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Open Inbox Folder

Author Kelly Last modified

After adding email accounts in Outlook, you can receive, read, and send emails via Outlook. By default, incoming email will arrive in the Inbox folder. In general, the Inbox folder opens automatically when you launch Outlook. However, the Inbox does not open in some circumstances. This tutorial will show you how to open the Inbox folder in Outlook.

Note: This tutorial is introduced based on exchange account in Microsoft Outlook 2019 desktop program in Windows 10. And it may vary significantly or slightly depending on the types of email accounts (Exchange, IMAP or POP), the versions of Microsoft Outlook, and Windows environments.

Open the Inbox folder manually

After launching Outlook, you can easily open the Inbox folder from the Folder Pane.

Just click Inbox on the Folder Pane to open it.

find inbox folder

Notes:
(1) If the Folder Pane is turned off or minimized, please click View > Folder Pane > Normal to display the Folder Pane normally.
(2) If you have added multiple email accounts in Outlook, there will be multiple Inbox folders on the Folder Pane. Click a certain Inbox will open the Inbox folder of corresponding email account.

Open Inbox folder automatically when starting Outlook

If the Inbox folder does not open automatically when launching Outlook, you can change the Outlook options and force opening the Inbox folder automatically.

1. Click File > Options to open the Outlook Options dialog.

steps of opening inbox automatically when start outlook

2. In the Outlook Options dialog, please click Advanced in the left bar, and then click the Browse button in the Outlook start and exit section.

steps of opening inbox automatically when start outlook

3. In the Select Folder dialog, please click to select the specified Inbox you need to open automatically, and click the OK button.

steps of opening inbox automatically when start outlook
Tips: If you have added multiple email accounts in Outlook, there will be multiple Inbox folders. You can select one of these Inbox folders as you need.

4. Click the OK button in the Outlook Options dialog.

From now on, the specified Inbox folder will be opened automatically when you start Outlook.

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