Two separate conversation threads happen to have the exact same subject because they were originally produced by an automated system that gives all e-mails the exact same subject line. How can I tell Outlook they are unrelated?
Short answer: You can't.
Long answer: This should only happen with an Exchange Server 2003 or Exchange Server 2007 mailbox. Messages retrieved using POP3, IMAP, or using Outlook Connector/EAS, or received by Exchange 2010 or 2013 servers should be organized as separate conversations even though the subject is identical.
Somebody doesn't reply to an e-mail in a conversation, but rather creates a new e-mail with a new subject. How can I tell Outlook this new thread is part of the same conversation?
Sorry, you can't add messages to a conversation.
Somebody uses an e-mail in a particular conversation to start a new topic or refer to an existing topic that is unrelated to the current conversation. How can I tell Outlook this needs to be in it's own conversation thread?
Unfortunately, you can't remove messages from conversations either. Outlook's POP, IMAP, Outlook Connector/EAS message transport and Exchange Server 2010/2013 add a conversation property to the message when messages arrive and uses this value to group messages by conversation. When the conversation property isn't available (in Exchange 2003/2007), Outlook uses the Subject field.
Show as Conversations optionsTo enable or disable Show Conversations, switch to the View tab and check or uncheck the Show Conversations option. Expand Conversation Settings to fine-tune the conversation display.
Show as conversations is only available when you group by date. If it's grayed out, you need to switch to the Date grouping. When Show as conversations is enabled, the Date group is labeled Date (Conversations).
In the Arrangement group select Date. A dialog box will open, asking if you want to arrange by conversation in all folders or this folder only, as well as an option to cancel. This dialog box comes up each time you enable or disable Show as Conversations.
When you upgrade from an old version of Outlook, Upgrade to Conversations is set automatically during the first run process after upgrading, but administrators can use group policy to block the use of conversations.
How to Sort Messages by Conversation in Microsoft OutlookSee Microsoft Outlook: Tips and Tricks for similar articles. Organize your Outlook messages by sorting them by conversation.
This feature works the same in all modern versions of Microsoft Outlook: 2010, 2013, and 2016.
- Select the View tab of the Ribbon, and in the Messages group, check the Show as Conversations check box.
- In the dialog box, select an option to display conversations in all folders or the selected folder only.
- Messages are now sorted by conversation.
Related Articles
- How to Schedule a Meeting from a Message in Microsoft Outlook
- How to Schedule a Meeting with Microsoft Outlook
- How to Automatically Add a Signature to Messages in Microsoft Outlook
- How to Add a Sender to the Safe Senders List in Microsoft Outlook
- How to Use Advanced Find in Microsoft Outlook
- How to Reply to a Meeting Invitation in Microsoft Outlook
- How to Create a Quick Part in Microsoft Outlook
- How to Check Spelling and Grammar in Microsoft Outlook
- How to Create and Manage Notes in Microsoft Outlook
- How to View Other Address Books in Microsoft Outlook
- How to Create a Calendar Group in Microsoft Outlook
- How to Sort Messages by Conversation in Microsoft Outlook (this article)
- How to Mark a Message as Private in Microsoft Outlook
- How to Set Message Priority in Microsoft Outlook
- How to Assign a Task in Microsoft Outlook
- How to Set Calendar Item Importance in Microsoft Outlook
- How to Add an Appointment to Your Microsoft Outlook Calendar
- How to Compose a Message in Microsoft Outlook
- How to Create a Subfolder in Microsoft Outlook
- How to Apply a Colored Font to Unread Messages in Your Microsoft Outlook Inbox
- How to Create a Task List in Outlook from Your Inbox
- How to Request a Read Receipt in Microsoft Outlook
- How to Create a Journal Entry in Microsoft Outlook
- How to Attach Notes to Contacts in Microsoft Outlook
- How to Redirect a Reply in Microsoft Outlook
- How to Set Options in the Backstage view in Microsoft Outlook
- How to Search the Calendar in Microsoft Outlook
- How to Add Notes to a Group in Microsoft Outlook
- How to Change Weather Forecast Location in Microsoft Outlook
- How to Create a Calendar Item in Outlook from an Inbox Email
- How to Sort Messages in Microsoft Outlook
- How to Apply Categories in Microsoft Outlook
- How to Save a Message in an Alternate Format in Microsoft Outlook
Looking to improve your Microsoft Outlook skills? Check out Webucator’s Microsoft Outlook classes.