How to Pin an Email in Outlook

Yes, you can pin an email in Outlook if you're using Outlook.com, Outlook on the web, new Outlook for Windows, or Outlook for Mac. Open your Inbox, make sure it is sorted by Date, then hover over the message and click Pin. Classic Outlook for Windows does not support message pinning.[1, 2, 4, 7]

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Christin Baumgarten

Operations Manager

Oliver Jackson
Reviewer

Email Marketing Specialist

Abdessamad El Bahri
Tester

Full Stack Engineer

Authored By Christin Baumgarten Operations Manager

Christin Baumgarten is the Operations Manager at Mailbird, where she drives product development and leads communications for this leading email client. With over a decade at Mailbird — from a marketing intern to Operations Manager — she offers deep expertise in email technology and productivity. Christin’s experience shaping product strategy and user engagement underscores her authority in the communication technology space.

Reviewed By Oliver Jackson Email Marketing Specialist

Oliver is an accomplished email marketing specialist with more than a decade's worth of experience. His strategic and creative approach to email campaigns has driven significant growth and engagement for businesses across diverse industries. A thought leader in his field, Oliver is known for his insightful webinars and guest posts, where he shares his expert knowledge. His unique blend of skill, creativity, and understanding of audience dynamics make him a standout in the realm of email marketing.

Tested By Abdessamad El Bahri Full Stack Engineer

Abdessamad is a tech enthusiast and problem solver, passionate about driving impact through innovation. With strong foundations in software engineering and hands-on experience delivering results, He combines analytical thinking with creative design to tackle challenges head-on. When not immersed in code or strategy, he enjoys staying current with emerging technologies, collaborating with like-minded professionals, and mentoring those just starting their journey.

How to Pin an Email in Outlook
How to Pin an Email in Outlook

Last updated

Yes, you can pin an email in Outlook if you're using Outlook.com, Outlook on the web, new Outlook for Windows , or Outlook for Mac. Open your Inbox, make sure it is sorted by Date, then hover over the message and click Pin . Classic Outlook for Windows does not support message pinning. [1, 2, 4, 7]

If a pinned message will not stay at the top, the Inbox is usually sorted by something other than Date. If the Pin option itself is missing, a common reason is that you are in classic Outlook for Windows. [1, 2, 3]

TL;DR

If you're asking, “How do I pin an email in Outlook?” here's the short version. [1]

  1. Open the Inbox where the email is stored.
  2. Sort the message list by Date.
  3. Hover over the email or select it, then click Pin .
  4. To remove it later, click Unpin .

This works in Outlook.com, Outlook on the web, new Outlook for Windows, and Outlook for Mac. It does not work in classic Outlook for Windows. [1, 2, 4, 7]

Table of contents

Before you start

Works in

Outlook.com, Outlook on the web, new Outlook for Windows, and Outlook for Mac. [1, 2, 4, 7]

Does not work in

Classic Outlook for Windows. Use a flag or Favorites there instead. [2, 5, 6]

What you need

The Inbox that holds the message, the email you want to keep on top, and a message list sorted by Date. [1]

Important

Pinning keeps the message in the Inbox. Archiving moves it to the Archive folder. [1, 4]

Where pinning works in Outlook

If you're asking, “Can you pin an email in Outlook?” the answer depends on which Outlook app you use. [1, 2, 4, 7]

Outlook version Can you pin an email? Notes
Outlook.com Yes Hover over the message or select it, then use Pin . [1]
Outlook on the web Yes Pinning is available in Outlook on the web. [4]
new Outlook for Windows Yes Microsoft lists pinning as a supported feature in the newer Windows app. [2]
Outlook for Mac Yes Outlook for Mac supports pin messages. If the control is hard to find, you can customize the toolbar. [7, 8]
Classic Outlook for Windows No Microsoft lists message pinning as unsupported there. Use flags or Favorites as workarounds. [2, 5, 6]

Outlook.com

Can you pin an email? Yes

Notes Hover over the message or select it, then use Pin . [1]

Outlook on the web

Can you pin an email? Yes

Notes Pinning is available in Outlook on the web. [4]

new Outlook for Windows

Can you pin an email? Yes

Notes Microsoft lists pinning as a supported feature in the newer Windows app. [2]

Outlook for Mac

Can you pin an email? Yes

Notes Outlook for Mac supports pin messages. If the control is hard to find, you can customize the toolbar. [7, 8]

Classic Outlook for Windows

Can you pin an email? No

Notes Microsoft lists message pinning as unsupported there. Use flags or Favorites as workarounds. [2, 5, 6]

Step-by-step: how do you pin an email in Outlook?

