To make sure emails from important contacts stand out and do not go unnoticed, you can set up a rule that makes the email appear in a specific color or a specific size and type of font. For example, you can make emails from your boss appear in a larger font or have emails from family members all appear in red. To set up the way emails are displayed for Outlook 2016, Outlook 2010 and Outlook 2007:

For Outlook 2016:

  • Go to the View tab

  •  Select View Settings

 

  • Choose Conditional Formatting

 

  •  Click add
  • Name your rule
  • Click on Font and pick a color, style and size and click OK

 

  • Click on Condition

 

  • Type in the email address of the sender or senders you want to highlight. For multiple people, separate the email address with a semicolon.

 

For Outlook 2010:

  • Go to View tab

 

 

  • Select View Settings

 

  • Choose Conditional Formatting

 

  • Click Add
  • Name your rule
  • Click on Font and pick a color, style and size and click OK

 

  • Click on Condition

 

  • Type in the email address of the sender or senders you want to highlight. For multiple people, separate the email addresses with a semicolon.

 

For Outlook 2007:

  • Go to the tools menu

 

  • Select Organize, using colors

 

  • Then choose specific colors for emails from specific people

 

  • More advanced automatic settings for applying font type and size to emails can be added by selecting Automatic Formatting in the top right corner of the Using Colors screen.

 

  • Click “Add” to create more rules
  • When you’re finished creating your rule, important email will stand out.

 

 

Kantra, Suzanne. “Make Important Email Standout in Outlook with Color Coding” Techlicious February 2017