications, offers numerous features that help users stay organized. One such feature is the ability to select multiple emails at once, saving you valuable time and effort. In this article, we will guide you through the simple steps to select multiple emails in Outlook. Whether you need to delete, archive, or move multiple emails to a specific folder, this handy feature will streamline your email management process.

Step 1: Launch Outlook and login to your email account. Make sure you are on the main Mail tab.

Step 2: In your inbox, hold down the Ctrl key (Windows) or Command key (Mac) on your keyboard.

Step 3: While holding down the key, click on each email you want to select. You will notice that each selected email is highlighted.

Tips: To select a range of emails, you can click on the first email, hold down the Shift key, and then click on the last email in the range.

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Step 4: Once you have selected all the emails you need, you can perform various actions on them. Right-click on one of the highlighted emails to access a dropdown menu with options such as delete, move, or reply.

Additional Tip: If you want to quickly select all emails in your inbox, you can use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + A (Windows) or Command + A (Mac).

Mastering the skill of selecting multiple emails can significantly enhance your productivity in Outlook. Whether you need to manage a heavy workload, clean up your inbox, or prioritize specific emails, this feature will become an essential part of your daily email routine. Start implementing these steps today and experience a more efficient and organized email management process in Outlook.

Tips for selecting multiple emails in Outlook

Managing a large number of emails in Outlook can be time-consuming, especially when you need to select multiple emails at once. Here are some helpful tips to make the process faster and more efficient:

1. Using the Shift key

One of the simplest ways to select multiple emails is by using the Shift key. Hold down the Shift key on your keyboard while clicking on the first and last email you want to select. This will highlight all emails in between them.

2. Using the Ctrl key

If the emails you want to select are not consecutive, you can use the Ctrl key. Simply hold down the Ctrl key and click on each email you want to select. This allows you to select multiple non-contiguous emails at once.

Note: While using the Shift or Ctrl key to select emails, you can also use other functions like Reply or Delete to apply the action to all the selected emails simultaneously.

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3. Selecting all emails in a folder

If you want to select all emails in a specific folder, you can use the Ctrl+A shortcut. Simply click inside the folder and press Ctrl+A on your keyboard. This will select all the emails in the folder at once.

Keep in mind that these tips apply to the desktop version of Outlook. The process may vary slightly if you are using the web or mobile version.

By using these tips, you can save a significant amount of time and effort when selecting multiple emails in Outlook. Apply these techniques to enhance your email management skills and increase productivity.

How to select multiple emails at once

In Microsoft Outlook, you can quickly and easily select multiple emails at once by following these simple steps:

Method 1: Selecting consecutive emails

  1. Open Microsoft Outlook and navigate to your inbox.
  2. Click on the first email you want to select.
  3. Hold down the Shift key on your keyboard.
  4. Scroll down or up to the last email you want to select.
  5. Click on the last email while still holding down the Shift key.
  6. All the emails between the first and last email will now be selected.

Method 2: Selecting non-consecutive emails

  1. Open Microsoft Outlook and navigate to your inbox.
  2. Hold down the Ctrl key on your keyboard.
  3. Click on each email that you want to select. You can click on the emails in any order.
  4. Release the Ctrl key when you have selected all the desired emails.
  5. All the selected emails will remain highlighted.

Once you have selected multiple emails, you can perform various actions on them, such as moving them to a different folder, deleting them, or marking them as read or unread. This can be especially useful if you receive a lot of email and need to manage your inbox efficiently.

Shortcut Action
Ctrl + Shift + V Move selected emails to a folder
Del Delete selected emails
Ctrl + Q Mark selected emails as read
Ctrl + U Mark selected emails as unread

By following these simple steps, you can save time and easily manage your email by selecting multiple emails at once in Microsoft Outlook.

Sorting emails by sender or subject

If you have a lot of emails in your Outlook inbox, it can be difficult to find the one you need. Fortunately, Outlook provides a feature that allows you to sort your emails by sender or subject, making the process much easier.

To sort your emails by sender, click on the “From” field at the top of your inbox. This will automatically group your emails based on the sender’s name. You can also sort them in reverse order by clicking on the “From” field again.

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If you want to sort your emails by subject, click on the “Subject” field at the top of your inbox. This will group your emails based on the subject line, making it easier to find related emails. Like sorting by sender, you can also sort by subject in reverse order by clicking on the “Subject” field again.

