Forum Discussion
Andrew Sparks
Dec 11, 2018Brass Contributor
Mobile app Sub folder notifications
We have pushed all our users to use Outlook mobile apps on iOS and Android, however many are complaining that they have created rules on the Outlook desktop client to put emails in certain sub folders (i.e. all emails from my manager go into a sub folder) and not getting notifications. As the email is moved to the folder before it gets to the client, the mobile apps do not display a notification.
As a work around I've had to set up some Flows so that if email received from a certain email address, it displays a notification. The user can then open Outlook and go to the relevant folder. Its not pretty.
This seems like a basic feature, its available in the iOS and Android stock mail apps which most used before we pushed them to Outlook.
Any plans on the mobile apps to have notifications for sub folders?
- philipmanejaCopper Contributor
please try this, maybe it can help
in outlook desktop
edit the rule, then check display a desktop alert then applythen observe your outlook mobile if you receive notification from the sender which have the rule that i mention.
- DeanT01Copper Contributor
philipmanejaThis was already suggested a VERY long time ago and does not work. The only notification you get is for default emails into the inbox.
Some people have many folders and to now go and create a new rule for every message in every folder will take most people a very long time, only to discover it still doesn't work.
I gave up using Outlook on my Android phone a few years back as it just never worked.
I am using the Gmail app for all my mails and this works 100% and notifies me on every email.
This issue has been going on for so long I think that even Microsoft has given up on it.
- rick_willsCopper Contributor
2024, over 240k views on this post, still no update for such a simple and necessary function?
- samuelsedlakCopper ContributorI can't believe this has been ignored for 6 years
- forbes13Copper Contributor
I started having this issue when I signed up for the new Outlook. This is how I fixed it. Using Android btw.
Deleted all my rules because there weren't working when I updated to the new outlook. Created all rules using the new outlook, surprising it doesn't allow you to select a sound when create new rules.
I had to reopen the old outlook, then go into mange rules and then select a sound for those rules made in the new outlook. I did receive some pop when this was completed. I started receiving notification for sub folder on both desktop and android app.
The draw back, I cant edit those rules on the new outlook. Hope this helps.
- joepaloCopper ContributorI know this is not exactly the fix you are looking for but I ran into the same issue with not getting notifications from my sub-folders. The compromise I decided on was deleting the rules that moved the messages to my sub folders and creating a new rule that sent a copy of the messages to my sub folders. That way they were delivered to my main inbox, triggering a notification, but they were also put in the corresponding subfolder so I knew where to find the email when I wanted it. Hope this helps!
- CruiserbillCopper Contributor
- StephenWhiteD3GIron Contributor
Cruiserbill Unfortunately that doesn't work. I tried it and after a month+ of using that setting, and the problem still persists.
I'm am unfortunately going to have to agree with goldendeed 's comment.
- Bex23Copper Contributor
Andrew Sparks this is still a problem now! I have been using a second app on my phone, but that one has stopped working, so I'm back to looking into what to do and found this chain. I can't believe such a basic feature doesn't work! Off to find another app...
- Priyeshmehrotra26Copper ContributorHi ,
I am facing the exact same issue.not getting emails for subfolders on tbe Outlook ios app.is this issue resolved.
Can someone share a workaround or a fix.
- OPnathanCopper Contributor
The year is 2023.
It is still an issue.
- AssafMCopper Contributor
What I did that's work for my is create an empty rule under Stay Up To Date --> Send an alert to my mobile device when I get messages form someone.
just make next all the way without any condition and any exception
and its works for me ( get notify to my folders and sub folders ).
when my desktop outlook app is down the rules not working and I get notification to my mobile app
- StephenWhiteD3GIron ContributorI'm disappointed that there's still no actual solution for this, despite the age of this post. As others have said, it's absurd that Outlook for Android can't offer folder level notifications when the stock email applications for Android and IOS both manage to provide them.
At this point I'm now debating dropping Outlook for Android. I guess Microsoft has higher priorities, whichever they are, it would be great if they could comment and explain why the problem being outlined in this post is something not worth their concern.- DeanT01Copper ContributorLooks like there will never be a fix for this.
My solution that has worked very well for me is to just use the Gmail app.
Works like it should and never gives problems!
Thanks Google! Good job!- StephenWhiteD3GIron Contributor
DeanT01 At this point, I would say that's what Microsoft is telling us to do. I joke, but it feels like they still carry Gates' spite towards mobile and take it out on Android.
- NikhilSharma97Copper Contributor
Hi I was recently facing the same issue and I have figured out a way to do so.
Go to your Rules and edit the rules with the following category. "Play a sound" for those specific mails. What this does is,
The mail arrives in inbox. You get notification in the mobile. The moment you read the mail, it stays there in the inbox.
But as soon as you open Outlook (on the computer) the synchronization makes the rule run and the mail then travels to its dedicated folder.
Hence this solves the 1) Notification issue of mails for subfolders in mobile. 2) Also you can keep your rules running without having to remove them.
I hope this helps.Andrew Sparks
- forbes13Copper ContributorSorry I didn't see this post earlier when I was reposing/replying to the original post. Yep this works. Setting Play sound on rule is what solved this issue for me.
- EcksfiftyoneCopper ContributorPlay sound is a client rule, not server rule right? If so you have to have outlook open all the time for this to work?