How do I create custom email filters in MSN Hotmail?Dave, I've noticed that you write about Gmail a lot, but I'm hoping you can help me out with an MSN Hotmail question too: I've had an account on Hotmail for a long time and would like to be able to have messages from specific mailing lists automatically filed in different folders, rather than jammed into my inbox. Is that doable, and if so, how? I admit, I have two Hotmail accounts, a Yahoo Mail account, and, for that matter, two Gmail accounts too, now that I think about it. Each has its uses and each offers capabilities that the others don't. Further, my Hotmail accounts have been around for years and years, like yours, so I know exactly what you're talking about! While it's not easy to figure out, you can indeed do quite a bit of customization to your Hotmail account. Let's focus on identifying messages from a specific mailing list and filing them into a new folder as a way of giving you the hang of working with Hotmail's configuration options. To start, log in to your MSN Hotmail account and click on the "MAIL" tab so that you're looking at your inbox. With me? The first step required is to create a new folder. I'm going to assume that you're talking about my ADT-News mailing list (which you can sign up for by entering your email addr in the "Updates via Email" box on the right side of this very Web page. Darn convenient, eh?), so let's create a folder called "ADTNEWS". To accomplish this task, don't click on the manage folders link (even though it seems that should work) but rather click on the put in folder option along the top, then choose "New Folder" from that list of options. Hotmail asks you for the new folder name. Type in "ADTNEWS" and choose "OK". You'll go back to your inbox, but on the left side there's now a new folder displayed. Cool! Folder's created, now it's time to set up the mail filter. Choose the Options link on the top right of the window, make sure you're in the MAIL tab on the left (yes, the MSN Hotmail interface could do with some fine-tuning!) and then choose Custom Filters from the options shown. Click on the New Filter button. Now you'll see something similar to this: 
Eagle-eyed readers will notice that we could have created the new folder as part of this filter creation process, but I figure that it's good to know how to create new folders separate from working with filters, hence the longer set of instructions here. As shown in the screenshot, specify a pattern that'll match the messages in question -- in this case Ask Dave Taylor -- then specify what to do with them automatically: Deliver these messages to ADTNEWS. That's all there is to it. From this point on, any messages with the matching subject (or From) pattern will automatically be placed in the specified folder.
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Never miss another useful Q&A article again! Subscribe to AskDaveTaylor with Google Reader. hello Posted by: brandon at January 7, 2006 8:02 AMhello Posted by: brandon at January 7, 2006 8:03 AMI want to cutomize my hotmail. I already did my signature. can i do the background too??? Posted by: Tanika at January 29, 2007 9:27 AMhola soy de puerto rico Posted by: zamara nahely at March 3, 2007 8:02 PMWhen I receive e-mail it often says to unidentified recipients. I would like to do this with mine so my friends e-mail addresses are not shown. How do I do this??? Thanks Also, if possible please send the answer by e-mail as I doubt I would ever be able to find this site again. Posted by: Betty at February 28, 2008 8:53 AMTwo comments> 1. My windows Live Hotmail does not show custom filters as an option in OPTIONS, so where are they ... 2. Is there no way of activating the Email rules option in Outlook, it's there but it is greyed out and unavailable ... Posted by: PAUL WALTON at May 30, 2008 5:59 AMI am having troubles with this too. Is there another type of mail service that can do more than 15 filters?? This kind of stunned me, since I was almost done doing my filtering list, but then noticed I have a limit.. Posted by: ninjinsamax3 at July 21, 2008 12:59 PMgoooooooooooooooooooooooooooood and i that it was bril Posted by: paul at October 29, 2008 9:54 AMHi Dave, I want to sell my business so I I wanted another email account for only potential buyers to use. Just this morning I succeeded in creating another account- localretailstore@live.com I succeeded but my old email address was obliterated. I can't find it. My password to each account is shelovesme. Can you help get my hotmail account back? Thanks Phil Myers Posted by: phil at November 9, 2008 6:58 AMHow do i add a folder to my email ? Posted by: Debbie Woods at November 20, 2008 12:53 PMHI DAVE. WHEN I CLICK ON MY CUSTOM FILTERS AS OF ABOUT THREE WEEKS AGO IT TAKES ME TO THE LIVE MAIL PAGE. SO I DON'T HAVE CUSTOM FILTERS. DOES THE SAME THING ON MY WIFE'S COMPUTER. IF YOU WOULD SEND ME AN EMAIL IF YOU HAVE AN ANSWER I WOULD APPRECIATE IT. NOT SURE HOW TO FIND IT ON HERE. THANKS RON Posted by: RON at February 4, 2009 10:06 AMNao ha nada a falar sobre mim Posted by: Donaldo at February 19, 2009 5:44 PMits very well!!!!!!!! Posted by: diya at May 18, 2009 6:58 AMhi! can u plzzzzzzz e-mail me and tell me how to creat an e-mail add????????? coz i`m having a lot of difficulties!!!!!!! Posted by: diya at May 18, 2009 7:02 AMcool Posted by: rasmalt at June 12, 2009 3:50 PMMy issue is the same as Ron's message from several months ago. So I'm pasting some of his text hence his capitals. WHEN I CLICK ON MY CUSTOM FILTERS IT TAKES ME TO THE LIVE MAIL PAGE. SO I DON'T HAVE CUSTOM FILTERS. IF YOU WOULD SEND ME AN EMAIL IF YOU HAVE AN ANSWER I WOULD APPRECIATE IT. In my hot mail account the option is 'Automatically sort e-mail into folders' Posted by: Gareth at July 8, 2009 5:00 PMI am trying to set up new folders. I do not have the options of opening a new folder as you suggested in my email window. There are no options concerning setting up new folders. What can I do? Thanks I wonder why this feature was hidden. Although is there a way to run that filter on msg already in inbox? Posted by: gimli at October 14, 2009 9:23 PMI have something to say, now that you mention it, but ...
I do have a comment, now that you mention it!
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