"Rules are not supported for this account" message in Outlook "Mac"

Question

I decided to move from Mac Mail to Outlook 365 on my Mac. When I tried to create rules I get the message "Rules are not supported for this account". Mu accounts are imap. Without client side rules Outlook is essentially useless to me because emails will simply be a giant unorganized pile.  Does anyone know why this is happening and if it can be fixed?

Answer 1

Hi WDM1,

Thank you for choosing Microsoft community.

Based on your description, I tried to test from my side. For the classic/old Outlook for Mac, creating rules for an IMAP account is feasible. But if you're using the New Outlook for Mac, according to Create a rule in Outlook for Mac - Office Support (microsoft.com), "in the new Outlook for Mac (as of October 2020), only server rules are available, client rules are no longer supported".

If you're using the New Outlook for Mac to create client rules, we're sorry for any inconvenience caused. If you don't mind, please kindly click the toggle to switch to the classic/old Outlook for Mac. There you'll be able to set rules easily.

Hope it helps! Thank you.

Stay safe & Sincerely,

Qian

Answer 2

Hi WDM1,

Thank you for choosing Microsoft community.

Based on your description, I tried to test from my side. For the classic/old Outlook for Mac, creating rules for an IMAP account is feasible. But if you're using the New Outlook for Mac, according to Create a rule in Outlook for Mac - Office Support (microsoft.com), "in the new Outlook for Mac (as of October 2020), only server rules are available, client rules are no longer supported".

If you're using the New Outlook for Mac to create client rules, we're sorry for any inconvenience caused. If you don't mind, please kindly click the toggle to switch to the classic/old Outlook for Mac. There you'll be able to set rules easily.

Hope it helps! Thank you.

Stay safe & Sincerely,

Qian

Hello Qian Zhang,

So if I understand correctly, you can only do it through the OWA (Server level/ side)? But will it eventually come to the macOS Outlook Client at some point or never? (If this is eventually comming, when could we approximately expect it?)

Because from what I know, this can be done on Server level/ side by just using your Outlook Client on Windows, so why can’t it be done with the macOS Outlook Client?

Thank you in advance and hope to hear from you soon!

Stay safe & Sincerely,

Marvy

Answer 3

Quan,

That WOULD be great if it were not for one thing that makes this completely screwed up.  I did change over to New Outlook and found the problem with the folders and decided to change back to the classic/old Outlook for Mac.  However, now my Outlook account, linking to Outlook.com will not connect to the MS servers.  I tested my theory and as soon as I changed back to the old, it automatically sunk up, sent and received email as well.

Now I read that the only way to get rules to work is to go to the old Outlook (rules don't work with my 365 account as well with the new Outlook).  I'm at a loss as to what I should do, change back to the old Outlook and not be able to sync my primary email account (can't do that), change to the new Outlook and not be able to use rules or is there another solution where I can get both a useable primary account along with rules?

Looking forward to your response.

Thank you for your assistance,

David

Answer 4

Hello Qian,

Is this feature no longer available in the new outlook on mac or it's only temporary removal?

Best,

Tim

Answer 5

Thank you. It worked as you suggested. Hopefully the feature will be restored on the client side soon.