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* Duplicate of: How to (permanently) switch off Show Focused Inbox ****
Hi,
I posted the question earlier in the 'Outlook' thread but was advised by another user that I had posted in the 'Outlook.com' thread. The same user suggested that I change the default email account setting to resolve my problem. The change did not resolve my problem.
I have no idea how many threads and YouTube videos I have watched on this topic!
I have installed Microsoft 365 Outlook in a new laptop and find that I now have my ****@hotmail.com account displaying along with my IMAP email account ****@bigpond.net.au. The hotmail account did not appear in my old laptop Ms 365 Outlook set up. I assume its appeared because its the email address for my Microsoft Account. I stopped using the hotmail account for email purposes about 30 years ago!
Now, whenever I open Outlook, it opens to the hotmail inbox folder. What I want seems so simple. I want Outlook to open to the inbox folder of my bigpond.net.au account, just like my old laptop and the email clients on my Android phone and ipad.
I have Outlook set on Classic View. I have been into View > Show Focused Inbox and toggled the button all to no avail. Toggling between Focused and Other simply toggles between the read and unread mail in the hotmail inbox.
The hotmail account only has emails from Microsoft about updated Terms of Use and messages about large file deletions from OneDrive etc. I'm tempted to delate the hotmil account (if I can).
Any helpful advise on how I can get Outlook to open to my working email account would be gratefully received.
Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.
Answer accepted by question author
Hi. I'm Brian and I'll try to help.
Are you using classic Outlook? If so, try this: click File>Options>Advanced. Locate "Outlook start and exit" and click Browse. Select the folder you want to appear when Outlook starts in the "Select Folder" dialog. Does this help?
Hello TesaXV,
* I am a Microsoft user like you, providing solutions to community members; I am NOT a Microsoft employee.
Here's how to permanently disable it:
For Outlook Desktop (Microsoft 365): Go to your Inbox folder. Click on the "View" tab on the ribbon. Locate the button "Show Focused Inbox" and click it to toggle it off.
Alternatively: Click on "Settings" (gear icon) in the top right corner. Go to "Quick settings". Find the toggle for "Focused Inbox" and turn it off. Important Note: These methods disable Focused Inbox for all your accounts within Outlook Desktop.
Additional Tips: Disabling the Hotmail account might not be the best solution, as it's still your primary Microsoft account. You can set your preferred inbox as the default view: Right-click on your preferred inbox (e.g., bigpond.net.au). Select "Set as Default View". By following these steps, you should be able to permanently disable Focused Inbox and have Outlook open to your desired inbox folder.
Hope this finally fixes it for you.
Hi Stephen N,
Thank you for your reply. Previously, I had done what you said, and toggled the "Show Focused Inbox" button, but on closing and re-opening Outlook the function was always restored. Now, when I toggle the function off, it is staying off. Maybe this change in behaviour arises from making the bigpond.net.au account the default???
However, switching off the focus function has not had the outcome I expected or hoped for. On opening Outlook, the hotmail inbox continues to be the displayed folder!
Can anyone suggest how I can get the IMAP email account to be the default display when Outlook opens?
Creating multiple post on the same Q simply adds to confusion
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