Outlook flags

Question

I would like flagged messages to always show the flag and not just when I hover over the message. I don't see a setting for this but this is how it used to be and its not helpful for the flag image to disappear when not hovering.

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* moved from [Microsoft 365 and Office › Other]

Answer 1

Hello Lee Rahr, thanks for posting this in the community. This behavior change is due to updates in Outlook’s UI design. In recent versions of Outlook (Microsoft 365 and Outlook 2021/2019), the flag icon only appears on hover by default in the message list, and unfortunately, there is no built-in setting to make flags permanently visible like older versions. If this impacts your workflow, you can submit feedback by going to File > Feedback > Send Feedback in Outlook. Many users have requested this feature back, so adding your voice helps.

Alternatively, you can switch back to the classic Outlook desktop app by toggling off the New Outlook option on the right side, where conditional formatting and custom views are more flexible.

Kind regards,

John Oli

Answer 2

Currently, there is no specific setting in Outlook that allows flagged messages to always display the flag icon without hovering over the message. The behavior you are experiencing, where the flag icon disappears when not hovering, is a known limitation in the user interface. Unfortunately, this means that flagged messages will only show the flag when you hover over them, and there is no option to change this setting directly in Outlook.

If this feature was available in a previous version or if there are any updates regarding this functionality, it would be best to check the official Microsoft documentation or support channels for any new developments.

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References:

• Outlook search folders aren't populated in Online mode after migration from Exchange 2013 to Exchange 2010
• Presence icons don't appear in Outlook

Answer 3

If you are using Outlook (Web/New Outlook)

Microsoft recently moved these to "Quick Actions." You can force the flag to stay visible by following these steps:

Click the Settings (gear icon) in the top right.

Go to Mail > Customize actions.

Under the Quick actions section, ensure Flag is selected.

The Trick: If it's already selected and still disappearing, try changing your Message Surface settings in the same menu.

Alternatively, changing your View Settings to "Roomy" instead of "Compact" sometimes forces the flag to remain visible in the message list.

If you are using Outlook (Classic Desktop)

In the classic desktop version, the flag column is often just hidden or narrowed.

Right-click on any column header (like "Received" or "Subject").

Select Field Chooser or View Settings > Columns.

Ensure the Flag Status field is added to the right-hand list.

Once added, you can click and drag that column to the far left or right so it’s always in view.

If you are using Apple Mail

Apple Mail hides the flag by default unless one is already applied.

To see which messages are flagged at a glance without hovering, use the Flagged mailbox in the left sidebar.

• If you want to see the flag icon in the main list, go to View > Show Message Attributes.

  If you are using Outlook (Web/New Outlook)

  Microsoft recently moved these to "Quick Actions." You can force the flag to stay visible by following these steps:
  1. Click the Settings (gear icon) in the top right.
  2. Go to Mail > Customize actions.
  3. Under the Quick actions section, ensure Flag is selected.
  4. The Trick: If it's already selected and still disappearing, try changing your Message Surface settings in the same menu.
  5. Alternatively, changing your View Settings to "Roomy" instead of "Compact" sometimes forces the flag to remain visible in the message list.

  If you are using Outlook (Classic Desktop)

  In the classic desktop version, the flag column is often just hidden or narrowed.
  • Right-click on any column header (like "Received" or "Subject").
  • Select Field Chooser or View Settings > Columns.
  • Ensure the Flag Status field is added to the right-hand list.
  • Once added, you can click and drag that column to the far left or right so it’s always in view.

  If you are using Apple Mail

  Apple Mail hides the flag by default unless one is already applied.
  • To see which messages are flagged at a glance without hovering, use the Flagged mailbox in the left sidebar.
  • If you want to see the flag icon in the main list, go to View > Show Message Attributes.

A Better Alternative: "Flagged" Folders

If the hover behavior continues to be finicky, the most reliable way to keep flagged items visible is to use a Search Folder or Pinned Filter:

Outlook: Click the Filter icon at the top of your inbox and select Flagged. This creates a view where only flagged items exist, making the icons permanent.

Gmail: If you are using Gmail stars (their version of flags), go to Settings > General > Stars and ensure you are using a preset that keeps them in the primary view.