reporting unwanted email in Hotmail account using Outlook

Question

reporting unwanted email in Hotmail account using Outlook

Answer 1

Hi, I'm John! I will help you with this.

Are you trying to report a spam email, phishing email, or block a specific sender?

If you're using Outlook.com/Hotmail in a web browser, you can select the email and choose Report > Phishing or Report > Junk at the top of the page.

If that option is missing, could you tell me:

1. Are you using Outlook on Windows, Outlook on Mac, or Outlook.com in a web browser?
2. What happens when you try to report the email?
3. Do you receive any error message?

A screenshot (with personal information hidden) would also help us understand the issue better.

Answer 2

To report unwanted email in a Hotmail account when using Outlook (classic Outlook for Windows or Outlook.com/Hotmail interface):

1. Report junk or phishing directly from Outlook (Microsoft 365 / classic Outlook for Windows)
   1. Select the unwanted message in the Inbox.
   2. On the ribbon, select Report.
   3. Choose one of:
      • Junk – for general spam.
      • Phishing – if the message is trying to steal personal/financial information or impersonate a trusted service.
   4. When reported as junk, the message is moved to Junk Email, and the sender is added to the Blocked Senders list.
   5. When reported as phishing, the message is deleted.
   6. Depending on organization settings, the message is also sent to Microsoft and/or a reporting mailbox to improve filters.
2. Report junk or phishing in Outlook.com (web for Hotmail accounts)
   1. Sign in to Outlook.com with the Hotmail account.
   2. In the message list, select the unwanted message(s).
   3. Above the reading pane, select Report.
   4. Choose Report phishing for phishing attempts, or use Junk options for spam.
   5. Reporting phishing sends details about the sender to Microsoft to help improve protection. To block future messages, also add the sender to the blocked senders list (see “Block senders or mark email as junk in Outlook.com” in the referenced article).
3. Report from Outlook mobile (if using Hotmail there)
   1. Select the unwanted email.
   2. Tap the ⋮ menu (top right).
   3. Tap Report Junk.
   4. Choose Junk, Phishing, or Block Sender as appropriate.
4. If the message is not junk (false positive)
   1. Go to the Junk Email folder.
   2. Select the message that should not be there.
   3. Select Report > Not junk.
   4. The message is moved back to Inbox, and, depending on settings, a copy is sent to Microsoft and/or a reporting mailbox to help correct filtering.

Using the built-in Report options ensures the message is handled (moved/deleted/blocked) and also helps train Microsoft’s spam and phishing filters for Hotmail/Outlook.com accounts.

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References:

• Report phishing and suspicious emails in Outlook for admins
• Use the built-in Report button in Outlook
• Phishing and suspicious behavior in Outlook
• How do I report phishing or junk email?
• Protect yourself from phishing