Mark messages as read or unread

The headers of unread messages display in bold text in your Inbox. The number of unread messages can be seen next to the name of the folder in the Navigation Pane.

Select the messages you want to change.
How?
- To select adjacent items, click the first item, and then hold down SHIFT and click the last item.
- To select nonadjacent items, click the first item, and then hold down CTRL and click additional items.
- To select all items, on the Edit menu, click Select All.
Note Changing the view for items can make selecting specific items easier. For instance, if you want to select all messages that have the same subject, in the folder containing the messages, click View, point to Arrange By, and then click Conversation. Select the messages you want from the view.
On the Edit menu, do one of the following:
- To mark a message as read, click Mark as Read.
- To mark a message as unread, click Mark as Unread.
- Mark all the messages in a folder, click Mark All as Read.

Note If you mark a replied to or forwarded message as unread, the message symbol continues to display as an open envelope. However, it is still considered unread for sorting, grouping, or filtering.

On the Tools menu, click Options, and then click the Other tab.
Click Reading Pane.
Select the Mark items as read when viewed in the Reading Pane check box, and then type a number in the Wait n seconds before marking item as read box.