📌 How to Mark Messages as Spam or Phishing in Microsoft Outlook

Keeping your inbox safe from unwanted or malicious emails is easy with Microsoft Outlook. Whether you're using the desktop client or the mobile app, you can quickly report suspicious messages as spam or phishing.

🖥️ Outlook Desktop Client (Windows/Mac)

Mark as Spam (Junk)

1. Open Outlook and go to your Inbox.
2. Right-click the suspicious email.
3. Hover over Junk, then select Block Sender or Report as Junk.
4. The message will be moved to your Junk Email folder.

Report as Phishing

1. Select the suspicious email.
2. Click the Report button in the toolbar (or go to Home > Report Message).
3. Choose Phishing.
4. Outlook will send the message to Microsoft for analysis and move it to your Junk folder.

🔒 Note: If you don’t see the “Report Message” option, you may need to install the “Report Message” add-in from the Microsoft AppSource.

📱 Outlook Mobile App (iOS/Android)

Mark as Spam (Junk)

1. Open the Outlook app and go to your Inbox.
2. Tap and hold the suspicious email to select it.
3. Tap the three-dot menu (⋮ or …) in the top-right corner.
4. Select Move to Junk.

Report as Phishing

1. Open the email.
2. Tap the three-dot menu in the top-right corner.
3. Choose Report Phishing.
4. The message will be reported to Microsoft and moved to Junk.

✅ Tips for Staying Safe

• Avoid Clicking Suspicious Links: If an email looks suspicious, don’t click on any links or download attachments.
• Verify Sender Information: Check the sender’s email address carefully. Phishing emails often use addresses that look similar to legitimate ones.
• Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Add an extra layer of security to your Outlook account.
• Keep Software Updated: Ensure your Outlook client and mobile app are always up to date to benefit from the latest security patches.
• Use Safe Senders List: Add trusted contacts to your Safe Senders list to prevent their emails from being marked as junk.
• Regularly Check Junk Folder: Occasionally review your Junk folder to ensure legitimate emails haven’t been misclassified.
• Educate Your Team: If you're managing a business account, train employees to recognize and report phishing attempts.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What’s the difference between marking an email as spam vs. phishing?

• Spam (Junk) refers to unwanted or unsolicited emails, often promotional.
• Phishing emails are malicious attempts to steal personal information or credentials by impersonating trusted sources.

2. What happens when I report an email as phishing in Outlook?

• The email is moved to your Junk folder.
• A copy is sent to Microsoft for analysis to improve spam and phishing detection across Outlook.

3. Can I undo marking an email as spam or phishing?

Yes. Go to your Junk Email folder, right-click the message, and choose Move to Inbox or Not Junk.

4. Is reporting phishing available on mobile devices?

Yes. Both iOS and Android versions of the Outlook app allow you to report phishing via the three-dot menu in the email view.

5. Will the sender be blocked automatically when I mark an email as junk?

If you choose Block Sender, future emails from that address will go directly to Junk. Simply marking as junk doesn’t block the sender.

6. Do I need an add-in to report phishing in Outlook desktop?

Some versions of Outlook may require the Report Message or Report Phishing add-in. You can install it from Microsoft AppSource if it’s not already available.

7. Can I customize spam filtering settings in Outlook?

Yes. In the desktop client, go to Home > Junk > Junk Email Options to adjust filtering levels and manage safe/block lists.