We show you how to enable or disable the email notification box that appears in the Windows Taskbar whenever you receive a new message in Microsoft Outlook.
Note: This post is to enable or disable the notification box. For the sound notification, see our post Turn Mail Notification Sound On/Off in Outlook 2016
Fix 1: Outlook Setting
- In Outlook, select the “File” menu.
- Select “Options“.
- Choose the “Mail” option in the left pane.
- Scroll down to the “Message arrival” section. Check the “Display a Desktop Alert” box if you want a notification box to appear when you receive an email. Uncheck it if you don’t want a notification box to appear. You can also choose “Show an envelope icon in the taskbar” if you wish.
Fix 2 – Windows Notification Settings
- Right-click a blank area on the taskbar, then select “Taskbar settings“.
- Scroll down to the area that says “Notification area” and choose the “Select which icons appear on the taskbar“.
- Look for “Microsoft Outlook” entry. There may be several, but look for the one that says “Microsoft Outlook – You have new unread e-mail messages.” and toggle it to the “On” position to enable it. Turn it “Off” to disable it.
Louis Morrical says
I have the same issue. All the settings are correct and several users on our domain are having the same issue since updated to Microsoft Office 2021. Why can this issue not get resolved?
Vaibhav says
Even after doing all the steps as mentioned by Stephen Davies (the user) and the author, I was not getting any message preview when a new message arrived. I could see was a yellow mailbox icon in the task bar though.. After spending 30 mins, I found below –
1) I applied both the settings – outlook and windows notification (taskbar) setting.
2) I went on Notification and action under Settings.
There is a heading which read – Get notification from these senders.
Here, I enabled Outlook (On; Banners, Sounds)… and Voila it started working.
Jim says
How do I find what my mailbox size is in MB?
STEPHEN DAVIES says
Hello all,
If you want the envelope to appear and also a banner showing the sender details and subject and a few lines of the message, try the following:
1 In Outlook
– Open FILE >OPTIONS>MAIL
– Scroll to MESSAGE ARRIVAL
– Ensure the following are selected:
> Show envelope…
> Display a desktop alert
– Click OK
– Close outlook
2 Task bar notifications
– Left click notification speech icon far right on task bar
– Click ‘MANAGE NOTIFICATIONS’ in top right of notifications area
– Scroll down to section ‘GET NOTIFICATION FROM THESE SENDERS’
– Find ‘OUTLOOK’ and ensure it is set to ON
– Click the OUTLOOK ICON next to the ON/OFF toggle
– Ensure ‘SHOW NOTIFICATION BANNERS’ is set to ON
3 Focus assistant settings
– Nivigate to FOCUS ASSIST in the settings page
– Ensure FOCUS ASSIST is set to OFF
– Scroll down to AUTOMATIC RULES
– Ensure all options are OFF
– Close settings page
4 OPEN OUTLOOK
– send yourself a email
– look for the pop up banner in the bottom right
– SUCCESS!
Mary says
Hi there,
Thank you for sharing this. This is very useful.
However, I had more than 1 inbox for checking, while there is only one inbox that is belongs to me, and others are not, it’s company’s, and I have responsibility for checking them to forward to others or sort it out…
Is there any idea that the Outlook can signal me whenever it received all emails for all the inboxes?
Thanks in advance & regards
Daniel Worf says
My settings were fine and switching them off and on again did nothing. Creating a new profile worked for me. I’m now getting the yellow envelope and the pop up notifications.
Matteo Bay says
I did manage to get the little envelope in the taskbar (right side) . How can I manage to have in addition (or instead) a little yellow envelope over the (open) Outlook icon in the taskbar (so that I have all info in the same place)?
thanks!
Shruti says
I applied both the settings – outlook and windows notification setting. It worked for me.
Thanks!
Patrick Glass says
Right click on the outlook icon in the task bar. Uncheck ‘Display New Mail Alerts’
:)
Asad says
Hi, I tried everything but nothing worked for me. I removed the outlook profile from control panel and created a new one and now I am getting notifications. I am using windows 10 and outlook 2016
Thanks
Manobhiram says
For those who are receiving just a yellow envelope, and want to preview the mail when it comes, just right click on the focus assistant (utmost right bottom). Select drop-down box from Focus assistant and select “OFF”. Here off means “Get all notifications from your apps and contacts”. You can also customize only the priority notifications by selecting the “Priority only” option and adding your respective app.
Adrian Gonzalez says
Hi,
I have created subfolders for different projects in my Inbox. Now I do not receive any notification when mails reach these subfolders, neither in my outlook app on iPhone nor in my desk. How can I fix this? I have tried many stuff. Thanks.
Adrian
Ravi Kiran says
I guess If you have filters, you wouldn’t receive alerts
TB says
Only when I performed these additional steps (including from this article) did it work:
Check and enable Outlook Email Notification in Windows. Detailed steps: Open Start menu in Windows > Settings > System > Notification & actions > enable Get Notifications from apps and other senders > under Get notifications from these senders, enable Outlook 2016.
Mike says
I already have all these settings enabled but I still can’t see any notification when a mail arrives. Just the yellow envelope is visible, but no notification… WTF? Outlook 365
Mia says
I’ve changed the settings in Options > Mail > and it still pops up!!
Patty says
No did not work.
I want to see the subject line and sender appear in the lower right side of my desktop. So, 1) I know I have a new email and 2) I know if it is important to read immediately, or if it can wait.
I now have the envelope icon appear briefly, but I have to open outlook to see if it is important or junk. This is a waste of time in my work flow.
Also, the envelope disappears. So if I am focused on other work it may disappear before I see it..
Very frustrating.
I liked the way it worked on my Win7 OS, Am on Win10 now. May be a Win10 issue?????
Kevin M says
None of these worked for me. I’m still getting a big annoying notification every time I receive a new email.
Any other ideas?
John Bowen says
nicely written explanation, but all these settings were already turned off, yet I still get a window pop up on emails.
Ullas says
Hi Mitch, i am getting new mails on real-time basis but the notification alerts will come together sometimes after 45-50 minutes. i might have already read and attended to the mails…. Its very annoying as it will not allow to work or type during the alerts are running. Any ideas how to address this?
Mitch Bartlett says
Stop harassing her Bradley. No means no!
Bradley Whitrick says
A girl in my office shouts at me when i send emails, what should i do?
Sandra says
I am trying to turn the sound off the notification bar for Microsoft Outlook I do want the notification when I receive an email but I do not want the sound please help me.
Folder Captain says
I tried those steps and it didn’t work for me. I would get a little mail icon in the corner but I couldn’t see the message. For it to work for me, I clicked on the notification box in the corner and all my notifications came up. If you right click one of your email notifications, it will say, “go to notification setting”. Click on that and you will be able to edit those settings. Mine is working now.
Steve@lmfco.com says
I have a user that gets new emails but the alert sometimes is 45-50 minutes before the popup appears. Any ideas?
Doug Reid says
Not working for me neither.
In the Taskbar, “Select which Icons appear” there is no “your have unread email messages” option.
Pablo says
Hi, I did everything you say but I still not receive the mail preview on the taskbar.
What would be the solution?
I’m using Windows 10 and outlook 2016.
Thanks!