Skip to main content

Kutools for Office β€” One Suite. Five Tools. Get More Done.

How to set a rule to automatically copy emails to another folder in Outlook?

Author Kelly Last modified

Managing emails efficiently in Microsoft Outlook can be challenging, especially if you receive a high volume of messages. Instead of manually sorting emails, you can automate the process by setting up a rule that automatically copies emails to a specific folder based on defined criteria. This guide will walk you through two methods to automatically copy emails to another folder.

Method 1: Set an Outlook Rule to Automatically Copy Emails to Another Folder (Manual setup & More steps)

Method 2: Auto Copy Emails to Another Folder with Kutools for Outlook πŸ‘ (Faster & Most Efficient)


Method 1: Set an Outlook Rule to Automatically Copy Emails to Another Folder

Outlook’s Rules Wizard allows users to create custom rules to automatically copy emails that meet certain conditions (e.g., emails with specific subject keywords) to a designated folder. Follow these steps to configure the rule.

1. Select the mail folder where you want to create the rule, and click Home > Rules > Manage Rules & Alerts.
doc-outlook-rule-copy-emails-to-folder-1

2. In the "Rules and Alerts" dialog box, click the New Rule button.
doc-outlook-rule-copy-emails-to-folder-2

3. In the "Rules Wizard", select "Apply rule on messages I receive", then click Next.
doc-outlook-rule-copy-emails-to-folder-3

4. In the "Rules Wizard (Which condition(s) do you want to check?)", set the filter criteria based on your needs. For example, if you want to copy emails with a specific keyword in the subject (e.g., "comment"), follow these steps:

  1. 1). Check "with specific words in the subject".
  2. 2). Click the linked text "specific words" in the Step 2 section.
  3. 3). In the "Search Text" dialog box, enter the keyword (e.g., "comment"), click Add > OK.
  4. 4). Click Next.
    doc-outlook-rule-copy-emails-to-folder-4

5. In the Rules Wizard (What do you want to do with the message?), set the action:

  1. 1). Check "move a copy to the specified folder".
  2. 2). Click the linked text "specified" in the Step 2 section.
  3. 3). In the "Rules and Alerts" dialog box, choose the folder where you want to copy emails, then click OK.
  4. 4). Click Next.
    doc-outlook-rule-copy-emails-to-folder-5

6. In the Rules Wizard (Are there any exceptions?), click Next if no exceptions are needed.

7. In the final Rules Wizard, configure the rule settings:

  1. 1). Enter a name for the rule in the Step 1 box.
  2. 2). Select any additional options as needed in the Step 2 section.
  3. 3). Click Finish.
    doc-outlook-rule-copy-emails-to-folder-6

8. Click OK to close the Rules and Alerts dialog box.

πŸ“Œ Result: Any email that meets the defined conditions (e.g., containing the keyword "comment" in the subject) will be automatically copied to the specified folder.

Pros & Cons of the Built-in Rules Method:

  • βœ… Built-in Outlook feature: No additional software required.
  • ❌ Limited flexibility: Editing rules requires navigating through the Rules Wizard.
  • ❌ More Manual Effort: Involves more steps compared to the Kutools for Outlook.

βœ‰οΈ Stop Wasting Time! Automate Your Email Replies Instantly

Tired of manually responding to repetitive emails? Kutools for Outlook makes it effortless! With the Auto Reply feature, you can set up automatic responses in just a few clicksβ€”no complicated rules, no hassle!

  • βœ… Instant Setup: Automate your replies in seconds, no tech skills are required.
  • ⚑ Save Time & Effort: No more manually typing the same responses.
  • πŸ’‘ Smart & Customizable: Personalize responses based on specific senders or conditions.
Auto Reply Feature in Kutools for Outlook

Method 2: Auto Copy Emails to Another Folder with Kutools for Outlook πŸ‘

For users who frequently need to copy emails based on specific criteria, Kutools for Outlook’s Advanced Rules feature provides a faster and more user-friendly alternative. It simplifies rule creation and removes unnecessary steps, allowing for efficient automation.

Say goodbye to Outlook inefficiency! Kutools for Outlook makes batch email processing easier - now with free AI-powered features! Download Kutools for Outlook Now!!

