change background of unread messages

Question

Trying to make unread messages bolder to see them clearer. No 'unread' message box to tick

Answer 1

Hello @Mo Harrison

Based on your description, the issue might relate to Outlook conflict. My recommendation is to try these troubleshooting steps for New Outlook to check if it can resolve the issue: 

1/ Check Focused Inbox settings 

Navigate to Settings > Mail > Layout > Focused Inbox > select “Don’t sort my message” temporarily to ensure unread emails aren’t being routed unexpectedly. 

2/ Reset the current view 

In the Inbox, change to another folder and then back to the Inbox, after that restart Outlook to ensure the view is reloaded correctly. 

3/ Use Conditional formatting rules to change incoming messages 

Follow this article: Use Conditional formatting rules to change incoming messages in Outlook - Microsoft Support. Make sure the rule for unread messages is enabled and set to display in bold. If everything looks correct but the issue persists try resetting the view by selecting Reset View under the View tab 

4/ Check if your Outlook has been updated to the latest version 

Under File select Office Account select Update Options as outdated versions can sometimes cause display issues. 

In case all checks have passed but the issue persists, kindly provide more information including a screenshot of the issue with your personal information censored so that I can be able to investigate further.  

Note: Please understand that as a forum moderator, my primary goal is to provide helpful guidance and support through general troubleshooting steps. While I don’t have access to internal systems or test devices required to resolve backend/account issues, I truly appreciate your understanding of these limitations.  

I hope you find this information helpful. If anything is unclear, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me. 

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