How to set up a Combined Inbox in classic Outlook for Windows
Add a Quick Access Toolbar button to classic Outlook for Windows that shows emails from all your accounts' inboxes in one view, with optional filters for unread mail, this week, specific accounts or sent items.
By Nur Islam- 4:32 video
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If you have several email accounts in Outlook on Windows, you have to click into each inbox separately to check new mail. Outlook mobile and Mac have an All Accounts view (some people call it a unified inbox), but classic Outlook on Windows does not.
The workaround is a short VBA macro that runs an Outlook search across the Inbox folder of every account. You add the macro to the Quick Access Toolbar, and one click shows all your inboxes together.
By changing the search text in the macro, you can limit the Combined Inbox to unread emails, emails received this week, certain accounts, or build a combined Sent folder instead. This works only in classic Outlook. New Outlook does not support VBA macros.
What you need
- Classic Outlook for Windows (not New Outlook)
- Two or more email accounts added to Outlook
- Macros enabled in the Trust Center
Step by step
0 of 8 done-
01
Enable macros in Outlook
In classic Outlook, select File > Options > Trust Center > Trust Center Settings. Select Macro Settings, choose Enable all macros, then select OK twice.
If you are on New Outlook, switch back to classic Outlook with the toggle at the top right first.
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02
Add the VBA code
Press Alt+F11 to open the Microsoft Visual Basic window. Select Insert > Module and paste the macro code into the blank module. The video description links the exact code file.
The code creates a search across the inbox of every account in Outlook, using the search text
folder:inbox. Save the project. -
03
Add a button to the Quick Access Toolbar
In Outlook, open Customize Quick Access Toolbar > More Commands. Under Choose commands from, select Macros. Select
Project1.UnifiedInbox, select Add, then OK.A new button appears in the Quick Access Toolbar.
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04
Open the Combined Inbox
Select the new button. Outlook shows emails from every account's Inbox in one list. Select it whenever you want the combined view.
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05
Show only unread emails
In the Visual Basic Editor, find the line where the search text is
folder:inbox. After a space, addAND isread:noso it readsfolder:inbox AND isread:no. TypeANDin capitals. -
06
Show only this week's emails
To limit the view to emails received this week, add
AND received:(this week)to the search text. -
07
Limit it to specific accounts
If you have five accounts but only want two or three combined, add a condition for the addresses:
AND (to:first@yourdomain.com OR to:second@yourdomain.com). Add more accounts with anotherOR to:and the address. -
08
Create a combined Sent folder
Replace
inboxin the search text withsentto see sent emails from all accounts in one list. You can create a second macro and button for this.
Tips and common problems
- This only works in classic Outlook for Windows. New Outlook does not run VBA macros.
- Type
ANDandORin capitals in the search text, or Outlook treats them as ordinary words. - The Combined Inbox is a search, so it shows current results each time you select the button.
- Enabling all macros lets any macro run. Only paste code from sources you trust.
Search conditions you can combine
| Goal | Search text |
|---|---|
| All inbox emails from every account | folder:inbox |
| Unread only | folder:inbox AND isread:no |
| Received this week | folder:inbox AND received:(this week) |
| Only certain accounts | folder:inbox AND (to:first@yourdomain.com OR to:second@yourdomain.com) |
| Combined Sent folder | folder:sent |
What the macro does
The macro stores the search text in a variable and runs it as an Outlook search across all folders. A minimal version looks like this:
Sub UnifiedInbox()
Dim txtSearch As String
txtSearch = "folder:inbox"
Application.ActiveExplorer.Search txtSearch, olSearchScopeAllFolders
End Sub
Questions
Does Outlook for Windows have a combined inbox for all accounts?
Classic Outlook for Windows has no built-in All Accounts inbox, unlike Outlook mobile and Mac. A small VBA macro that searches every account's Inbox gives you a one-click Combined Inbox.
Does this work in New Outlook?
No. New Outlook does not support VBA macros. Switch back to classic Outlook to use this method.
Can I combine only unread emails from all inboxes?
Yes. Change the search text in the macro to folder:inbox AND isread:no.
