This article explains how to mute and unmute Outlook conversations. Instructions apply to Outlook for Microsoft 365, Outlook 2019, Outlook 2016, Outlook 2013, and Outlook 2010.

What to Know

  • To mute, open message, go to Message > Delete > Ignore Conversation > Ignore Conversation.To unmute, go to Deleted Items folder > open message to unmute > Message > Ignore > Stop Ignoring Conversation.After unmuting a conversation, Outlook will recover the message in the Deleted Items folder.

How to Mute Outlook Conversations

Follow these steps to delete a conversation and prevent future messages from appearing in your Outlook inbox.

  • Open a message from the group or thread that you want to silence and delete.
  • To open a message in a new window, double-click the message in the email pane.
  • In the email window, go to the Message tab.
  • In the Delete group, choose the Ignore Conversation button.
  • If the message is selected in the message list and is not displayed in its own window, go to the Home tab and select Ignore in the Delete group.
  • A dialog box opens and warns you that the selected conversation and all future messages will be moved to the Deleted Items folder.
  • Select Ignore Conversation.
  • Select the Don’t Show This Message Again checkbox to avoid this step in the future.

Unmute a Conversation in Outlook

You can recover a conversation from the Deleted Items folder and make sure future messages in the thread appear in your Outlook inbox by unmuting the conversation.

Open a message from the group or thread that you want to silence and delete.

To open a message in a new window, double-click the message in the email pane.

In the email window, go to the Message tab.

In the Delete group, choose the Ignore Conversation button.

If the message is selected in the message list and is not displayed in its own window, go to the Home tab and select Ignore in the Delete group.

A dialog box opens and warns you that the selected conversation and all future messages will be moved to the Deleted Items folder.

Select Ignore Conversation.

Select the Don’t Show This Message Again checkbox to avoid this step in the future.

Ignoring a message does not permanently delete the message or other emails from the sender. It also does not block those email addresses or set up email filters. It only ignores messages in one specific thread or group message.

  • Open the Deleted Items folder.
  • Open a message that belongs to the conversation you want to recover.
  • Go to the Message tab and select Ignore in the Delete group.
  • If the message is selected in the message list and is not displayed in its own window, go to the Home tab and select Ignore in the Delete group.
  • Select Stop Ignoring Conversation.
  • Select the Don’t Show This Message Again checkbox to avoid this step in the future.

Open the Deleted Items folder.

Open a message that belongs to the conversation you want to recover.

Go to the Message tab and select Ignore in the Delete group.

Select Stop Ignoring Conversation.

Unmuting a conversation recovers the messages in the Deleted Items folder that belong to that specific thread.

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