Step 1: Enable the Advanced Rules feature

  1. Go to the Kutools tab and click Advanced Rules.
    shot of the Advanced Rules feature
  2. In the Advanced Rules dialog, click the shot of the small New button New button to create a new rule.
    shot of the New button

Step 2: Set the condition

  1. In the Step 1 of 4 dialog, check "Subject contains specific words".
  2. Click the new button New button to open the Text Contains dialog.
    shot of the Step 1 of 4 dialog
  3. In the Search Text dialog, type the keyword (e.g., "comment"), then click Add > OK.
    shot of the Search Text dialog box
  4. Click OK > Next to proceed.

Step 3: Specify the destination folder

  1. In Step 2 of 4, check "Move a copy to specified folder".
  2. In the popping-up Select Folder dialog box, choose the destination folder where emails should be copied.
  3. Click OK > Next > Next.
    shot of the Step 2 of 4 dialog box

Step 4: Finalize the rule

  1. In Step 4 of 4, enter a name for the rule in the Rule Name field.
  2. (Optional) Add remarks to describe the rule.
  3. Click OK > OK to save and activate the rule.
    shot of the Step 4 of 4 dialog box

πŸ“Œ Result: The rule is now successfully created. If any incoming email contains the keyword "comment" in the subject, it will be automatically copied to the designated folder.

Advantages of the Kutools for Outlook Method:

  • βœ… Fast setup: Requires fewer steps than Outlook’s built-in rules.
  • βœ… User-friendly interface: Intuitive and efficient.
  • βœ… Highly flexible: Supports advanced rule customization.
Note: To apply the 'Advanced Rules' utility of Kutools for Outlook, firstly, you should download and install Kutools for Outlook.

Which Method Should You Use?

Here’s a comparison of the two methods to help you decide which one best suits your needs:

MethodBest ForEase of UseFlexibility
Outlook Rule Users who prefer built-in Outlook features ⭐⭐⭐ ⭐⭐
Kutools Advanced Rules Users who want a fast, automated solution ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Related Articles


Best Office Productivity Tools

Breaking News: Kutools for Outlook Launches Free Version!

Experience the all-new Kutools for Outlook with 100+ incredible features! Click to download now!

πŸ€– Kutools AI : Uses advanced AI technology to handle emails effortlessly, including replying, summarizing, optimizing, extending, translating, and composing emails.

πŸ“§ Email Automation: Auto Reply (Available for POP and IMAP)  /  Schedule Send Emails  /  Auto CC/BCC by Rules When Sending Email  /  Auto Forward (Advanced Rules)   /  Auto Add Greeting   /  Automatically Split Multi-Recipient Emails into Individual Messages ...

πŸ“¨ Email Management: Recall Emails  /  Block Scam Emails by Subjects and Others  /  Delete Duplicate Emails  /  Advanced Search  /  Consolidate Folders ...

πŸ“ Attachments ProBatch Save  /  Batch Detach  /  Batch Compress  /  Auto Save   /  Auto Detach  /  Auto Compress ...

🌟 Interface Magic: 😊More Pretty and Cool Emojis   /  Remind you when important emails come  /  Minimize Outlook Instead of Closing ...

πŸ‘ One-click Wonders: Reply All with Attachments  /   Anti-Phishing Emails  /  πŸ•˜Show Sender's Time Zone ...

πŸ‘©πŸΌβ€πŸ€β€πŸ‘©πŸ» Contacts & Calendar: Batch Add Contacts From Selected Emails  /  Split a Contact Group to Individual Groups  /  Remove Birthday Reminders ...

Use Kutools in your preferred language – supports English, Spanish, German, French, Chinese, and 40+ others!

Instantly unlock Kutools for Outlook with a single click. Don't wait, download now and boost your efficiency!

kutools for outlook features1 kutools for outlook features2

πŸš€ One-Click Download β€” Get All Office Add-ins

Strongly Recommended: Kutools for Office (5-in-1)

One click to download five installers at once β€” Kutools for Excel, Outlook, Word, PowerPoint and Office Tab Pro. Click to download now!

  • βœ… One-click convenience: Download all five setup packages in a single action.
  • πŸš€ Ready for any Office task: Install the add-ins you need, when you need them.
  • 🧰 Included: Kutools for Excel / Kutools for Outlook / Kutools for Word / Office Tab Pro / Kutools for PowerPoint