Outlook (new) for Windows is finally getting a feature that should have been there from the start … the ability to move emails between mailboxes.
It’s another case of paying customers having to be grateful that Microsoft has finally provided an important feature.
In businesses, especially small ones, moving emails between mailboxes is essential for redirecting messages to the right person. Individuals also need to move messages around their different accounts.
Three ways to move messages in Outlook
Move messages in Outlook, just like you do files in Windows Explorer:
- Right-click on message and choose ‘Move’.
- Cut (menu or Ctrl + X) then Paste (Ctrl + V) in the other mailbox
- Drag and Drop the message to the new mail folder in the navigation pane.
The ‘Drag and Drop’ option is the most common, especially if the destination folder is in the Favorites list.
Outlook (classic) allows moving emails between mailboxes and without the limitations imposed by Outlook (new)
The BIG catch
This is such a much-desired feature and customers have been waiting years for it … so naturally Microsoft has made it difficult for many people to use.
Moving between accounts works for consumer mailboxes but not what Microsoft calls ‘Enterprise’ customers. Non-consumer users are blocked by default from this feature, says Microsoft.
“For Enterprise users, this feature is off by default and is controlled by a policy managed by administrators. By enabling this policy, admins can grant their users the ability to move emails between accounts in a way that aligns with organizational needs and policies.”
In our tests, both ‘Enterprise’ and ‘Business’ plans have ‘move between mailboxes’ blocked by default. That means even individuals or small businesses with a Business plan mailbox.
To change that, you have to dig into PowerShell and the Exchange mailbox policy – not an easy thing. Powershell is both powerful and impenetrable.
Set-OwaMailboxPolicy -ItemsToOtherAccountsEnabledThe default is FALSE, admins have to change that to TRUE.
