Best Methods to Fix “Outlook Spam Filter not Working”

Why Outlook Junk Filter Not Working?

Several most common underlying reasons that lead to the Microsoft spam filter not working issue are:

• Disabled Junk Email Filtering: Sometimes it is disabled by a system policy or after an Outlook/system update.
• Corrupt Outlook Rules or Cache: Sometimes, very old rules are causing the junk mail process to fail.
• Third-party Add-ins: Some Outlook plugins cause Outlook’s filtering logic to fail.
• Server-side Issue: The IMAP or Exchange filters fail to sync properly with the Outlook side configurations.
• Overfilled Safe Sender List: New rules do not apply when enough entries exist together.

Ways to Fix Microsoft Outlook Spam Filter Not Working

There are a few manual workarounds that you can try to ensure this issue is resolved manually. However, if you encounter corruption or face data loss, the best option is to use automated software that helps with the recovery. Below, we have specified all the solutions briefly for convenience and a quick fix. Go through each one of them to solve the issue and resume your work.

Spam Filter Not Working in Outlook: Manual Fixes

Below are the various free fixes you can try to troubleshoot the issue easily:

1. Review Junk Mail Settings

1. In Outlook, navigate to Home >> Junk >> E-mail Options.
2. Then, make sure you are not set to “No Automatic Filtering”
3. Further, select Low or High filtering level as you see fit.
4. Finally, add known spammers to your Blocked Senders List.

2. Delete Old Rules and Create New Rules

1. First, go to Outlook File >> Manage Rules & Alerts.
2. There, delete old or incompatible rules for junk mail.
3. Again, restart Outlook to create new filtering rules.

3. Disable Conflicting Add-ins

1. Initially, access File >> Options >> Add-ins in MS Outlook.
2. Next, click Manage COM Add-ins >> Go >> and uncheck any that you suspect are interfering.
3. Restart Outlook and see if the filtering works again.

If these methods help you resolve Outlook spam filter not working, then it’s good. Otherwise, continue with the following ways.

4. Clear the Outlook Cache

1. Close Outlook and navigate to: %localappdata%\Microsoft\Outlook
2. After that, delete or rename the .ost/.pst cache file.
3. At last, open Outlook again to allow it to be created cleanly.

5. Update or Repair Microsoft Outlook

Maybe an outdated version is breaking the spam handling script.

1. Move to File >> Office Account >> Update Options >> Update Now.
2. If that doesn’t work, run Repair from Control Panel >> Programs >> Microsoft Office >> Change >> Repair.

6. Rebuild Junk Mail Filter Database

Those who use the Outlook server with Exchange or M365 can:

1. At the start, access OWA (Outlook Web App) and check if junk filtering is working there.
2. If it is, then recreate the Outlook profile locally to resync the filter policies.
3. If not, then request the Exchange admin to reset the junk mail policy.

These are a few ways you can handle the Outlook junk filter not working issue manually. But if the problem is much bigger, like file corruption. Then?

Microsoft Outlook Spam Filter Not Working: Professional Fix

Sometimes, the Outlook’s native PST file may be corrupted, and this is why the spam filter may not be working properly. Hence, use the SysInfo PST File Recovery Tool to scan, repair, and rebuild corrupted or damaged PSTs without any difficulties. It recovers Outlook email items like Emails, Calendars, Contacts, Tasks, etc., from corrupt PST files directly and enables saving in multiple formats. Moreover, this tool is highly secure and ensures users face no downtime. Therefore, it also gives a Demo (Free) version to understand the tool better.

How to Fix the PST File Corruption Automatically?

1. Start the PST Recovery Software and press Open from the ribbon.
2. Then, click the (…) button to browse PST and load it into the software.
3. Further, pick your recovery mode (Standard/Advanced) and click OK.
4. Afterward, the files are scanned, and you can preview the data.
5. In the end, press Save, choose a format, pick a destination, and click OK.

This will help manage the PST files effectively, and your spam filter not working in Outlook issue will be ultimately resolved, too.

Conclusion

The reason behind the Outlook spam filter not working is due to outdated settings, conflicts, and Outlook’s rules. With a proper refresh, updated filters, and being cautious with user behaviour, your inbox will once again become well-maintained against junk and phishing attempts. Moreover, if you find that the issue is serious and your PST is more damaged, then it’s best to use the expert PST Repair Tool.

FAQs

About The Author:

Suman Rawat

Suman Rawat is a technical content writer and expert in the fields of email migration, data recovery, and email backup. Her passion for helping people has led her to resolve many user queries related to data conversion and cloud backup.