- Press “Ctrl” or “Command” (on Mac) to select several emails on desktop Outlook.
- Hover over messages and check the boxes beside them on the web version.
- Long press and drag messages on mobile to select them all.
If you want to move, label, or delete multiple emails on Outlook quickly, you need to be able to select more than one at a time. Fortunately, Outlook makes this relatively easy, no matter whether you’re on desktop, web, or mobile. This guide looks at what to do if you can’t select multiple emails in Outlook.
Can’t Select Multiple Emails in Outlook for the Web
If you’re having issues selecting multiple emails on the web version of Outlook in your browser, here’s what to do.
Step 1. Hover your mouse cursor over any message, and you should see a small check box appear to the left side of the sender name. Click it.
Step 2. Additional boxes should then appear beside all other messages in your inbox. Click them individually to select as many messages as you like.
Can’t Select More Than One Outlook Email on Desktop
On the desktop app, the process is largely similar to the web version.
Step 1. Open the Outlook app and select a message.
Step 2. Press and hold the “Ctrl” (Windows) or “Command” (Mac) key while clicking additional messages to select multiple at once. Note that you can also simply click the corresponding check boxes next to the emails you want to select, and you can use the “Ctrl” and “A” keyboard shortcut to select every message in a folder.
Mobile Outlook Can’t Select Multiple Emails
Finally, here’s the procedure you need to follow if you want to select multiple emails on the mobile version of the Outlook app.
Step 1. Long press on any message you want to select.
Step 2. Keep your finger pressed on the screen and drag down to select other messages in a row. Or, let go and tap individual messages that you want to select.
Other Fixes for “Can’t Select Multiple Emails in Outlook” Issue
If none of the above methods are working for you, here are some additional fixes to try:
- Refresh or restart your version of Outlook, as a random bug or technical issue might be causing the problem.
- Uninstall and then reinstall the mobile or desktop versions of Outlook, and make sure you install all available updates as and when they are available.
- Switch to a different version of Outlook. If you’re having problems with the desktop app, for example, you may find that the web app works fine.
With these methods at your disposal, you should be able to select as many messages as you need on all versions of Outlook and manage your inbox more easily.
