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dont_know's avatar
dont_know
Copper Contributor
Sep 08, 2020

Outlook RULES are not working

I've been using the outlook "Rules" for years. Suddenly a few months ago they are not working. I have spent many hours on phone with Outlook tech support. Installed, reinstalled, repaired, new profiles, etc. Don't waste your time, nothing worked. It is a bug in one of the updates for Office or for Windows.

 

Now I spend the ENTIRE day going through emails, instead of an hour.

I have been begging Microsoft to fix the problem I NEED the rules to work!

  • Austin_M's avatar
    Austin_M
    Brass Contributor

    dont_know 

     

    Hello dont_know,

     

    Outlook rules make the management of emails easy by allowing you to sort, mark, and filter incoming emails. However, at times, you find that Outlook rules are not working Automatically when new messages arrive in your inbox. It might happen due to various reasons like rules exceeding the quota set for the mailbox, corruption in PST files, etc. 

     

    A rule is an action in which Outlook for Windows runs automatically on incoming/outgoing email messages. If you're facing the issue of Outlook rules not working automatically, then follow the steps below to fix the issue,

     

    Ensure the Rules are Enabled:

     

    • Firstly, open MS Outlook and navigate to Files > Rules & Alerts.
    • Now, under the Rules & Alerts dialog box, check that the "enabled" checkboxes against the concerned rules are selected
    • Then, enable them if not selected.

     

    Rename or Reset SRS File settings:

     

    In order to fix the issue of Outlook rules not working automatically, you have to rename/reset your send/receive settings (.srs) file.

     

    • Firstly, locate my computer icon and double-click on it to open
    • Next, navigate to the following default location of the .srs file:

    C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Outlook

    • Now, rename Outlook.srs file to Outlook.srs.old
    • Lastly, restart Outlook to recreate the SRS file.

     

    Delete and Recreate the Rules:

     

    If Outlook rules are corrupted/damaged, then you can delete & recreate them by following the steps below,

     

    • Firstly, open Outlook, click on File Tab, then go to Info
    • Now, navigate to Manage Rules & Alerts.
    • Then, select the rule from the list and click Delete.
    • Click on Yes to delete the existing rules.
    • Lastly, recreate the rules in Outlook by using the Rules Wizard.

     

    The Outlook rules feature allows users to create an automated response for emails. Thus, implementing the above steps will help you to fix the Outlook rules that do not run automatically.

     

    -----------------------

    Regards,
    Austin_M

    • Emerald_Slants's avatar
      Emerald_Slants
      Copper Contributor

      Austin_M 

      I have followed these suggestions but have not been able to get the Edit Rules tab of the Rules & Alert dialog box to respond, regardless of which method I use to open it.  Clicking on any of the buttons at the top of the tab does nothing.  The checkbox at the bottom of the box ("Enable rules on...") does respond but I cannot create, change, copy, delete, or run rules or invoke the options setting.

       

      No rules appear in the dialog box despite my having previously created a dozen or more.  Another client on my home network (not an enterprise installation) successfully displays and runs all of the rules.  I have already removed and re-installed Office 365 to no avail.

       

      The Manage Alerts tab functions properly.

       

      Any more troubleshooting recommendations?

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