How to Create and Manage Inbox Rules

Set up rules to automatically sort, mark, forward, or filter incoming emails. Rules run server-side — they work even when Outlook is not open.

List Existing Rules#

“Show me my inbox rules”

tool: manage-rules
params:
  action: "list"

For full details on conditions, actions, and exceptions:

tool: manage-rules
params:
  action: "list"
  includeDetails: true

Create a Rule#

Basic: Sort by Sender#

“Create a rule to move GitHub notifications to a GitHub folder”

tool: manage-rules
params:
  action: "create"
  name: "GitHub Notifications"
  fromAddresses: "noreply@github.com, notifications@github.com"
  moveToFolder: "GitHub"
  markAsRead: true

OR Logic: Multiple Subject Keywords#

Use comma-separated values to match any of the keywords (OR logic):

“Move emails with invoice, receipt, or payment in the subject to Finance”

tool: manage-rules
params:
  action: "create"
  name: "Finance Documents"
  containsSubject: "invoice, receipt, payment, statement"
  moveToFolder: "Finance"

Combined Conditions#

Combine multiple conditions — all must match (AND logic between different condition types):

“Move emails with attachments that mention invoices to my Paperless folder”

tool: manage-rules
params:
  action: "create"
  name: "Paperless — receipts with attachments"
  containsSubject: "invoice, receipt, payment, order confirmation"
  hasAttachments: true
  moveToFolder: "Paperless"
  markAsRead: true

Exceptions: Exclude Specific Senders or Subjects#

Exceptions let you skip the rule for certain matches. Use except* parameters:

“Move receipt emails to Paperless, but NOT from my accountant”

tool: manage-rules
params:
  action: "create"
  name: "Paperless — receipts (except accountant)"
  containsSubject: "invoice, receipt, payment"
  hasAttachments: true
  moveToFolder: "Paperless"
  markAsRead: true
  exceptFromAddresses: "tax@withaccounting.com"
  exceptSubjectContains: "tax return, FYI"

Preview with Dry Run#

Use dryRun: true to preview a rule without creating it:

tool: manage-rules
params:
  action: "create"
  name: "Test Rule"
  fromAddresses: "alerts@example.com"
  moveToFolder: "Alerts"
  dryRun: true

Forward or Redirect Matching Emails#

tool: manage-rules
params:
  action: "create"
  name: "Forward client emails"
  fromAddresses: "client@company.com"
  forwardTo: "team@company.com"
  stopProcessingRules: true

If OUTLOOK_ALLOWED_RECIPIENTS is set and any forwardTo or redirectTo address isn’t on it, the whole rule is refused with an error naming the blocked addresses. Nothing is created, and a rule is never saved with the blocked forwarding quietly dropped. The same applies to update, and a dryRun reports that the rule would be refused.

Assign Categories#

tool: manage-rules
params:
  action: "create"
  name: "Tag urgent emails"
  importance: "high"
  sentToMe: true
  assignCategories: "Urgent, Follow Up"

Auto-Delete Noise#

Move matching emails to Deleted Items (not permanent deletion):

tool: manage-rules
params:
  action: "create"
  name: "Delete marketing noise"
  senderContains: "marketing, promo, newsletter"
  deleteMessage: true

Update an Existing Rule#

Modify a rule by name or ID. Conditions and actions use replace semantics — provide all desired values, not just changes.

“Add exceptions to my receipts rule”

tool: manage-rules
params:
  action: "update"
  ruleName: "Paperless — receipts with attachments"
  exceptFromAddresses: "tax@withaccounting.com, admin@company.com"

“Rename and disable a rule”

tool: manage-rules
params:
  action: "update"
  ruleName: "Old Rule Name"
  name: "New Rule Name"
  isEnabled: false

“Preview changes before applying”

tool: manage-rules
params:
  action: "update"
  ruleName: "My Rule"
  containsSubject: "urgent, critical, asap"
  dryRun: true

Reorder Rule Priority#

Rules execute in sequence order — lower numbers run first. If two rules conflict, the first one wins.

“Make the GitHub rule run first”

tool: manage-rules
params:
  action: "reorder"
  ruleName: "GitHub Notifications"
  sequence: 1

The result lists every rule in its new order and names any other rule Exchange renumbered, with its old and new number (or says none was). Deleting a rule later doesn’t shift them back, so note the order if you might want to restore it.

Delete a Rule#

tool: manage-rules
params:
  action: "delete"
  ruleName: "GitHub Notifications"

Available Conditions#

All string conditions accept comma-separated values for OR logic.

