How to Delete Emails After a Specific Rule in Outlook 365

Are you tired of searching for emails that seem to have vanished into thin air? If so, you're not alone. Many users struggle with mailbox filtering rules in Outlook 365, which can lead to emails disappearing without a trace. In this article, we'll explore how to set up a rule in Outlook 365 to delete emails after a specific condition is met.

Firstly, let's understand what mail flow rules and inbox rules are. Mail flow rules refer to the automated processes that help manage your email workflow, while inbox rules focus on filtering and organizing your emails within your inbox. These rules can be set up to perform various actions, such as moving or deleting emails, based on specific conditions.

To start, you'll need to enable macro security in Outlook 365. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Go to File > Options > Trust Center.

2. Click on the 'Trust Center Settings' button.

3. Under the 'Macro Settings' section, select 'Enable all macros'.

Now that we have macro security enabled, let's create a rule in Outlook 365 to delete emails after a specific condition is met.

Here's an example of how you can set up this rule using VBA code:

```vb

Private Sub objItems_ItemAdd(ByVal Item As Object)

Dim intCount As Integer

Dim objWatchFolder As MAPIFolder

Dim objNS As Namespace

' Set macro security to low during testing.

' Remove these lines if you don't want to add a category.

intCount = 1 Step -1

' Set the watch folder.

Set objWatchFolder = objNS.GetDefaultFolder(olFolderInbox).Folders('My Folder')

' Check if the subject and sent date match.

If objVariant.Subject = Item.Subject And objVariant.SentOn < Item.SentOn Then

' Remove these lines if you don't want to add a category.

' Delete older messages.

End If

End Sub

```

This code will watch a specific folder for new items and delete any emails that meet the following conditions:

1. The subject matches.

2. The sent date is older than the current email.

To set up this rule in Outlook 365, follow these steps:

1. Go to File > Manage Rules & Alerts.

2. Click on the 'New Rule' button.

3. Select 'Start from a blank rule'.

4. Choose 'Check messages when they arrive'.

5. Click 'Next'.

6. Add a condition based on the subject and sent date using the code above.

7. Choose 'Move it to the specified folder' or 'Delete it'.

8. Set up the destination folder or choose to delete the email immediately.

By setting up this rule in Outlook 365, you'll be able to automate the process of deleting emails after a specific condition is met, saving you time and reducing frustration.

Outlook 365 delete emails after rule