How to create filters in Outlook Express 6

by Ross McKillop on July 22, 2006

Email Windows

This tutorial will guide you in creating a filter (or “rule”) in Outlook Express 6. If you receive a number of spam messages with a specific word in the subject (adult products, mortgages, etc) creating a subject based filter can help clean up your Inbox…

  1. When Outlook Express is open, select Tools from the top menu, then Message Rules and finally Mail…

  2. In the Select the Conditions for your rule section, place a check in the box labeled Where the Subject line contains specific words. In the Select the Actions for your rule window, place a check in the box labeled Move it to the specified folder. Now, click the link titled contains specific words


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  3. One at a time, enter the words you wish use as the basis of your filter, and click Add each time. In this example, the word viagra is used. I’ve also added “other” spellings of the word, by replacing the letter i with the number 1 (one), the letter a with the number 4 (four), as spammers will often misspell words intentionally to make it through spam filters.

    4. Click OK when you’re done.

  4. Back in the New Mail Rule window, select the link titled specified


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  5. Now you’ll create a folder to route these messages to so you can review them before deleting (in case one of your actual contacts happens to send you a message with one of the filtered words in the subject).

    To create a folder for these messages, click the plus sign (+) next to Local Folders and then select your Inbox. With the Inbox highlighted, click the New Folder button. Enter a name for your folder (“spam” is a good example) and then click OK

  6. Make sure the folder was created in the correct location, and then click OK

  7. Now give your newly created filter (rule) a name and click OK to continue


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  8. From here you can create another rule by clicking New…, or click OK to return to Outlook Express.


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  9. To test the filter, send yourself an email with the “filtered” word in the subject. If you followed the above steps carefully, that message will be directed to your spam folder rather than your Inbox the next time you check your email.


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  • Markus

    Can you help me in setting rule for sent mail in outlook express 6.0

  • Kelley Ryle

    Can you help with setting up Outlook Express 6.0 with an automated message, i.e. out of office between x/xx/xx and x/xx/xx, etc. Thanks.

  • Pat

    Tell me why would I want to save spam mail to my computer?

    I want to block it!

  • Peter

    how can I specify only allowed email addresses to come into my inbox and reject (and delete) all others (those that are not on my allowed list)?

    Thank you

  • Peter

    Using Outlook Express 6, how can I specify only allowed email addresses to come into my inbox and reject (and delete) all others (those that are not on my allowed list)?

    Thank you