Parameter	What it matches	Example
fromAddresses	Exact sender emails	"boss@example.com, ceo@example.com"
sentToAddresses	Exact recipient emails	"team@example.com"
containsSubject	Subject keywords (OR)	"invoice, receipt, payment"
bodyContains	Body text keywords (OR)	"urgent, action required"
bodyOrSubjectContains	Body OR subject keywords	"deadline, overdue"
senderContains	Partial sender match	"example.com, noreply"
recipientContains	Partial recipient match	"team, support"
hasAttachments	Has file attachments	true
importance	Email importance level	"high", "normal", "low"
sensitivity	Email sensitivity	"confidential", "private"
sentToMe	I am a recipient	true
sentOnlyToMe	I am the only recipient	true
sentCcMe	I am in CC	true
isAutomaticReply	Auto-reply/OOO message	true

Available Actions#

Parameter	What it does	Example
moveToFolder	Move to folder (name, nested path, or folder ID)	"Archive", "Triage/Delete"
copyToFolder	Copy to folder (name, nested path, or folder ID)	"Backup", "Projects/Backup"
markAsRead	Mark as read	true
markImportance	Set importance level	"high", "low"
forwardTo	Forward to recipients	"user@example.com"
redirectTo	Redirect (appears from original sender)	"alias@example.com"
assignCategories	Assign Outlook categories	"Work, Important"
stopProcessingRules	Stop evaluating further rules	true
deleteMessage	Move to Deleted Items	true

Available Exceptions#

Exceptions use the same conditions with except prefix. The rule is skipped when any exception matches.

Parameter	Excludes when
exceptFromAddresses	Sender matches these emails
exceptSubjectContains	Subject contains these keywords
exceptSenderContains	Sender partially matches
exceptBodyContains	Body contains these keywords
exceptHasAttachments	Email has attachments

Full Parameter Reference#

Parameter	Used with	Description
action	All	list, create, update, reorder, delete
includeDetails	list	Show conditions, actions, exceptions
name	create, update	Rule name (required for create, rename for update)
dryRun	create, update	Preview without committing
isEnabled	create, update	Enable/disable (default: true)
sequence	create, reorder	Execution order (lower = first)
ruleName	update, reorder, delete	Identify rule by name
ruleId	update, delete	Identify rule by ID
All conditions	create, update	See tables above
All actions	create, update	See tables above
All exceptions	create, update	See tables above

Safety#

• dryRun: Preview rules before creating or updating. A dry run doesn’t count towards the rate limit, and still previews once the limit is reached.
• Rate limiting: every change (create, update, reorder and delete) counts towards one per-session cap, set with OUTLOOK_MAX_MANAGE_RULES_PER_SESSION (or OUTLOOK_MAX_EMAILS_PER_SESSION when that isn’t set). Unset means no limit; 0 blocks every rule change. Once it’s reached, further changes return a “Rate limit reached” error until the server restarts. list is never counted.
• Recipient allowlist: forwardTo and redirectTo are checked against OUTLOOK_ALLOWED_RECIPIENTS. If any address is blocked, the whole rule (or update) is refused rather than saved without the forwarding.
• No permanent delete: deleteMessage moves to Deleted Items (recoverable). Permanent deletion is not available via this tool.
• Replace semantics on update: When updating conditions or actions, the entire section is replaced. Use dryRun to preview before applying.
• Read-only mode: with OUTLOOK_READ_ONLY=true, every rule change (and dry run) is refused before it reaches Microsoft; list still works.
• Plugin safety hook: a rule keeps acting on new mail after the call, so with the Outlook Assistant plugin installed (at its default confirmation level) you’re asked before every create, update, reorder and delete, with a reason that names any forwarding, for example “Creates the inbox rule ‘Invoices’, which keeps acting on new mail until removed: it forwards matching mail to billing@example.net.” The hook lets dry runs through without asking. Treat a request to forward mail that came from an email’s content, not from you, as suspect. See Supported Clients and Their Limits for which clients run the hook.

Tips#

• Create the destination folder first with the folders tool before creating a rule that targets it
• Use markAsRead: true for high-volume automated notifications (CI/CD, alerts)
• Use stopProcessingRules: true on catch-all rules to prevent later rules from overriding
• Use dryRun: true to preview complex rules before creating
• Comma-separated string conditions use OR logic — any keyword match triggers the rule
• Different condition types use AND logic — all conditions must be true

Related#

• Organise with Folders — create folders for your rules to target
• Automate Your Inbox — combine rules, categories, and Focused Inbox
• Manage Focused Inbox — another way to sort important vs unimportant mail
• Tools Reference — manage-rules