Outlook Auto Mark Deleted Email as Read?

Updated 7 November 2026 · Standard formula, shown below

Outlook does not automatically mark an email as read when you delete it. By default, deleting a message removes it from the Inbox without changing its read/unread status, but the behavior can vary depending on your Outlook version and settings. This article explains exactly how deletion interacts with read status, how to make Outlook mark deleted emails as read automatically, and what to do when the feature doesn’t work as expected.

How Outlook Handles Deleted Emails

When you delete an email in Outlook, it is moved to the Deleted Items folder (also called Trash in some versions). The read/unread flag on the message itself is not changed by the deletion action. If you later restore the message from Deleted Items, it will still show the same read status it had before deletion. This is true for the Outlook desktop app (Windows and Mac), Outlook on the web (OWA), and the Outlook mobile apps.

However, there is a common nuance: if you delete an unread email from the Inbox, the next unread message in the list becomes selected, but the deleted one is gone. Some users interpret this as the email being “marked read” because it disappears. In reality, the flag is untouched.

Why You Might Want Deleted Emails Marked as Read

There are a few practical reasons people want this behavior:

Cleaner Deleted Items: If you later browse Deleted Items, unread messages appear bold, which can be visually cluttered.
Sync with other devices: If you use multiple devices, an unread deleted message might still trigger a notification or badge count on another device until it is fully purged.
Server-side rules: Some email servers or third-party tools treat unread messages differently, and you might want to avoid that.

How to Auto-Mark Deleted Emails as Read (Desktop)

Outlook does not have a built-in toggle that says “mark deleted emails as read.” However, you can achieve this with a simple VBA macro in the Windows desktop version. Here’s how:

Press Alt+F11 to open the VBA editor.
In the left pane, double-click ThisOutlookSession.
Paste the following code:

Private Sub Application_ItemSend(ByVal Item As Object, Cancel As Boolean)
    ' This macro runs when an email is sent, not when deleted.
    ' For deletion, use the following event instead.
End Sub

Private Sub Application_ItemDelete(ByVal Item As Object)
    If Item.Class = olMail Then
        Item.UnRead = False
        Item.Save
    End If
End Sub

Close the editor and restart Outlook.

This macro triggers whenever any item is deleted. It checks if the item is an email, and if so, sets its UnRead property to False and saves the change. Note that this runs after the item is moved to Deleted Items, so the flag changes there.

On a Mac, VBA is not supported in Outlook, so this method won’t work. You can use AppleScript or a third-party utility, but there is no simple built-in option.

Using Rules and Quick Steps as an Alternative

If you don’t want to use VBA, you can create a rule that marks incoming emails as read immediately. This doesn’t affect deletion, but it can reduce the number of unread emails you delete in the first place.

Go to Home > Rules > Manage Rules & Alerts.
Create a rule that applies to all messages or specific senders.
Select Mark it as read as the action.

This way, emails you receive are already read before you delete them. For emails that arrive unread and you want to delete without marking read, the VBA method above is the only reliable way to auto-mark them at deletion time.

Common Problems and Fixes

If you try the VBA macro and it doesn’t work, check these:

Macro security: Outlook may block macros by default. Go to File > Options > Trust Center > Trust Center Settings &strong; > Macro Settings and select Enable all macros (not recommended for long-term security, but necessary for testing).
Event name: The correct event is Application_ItemDelete, not ItemDelete alone. Make sure it’s in the ThisOutlookSession module.
Item class: The macro checks Item.Class = olMail. If you delete a calendar item or contact, it will be skipped, which is correct.
Save method: The Item.Save call is essential. Without it, the change may not persist.

If you are using Outlook on the web, there is no VBA. You cannot auto-mark deleted emails as read in a browser. The only workaround is to use a browser extension that simulates a click on the “Mark as Read” button before deletion, but that is not a native feature.

Comparison: Outlook Versions and Platforms

The behavior and options differ across platforms:

Outlook for Windows: Supports VBA macros, so you can fully automate marking deleted emails as read.
Outlook for Mac: No VBA. You can use AppleScript, but it requires more setup and may not work with all versions.
Outlook on the web: No macro support. You can only manually mark emails as read before deleting.
Outlook mobile apps: No automation. Swiping to delete does not mark as read.

If you are using Microsoft 365, the web version is the same as OWA. The desktop version is the only one that offers full scripting.

Safety and Security Considerations

Using VBA macros in Outlook can be a security risk if you enable all macros without restrictions. Malicious macros can run harmful code. The macro provided above is safe, but you should only enable macros from sources you trust. Always keep your antivirus software updated and never paste code from unknown websites without reviewing it.

Also note that marking an email as read after deletion does not affect the sender. The sender only sees whether you read their email if they use a read receipt request, and that is based on the original read status at the time the receipt is generated. If you delete an email without opening it, the sender may not get a read receipt, which is fine.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does deleting an unread email in Outlook mark it as read?

No. Deleting an email does not change its read status. The email is simply moved to Deleted Items with the same flag it had before.

Can I make Outlook automatically mark deleted emails as read?

Yes, but only in the Windows desktop version using a VBA macro. There is no built-in setting. The macro provided above does exactly that.

Will the macro work on Outlook for Mac?

No. Outlook for Mac does not support VBA. You would need to use AppleScript or a third-party automation tool, which is more complex and not officially documented.

Why does my deleted email still show as unread in Deleted Items?

Because the deletion action does not update the read flag. If you want it to be read, you must manually mark it as read before deleting, or use the macro.

Does marking an email as read after deletion notify the sender?

No. The sender is not notified about read status unless they requested a read receipt, and even then, the receipt is only sent when the email is opened. Deleting an email does not trigger a read receipt.

Is there a way to do this without VBA?

Not directly. You could create a rule to mark all incoming emails as read, but that affects all emails, not just deleted ones. There is no native option to mark only deleted emails as read.

Method: the standard formula for this calculation, rounded as each result states. See how the calculators work or report an error.