How to mark the read email when selecting on Outlook 2016

On Outlook it is always the default mode that does not mark read messages even when we select and view them in the preview pane. If you want to mark a message, you must switch to reading a new email. This accidentally causes users a lot of trouble, in case we read the messages and delete them, the email will become an unread message by default and appears in the Deleted items section.

So how can I make Outlook mark with messages read when we have selected and view them on the Reading Pane preview pane?

Step 1:

In the Outlook interface, we will select the File item at the top of the interface to the left.

Picture 1 of How to mark the read email when selecting on Outlook 2016

Step 2:

Switch to the new interface, users will click the Options section in the menu on the left of the interface.

Picture 2 of How to mark the read email when selecting on Outlook 2016

Step 3:

In the Outlook interface on the left menu, select the Mail tab.

Picture 3 of How to mark the read email when selecting on Outlook 2016

We look to the right interface in the Outlook panes section and click the Reading Pane button.

Picture 4 of How to mark the read email when selecting on Outlook 2016

Step 4:

The Reading Pane dialog box appears. Here, users should check the Mark items as read when viewed in the Reading Pane so that Outlook settings will always mark the incoming email as read when we have selected and view them in the Reading Pane preview pane.

Continue, Outlook will fix the time to mark the email read after 5 seconds, since you read the email. In case we want Outlook to mark the email read immediately when selecting them, it will change the number 5 to 0 in the Wait X seconds before item marking as read . Or you can replace it with 1 or 2 seconds as you like.

Note to users , Mark item as read when selection changes option below will be automatically removed when you tick Mark items as read when viewed in the Reading Pane. Users are only allowed to choose 1 of these 2 options only.

Finally click OK to save this change.

Picture 5 of How to mark the read email when selecting on Outlook 2016

Step 5:

Going back to the Outlook Options interface, click OK below to complete any changes you have made.

Picture 6 of How to mark the read email when selecting on Outlook 2016

With just a very small trick, email on Outlook was marked as read when we selected and viewed them in the Reading Pane preview pane without having to switch to another email. In addition, we can also set the option time for Outlook to automatically mark the read email.

Refer to the following articles:

Email on Outlook is not synchronized on Windows 10, this is how to fix it

List of Outlook 2016 shortcuts when working with Mail

Delete email addresses automatically saved on Outlook

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