Sorting your emails by sender or subject not only helps you find emails quicker, but it also allows you to organize your inbox in a way that makes sense to you. Whether you need to locate emails from a specific sender or find all the emails related to a certain topic, sorting your emails in Outlook is a simple and effective way to stay organized.

Filtering emails by date or category

In Outlook, you have the option to filter your emails based on their date or category. This can be a useful feature if you need to find specific emails among a large volume of messages. Here’s how you can filter your emails:

  • Date filtering: To filter your emails by date, go to the search bar at the top of the Outlook window and type “received:” followed by the specific date or date range. For example, typing “received: today” will show all emails received today, while typing “received: this week” will show all emails received within the current week. You can also specify a custom date range, such as “received: 01/01/2022..01/31/2022”, to filter emails within a specific period.
  • Category filtering: Outlook allows you to categorize your emails using different colors to help you organize them better. To filter emails by category, click on the “Filter” option located at the top of the Outlook window. From the dropdown menu, select the desired category you want to filter by. This will display only emails that have been assigned that particular category, making it easier for you to locate them.

By filtering emails based on date or category, you can effectively manage your inbox and find the messages you need more efficiently.

Using keyboard shortcuts for faster selection

If you want to save even more time while selecting multiple emails in Outlook, you can take advantage of keyboard shortcuts. These shortcuts allow you to quickly navigate through your inbox and highlight specific emails without using your mouse. Here are some useful keyboard shortcuts for selecting multiple emails:

  • CTRL + Click: Hold down the CTRL key and click on each email you want to select. This will highlight each email as you click on it.
  • SHIFT + Click: Hold down the SHIFT key and click on the first and last email of a consecutive group. This will highlight all the emails in between as well.
  • CTRL + A: Press CTRL and the A key together to select all emails in your inbox.
  • CTRL + SHIFT + Arrow Keys: Hold down the CTRL and SHIFT keys together, then use the arrow keys to quickly navigate through your emails while selecting them. Pressing the right arrow key will highlight the next email, while pressing the left arrow key will unselect the previous email.
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By using these keyboard shortcuts, you can quickly select multiple emails in Outlook without the need to manually click on each email individually. This can save you valuable time and make your email management more efficient.

Selecting emails across different folders

In Microsoft Outlook, you can easily select multiple emails within a single folder by holding the Ctrl key and clicking on each email or by using the Shift key to select a range of consecutive emails. However, what if you need to select emails that are scattered across different folders?

To select emails across different folders in Outlook, you can use the search feature to quickly find and select the desired emails. Here’s how:

  1. Open Outlook and navigate to the folder where you want to begin your selection.
  2. Click on the search bar located at the top of the Outlook window.
  3. Type in the criteria for the emails you want to select. You can search by sender, subject, date, or any other attribute.
  4. Press Enter or click on the magnifying glass icon to start the search.
  5. Outlook will display the search results in a new window. Review the results to ensure they include the emails you want to select.
  6. Hold the Ctrl key on your keyboard and click on each email you want to select. This will add them to your selection.
  7. Once you have selected all the desired emails, you can perform actions on them, such as moving them to a different folder, deleting them, or marking them as read/unread.

Note: To select a consecutive range of emails in the search results, you can hold the Shift key and click on the first and last email in the range. This will select all emails in between.

By using the search feature in Outlook, you can easily select multiple emails across different folders, saving time and effort compared to manually navigating through each folder.


Hopefully, this guide has helped you understand how to select emails across different folders in Outlook. Now you can efficiently manage your emails, regardless of their locations within your mailbox.

Disclaimer: The information in this article is based on Microsoft Outlook 2016 for Windows. Different versions or platforms may have slight variations in the options or features mentioned.

Harrison Clayton
Harrison Clayton

Meet Harrison Clayton, a distinguished author and home remodeling enthusiast whose expertise in the realm of renovation is second to none. With a passion for transforming houses into inviting homes, Harrison's writing at https://thehuts-eastbourne.co.uk/ brings a breath of fresh inspiration to the world of home improvement. Whether you're looking to revamp a small corner of your abode or embark on a complete home transformation, Harrison's articles provide the essential expertise and creative flair to turn your visions into reality. So, dive into the captivating world of home remodeling with Harrison Clayton and unlock the full potential of your living space with every word he writes.

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