Posted by on Feb 3 2013 (updated on Feb 1 2018) in. Aug 26 2015 Update - It would seem that this procedure still works with Windows 10 running Outlook 2016 (both the preview, and the released version, phew!), see details. Here's the original article. Rafe Needleman, recently had this to say, about the need for strong email alternatives: E-mail needs software. Yes, you can do a lot with a Web-based e-mail client (and a lot more than Google currently does with Gmail), but there's nothing like a close-to-the-metal app like an e-mail client to mediate the workflow state of 'I'm blasting through my e-mail, leave me alone.' Even the most modern Web UI is a bottleneck to the e-mail ninja.
All the major e-mail systems let you process your mail before it reaches your in-box. In Outlook this is done by creating rules that automatically forward the messages to the folder of your choice.
With Outlook 2013, is Microsoft is finally competitive again, for those users who want the option of an IMAP compatible email client? I don't know. This article is just a productivity tip. Check out Microsoft's videos and articles at. Hype aside, it does actually appear that Outlook has finally become more nimble, even when handling heavier, multi-gigabyte IMAP email accounts.
![How do i combine all my email accounts How do i combine all my email accounts](/uploads/1/2/5/4/125423885/694086494.jpg)
That doesn't mean I won't still use web mail, but with a new unified inbox view, those occasions where an email client is preferred just became a bit easier. Microsoft's focus is still EAS. But that doesn't explain why it would have been so hard for them to add a Unified Inbox feature, something folks have long been. A single inbox pane, for all your accounts. With replies automatically getting sent from the appropriate account. This feature's absence has become all the more conspicuous lately, given how pervasive it's become elsewhere. On PCs, there's. On Macs, there was. And of course, on most smartphones.
There's good news. It can be done, a button to have a look at all your inboxes in one view, just look above at the screenshot above. It's all thanks to MVP author. Admittedly, the initial configuration of this little macro button that runs a custom search for folder:Inbox takes a lot of mouse-clicking, and success requires careful attention to detail. At least you only set it up once.
![Email Email](/uploads/1/2/5/4/125423885/516205157.png)
This is most definitely a somewhat advanced procedure, mostly just due the number of steps involved. But you'll learn some stuff along the way too. You've been warned! The Office 2013/ Windows 8 combination has demonstrated that Outlook 2013 can handle my tens-of-thousands of emails with ease.
Even with an ancient 4GB POP email archive opened, as well as recent IMAP folders, it's actually fast, using only around 140MB of RAM for itself, even when left running for days. If you're ok with 2 clicks to get to a menu for that Unified Inbox you're craving, well, then head on over to this, where you pin this custom search to the Ribbon.
Pretty fast to configure too. But it's just not as pretty or easy, for day-to-day use.
Honestly, I had intially hoped to be able to save a search folder, which could be pinned to the Favorites area, and look a lot more like a normal Inbox icon to click on, non-functional mock-up seen here. You'd then be able to specify that special folder at Outlook start-up, using the File, Options, Advanced, 'Outlook start and exit', Start Outlook in this folder' menu. Too bad it's a no-go, explained at MSOutlook.info over, which says: Outlook doesn’t offer such a feature and sadly Search Folders are limited to the folder set or mailbox that they are created in. Indeed, that does sure seem to be the case, from my own informal testing.
But there is a way to get single-click launch of a 'Inbox All' button you manually create just once. It simply launches the simple and effective macro by Diane Poremsky in, published back on January 7, 2013. Zane sums it up best, in the comments below Diane's amazing post, saying: THANK YOU!!
I can finally move to IMAP without having to change over to Thunderbird. Let's get started with Diane's instructions, now enhanced with step-by-step Outlook 2013 screenshots I've tested on Outlook 2013 64 bit on Windows 8 64 bit, but it on 32 bit versions as well.
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