Messages that are sent to only you in Microsoft Outlook can be formatted in a unique way so that it’s easy to glance at your email and know which emails you need to open. Instructions in this article apply to Outlook 2019, 2016, 2013, 2010; and Outlook for Microsoft 365.

What to Know

  • In Outlook, go to the View tab and, in the Current View group, select View Settings.Select Conditional Formatting > Add and enter a name.Choose a font, click OK to save the settings, select the rule, select Condition, and choose the only person on the To line.

Highlight Mail Sent to You Only in Outlook

Use Conditional Formatting to make specific messages stand out.

  • Go to the View tab and, in the Current View group, select View Settings.
  • Select Conditional Formatting.
  • Select Add.
  • In the Name text box, enter a name for the rule. For example, enter Highlight my messages.
  • Select Font.
  • Choose the desired formatting style for these messages. Choose a Font, Font style, Size, and Color.
  • Select OK to save the settings.
  • Select the rule you created, then select Condition.
  • Select the Where I am checkbox and choose the only person on the To line.
  • If you want to apply this formatting style to unread messages so that read messages look like other messages, go to the More Choices tab and select the Only items that are checkbox and select unread.
  • Select OK to close each of the dialog boxes.

Go to the View tab and, in the Current View group, select View Settings.

Select Conditional Formatting.

Select Add.

In the Name text box, enter a name for the rule. For example, enter Highlight my messages.

Select Font.

Choose the desired formatting style for these messages. Choose a Font, Font style, Size, and Color.

Select OK to save the settings.

Select the rule you created, then select Condition.

Select the Where I am checkbox and choose the only person on the To line.

If you want to apply this formatting style to unread messages so that read messages look like other messages, go to the More Choices tab and select the Only items that are checkbox and select unread. 

Select OK to close each of the dialog boxes.

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