How to Delete Junk Email in Outlook

Looking for a quick and easy way to delete junk email in Outlook? Although deleting the junk email messages from the inbox is one option, deleting all messages from the junk email folder, then permanently deleting the messages is more thorough and efficient. This process is straightforward and simple, and can be accomplished within minutes.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Check the inbox. If any junk emails appear, click on the message and click the "Delete" button that is located on the toolbar. Access the shortcut menu by pressing the "Shift" and "F10" buttons or right click on the message and select "Delete."

2. Go to the junk email folder. Click on the folder list in the "Go" menu, then click the "Junk Email folder" option. Look through the emails in this folder to ensure all the email is junk or spam before continuing.

3. Empty the junk email folder. Access the shortcut menu again by pressing the "Shift" and "F10" buttons or right click and select "Empty Junk Email Folder." This effectively deletes all the junk emails that were located in that folder by putting them in the deleted items folder. But to permanently delete them right away, the items in that folder must be deleted as well.

4. To permanently delete all the junk email from the deleted items folder, go to that folder and access the shortcut menu by pressing the "Shift" and "F10" buttons or right clicking and selecting "Empty Deleted Items Folder." It is also possible to automatically delete the emails in this folder by clicking "Options" on the "Tools" menu, clicking the "Other" tab, then selecting the "Empty the Deleted Items Folder upon exiting" option.

Tips & Warnings

• Avoid seeing the content of the junk emails by turning off the reading pane for the junk email folder. To do this, click the "View" menu, point to the "Reading Pane" option and select "Off." It is possible to amend the setting and filters for junk email in Outlook. Click "Organize" on the standard toolbar, then click "Junk Email" and follow the instructions to change it to the desired settings.
• Outlook will sometimes accidentally put a legitimate email into the junk email folder, so make sure all of the email is junk or spam before continuing.

References

• Microsoft Support

Resources

• Get NetWise