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.
Forward limit at Hotmail is one rule only! So I forwarded them all … Options, More options and Email forwarding under Managing your account.
Then it is easier to filter e-mails at Gmail (for example).
MSN email will not allow more than 2 rules. When I try adding another rule it says I’ve reached the limit! What is going on?
Thanks a lot for the great info on HOW DO I CREATE CUSTOM EMAIL FILTERS IN MSN HOTMAIL? This is very helpful for a newbie like me.
Options/Mail tab/Customizing Hotmail/Rules for sorting new messages. Here you can create a new rule (previously known as an email filter) or update an existing one!
oi meu amigas
i am trying to set up for some emails to go automatically into a folder when they come in. everything i have read has told me to customize this on “Automatically sort e-mail into folders” under more options, however when i go to more options I don’t have this as an option and I don’t have the category “Customize your mail” – I only have one called “Customizing Hotmail”. Do I need to have a plus account to do this? Thanks!
I am facing a strange situation. I don’t know if you have answer for my question. I am receiving an e-mail from a friend and want to sort his e-mail from other e-mails. I have tried creating new folder and trying to move his all e-mail by clicking some e-mails and it’s showing me zero e-mail moved to new folder. I don’t know why his e-mail’s are not moving to new folder. Whereas I am able to move other friend e-mail to new folder.
Thanks,
Lily
Here’s a hack:
At the rules management page, the address bar is: http://…/mail/ManageRules.aspx?n=####…
Change it to http://…/mail/editrule.aspx?n=####…
Hit enter
Pls help, I am unable to add new rules for sorting new messages in the Windows Live Hotmail. I have created 104 rules in it. It is currently no response while I click new. How many rules can I creat?
please i am blocked from my hotmail email adress could you help
I dont seem to be receiving email in my hotmail from my friend. can you please tell me if there is something that i need to do to receive then
plz how do i get my owen customized email like my name@name.com
look for – Rules for sorting new messages under options – guess they changed it, hotmail is horrible – really – guess anyone with a brain works for facebook now
The name for custom filters has changed but the functionality is still there.
Under the Mail tab, click on Options (to the right), then select ‘Show more Options’.
This will present a new page with a variety of options including ‘Manage Rules’.
Click on that and you can set up your custom filters.
Regards,
Andrew
THERE IS NO CUSTOM FILTER BUTTON FGS?!?!?!?!
Using Windows Live Hotmail, searching the page for “filter” fails. Your suggestion is not correct.
i am getting nasty emails from an email acct that is disquising as ME. How do i find out who is doing this and where it is coming from. can i find out what pc they are coming from?
mia
I wonder why this feature was hidden. Although is there a way to run that filter on msg already in inbox?
I 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 have Windows Live email window.
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’
My 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.
Thanks in advance for any help,
Kathleen
hi! can u plzzzzzzz e-mail me and tell me how to creat an e-mail add????????? coz i`m having a lot of difficulties!!!!!!!
HI 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
How do i add a folder to my email ?
Hi Dave,
I just ran into a problem. I’ve had an e-mail account for a long time – docmyers@hotmail.com
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
goooooooooooooooooooooooooooood and i that it was bril
I am having troubles with this too.
For this, they (hotmail) only limits you to 15 new custom filters.
I need more filters than that but now I cannot filter it.
Is there a way I can do it?
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..
Two 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 …
When 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.
I want to cutomize my hotmail. I already did my signature. can i do the background too???