Summary
This article describes how to manage junk email settings, including how to block or allow senders, adjust filtering levels, and troubleshoot messages incorrectly sent to Junk. It explains how to use Safe Senders and Blocked Senders lists, enable stricter filtering options, and review or edit existing settings. Junk email settings for all versions of Outlook are managed through Outlook on the Web. Note: system-level threat filters may block suspected malicious emails independent from your safe senders list.
Managing your junk email settings in Outlook helps control what reaches your inbox and what gets flagged as junk. You can customize Blocked Senders, Safe Senders, and overall junk filtering behavior. We recommend that you periodically review your junk email settings and safe/blocked sender lists to avoid missing important emails.
Mark individual messages or senders in Outlook on the Web
Manage Junk Email Settings in Outlook on the Web
How-To
Mark individual messages or senders in Outlook on the Web
Task: Mark an email message as Not Junk
The Outlook Junk Email Filter doesn’t stop delivery of junk email messages, but it does moves suspected spam to the Junk Email folder.
Tip: It's a good idea to regularly review messages in the Junk Email folder to check for legitimate messages that were incorrectly classified as junk. If a message was wrongly assigned as junk, follow these steps to place it back in the Inbox or any other folder.
Instructions
Step 1 - Select a message in your Junk folder in Outlook on the Web
Step 2 - Choose Home > Report > Not Junk from the top menu bar.
Outcome
The selected email message is returned to your Inbox and marked as Not junk.
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Task: Block or Never Block a Sender from an email message
Step 1 - Select a message in your Outlook on the Web
Step 2 - Choose Home > Block drop down from the top menu bar then select your desired action:
- To block the sender of that message, choose Block sender from the Block drop down.
- To allow the sender of that message, choose Never block sender from the Block drop down.
Outcome
The sender of the selected email message is added to your Safe senders list (if marked to Never block sender) or to your Blocked senders list. See details below for how to Remove Blocked or Safe Senders from lists
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Task: View the Quarantine Email list
You may receive messages from Microsoft 365 security saying you "have messages in quarantine". There are links within the email for you to respond. If those links do not work or if you want to check on your quarantined messages at some other time, use these steps.
Instructions
Step 1 - Open a web browser and go to https://security.microsoft.com/quarantine
Note: If a link doesn't work at first, try a private browser or a new browser window, or clearing your browsers' cache
Step 2 - Check the box next to any message in the list of quarantined email messages,.
Step 3 - Click the desired action link at the top of the list. For detailed instructions see Email Protection: Viewing Quarantined Email
Outcome
You are able to view and act on your quarantined email messages.
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Manage Junk Email Settings in Outlook on the Web
Task: Configure Junk Email Settings for your USNH email account
Instructions
Step 1 - Browse to Outlook on the Web at https://outlook.office.com and sign in with your usual USNH username, password, and MFA if required.
Step 2 - Click the Settings (gear) icon in the top‑right corner.
Step 3 - Select Mail > Junk email
Step 4 - Under Incoming mail handling, select Standard. This means that mail identified as possible junk will be automatically moved to the Junk Email folder.
- Warning: If you choose Strict then ONLY messages from senders and domains that you have marked as safe will be delivered to your Inbox. You risk missing many valid email messages.
Step 5 - Under Security options, select the choices you want to enable. Current options are:
- When reporting phishing or junk, always ask me before sending a report.
- Trust email from my contacts
Step 6 - If desired, add to the Safe senders and domains or Blocked senders and domains lists. See details below.
Step 7 - Click Save to save any changes you made or Discard to exit without saving.
Click for full-size image
Outcome
You have accessed the Junk Email Settings in Outlook on the Web and configured your Junk email settings for your USNH email account.
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Task: Add a Safe (Allowed) Sender in your Junk Email settings
Safe senders are people or domains you always want to receive mail from, even if Outlook thinks something looks suspicious.
Instructions
Step 1 - In your Outlook on the Web , open Settings (gear icon) > Mail > Junk email
Step 2 - Under Safe senders and domains, click the Add safe sender button.
Step 3 - In the text box that opens up, type the email address or email domain of the address or domain you want to allow and click OK.
Step 4 - Click Save to save any changes you made or Discard to exit without saving.
Outcome
You have added sender(s) and/or domain(s) to your Safe Senders list in Outlook on the Web. Messages from these senders will not be sent to Junk.
Note: System-wide policies may still block some messages before they hit your mailbox.
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Task: Add a Blocked Sender in your Junk Email settings
When you block a sender or domain, emails from them will go directly to Junk Email.
Instructions
Step 1 - In your Outlook on the Web , open Settings (gear icon) > Mail > Junk email
Step 2 - Under Blocked senders and domains, click the Add blocked sender button.
Step 3 - In the text box that opens up, type the email address or email domain of the address or domain you want to block and click OK.
Step 4 - Click Save to save any changes you made or Discard to exit without saving.
Outcome
You have added sender(s) and/or domain(s) to your Blocked Senders list in Outlook on the Web. Messages from that address or domain automatically go to Junk Email.
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Task: Remove Blocked or Safe Senders from lists
Instructions
Step 1 - In your Outlook on the Web , open Settings (gear icon) > Mail > Junk email
Step 2 - On the Safe senders or Blocked senders list, select the sender or domain you want to remove. Be sure you choose the correct line.
Step 3 - Click Delete (trash icon) next to the sender's address. The address will be deleted immediately, without any confirmation, so be sure you choose the correct address before you click the trash icon.
Step 4 - Click Save to save any changes you made or Discard to exit without saving.
Outcome
You have removed unwanted blocked or safe senders or domains from your Junk Email settings.
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Further Readings
Outlook: Accessing your USNH Email in a Web Browser
Email Protection: Viewing Quarantined Email
Browser: Clearing a Web Browser’s Cache, Cookies, and History
Block or unblock senders in Outlook
What version of Outlook do I have?
Need additional help?
Submit an Email Services support request with as much detail as possible, or visit the Technology Help Desk Support page to locate your local campus contact information or to submit an online technology support request. For password issues you must call or visit the Help Desk in person.
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