How to Pin an Email in Outlook

  1. Open the Inbox that contains the message.
  2. Confirm that your Outlook version supports pinning. These steps match Outlook.com, Outlook on the web, new Outlook for Windows, and Outlook for Mac. Classic Outlook for Windows does not support message pinning. [1, 2, 4, 7]
  3. If you are in classic Outlook for Windows, use a fallback instead. Switch to new Outlook or Outlook on the web for pinning, or use a follow-up flag or Favorites in classic Outlook. [2, 3, 4, 5, 6]
  4. Sort the Inbox by Date. Pinned messages stay at the top only when the Inbox is sorted by Date. [1]
  5. Find the email and hover over it. If the quick actions are not obvious in your layout, select the message first. [1]
  6. Click the Pin command. If you do not see the hover icon, select the message and look for Pin in the toolbar. [1]
  7. Check the result. The message should move to the top of the Inbox and show a pin indicator. [1]
  8. Add a flag too if you need a reminder. Pinning keeps the message visible, while a flag marks it for follow-up. [1, 5]
  9. Unpin it when you no longer need it on top. Click Unpin and the email returns to normal date order. [1]

Pin, flag, or archive?

Action Best for What it does
Pin Keeping one message at the top of the Inbox Leaves the email in the Inbox and keeps it at the top. [1]
Flag Marking a message for follow-up Adds a follow-up marker. It does not pin the email. [1, 5]
Archive Clearing the Inbox when you are done with the message Moves the email to the Archive folder. [4]

Pin

Best for Keeping one message at the top of the Inbox

What it does Leaves the email in the Inbox and keeps it at the top. [1]

Flag

Best for Marking a message for follow-up

What it does Adds a follow-up marker. It does not pin the email. [1, 5]

Archive

Best for Clearing the Inbox when you are done with the message

What it does Moves the email to the Archive folder. [4]

Why pinning sometimes seems to stop working

Pinning changes where a message appears in the list, not its follow-up status. That is why a flagged email does not move to the top, and why changing the sort order can make a pinned message seem to disappear. [1, 5]

Troubleshooting

Symptom Likely cause Fix
No Pin option anywhere You are in classic Outlook for Windows. If you see the File tab, you are in classic Outlook. Use new Outlook or Outlook on the web, or fall back to Flag or Favorites. [2, 3, 5, 6]
The email will not stay at the top Your Inbox is not sorted by Date. Change the sort back to Date. [1]
You pinned it, then it seemed to disappear You changed folders, filters , or sort order. Go back to the same Inbox and return the view to a Date sort. [1]
You clicked Flag, but nothing moved Flagging is not the same as pinning. Pin the message separately if you want it to stay at the top. [1, 5]
You archived the email by mistake You clicked Archive instead of Pin. Open the Archive folder and move the message back to Inbox. [4]
You are on Mac and cannot find the command The Mac layout or toolbar is different. Check the message list or toolbar, and customize the toolbar if you want faster access to the command. [7, 8]
Hover actions are hard to see Your layout is narrow or quick actions are hidden. Select the message and use the toolbar instead. [1]

No Pin option anywhere

Likely cause You are in classic Outlook for Windows.

Fix If you see the File tab, you are in classic Outlook. Use new Outlook or Outlook on the web, or fall back to Flag or Favorites. [2, 3, 5, 6]

The email will not stay at the top

Likely cause Your Inbox is not sorted by Date.

Fix Change the sort back to Date. [1]

You pinned it, then it seemed to disappear

Likely cause You changed folders, filters, or sort order.

Fix Go back to the same Inbox and return the view to a Date sort. [1]

You clicked Flag, but nothing moved

Likely cause Flagging is not the same as pinning.

Fix Pin the message separately if you want it to stay at the top. [1, 5]

You archived the email by mistake

Likely cause You clicked Archive instead of Pin.

Fix Open the Archive folder and move the message back to Inbox. [4]

You are on Mac and cannot find the command

Likely cause The Mac layout or toolbar is different.

Fix Check the message list or toolbar, and customize the toolbar if you want faster access to the command. [7, 8]

Hover actions are hard to see

Likely cause Your layout is narrow or quick actions are hidden.

Fix Select the message and use the toolbar instead. [1]

If you can't pin an email in Outlook

  • Switch versions: If you are in classic Outlook for Windows, open the same mailbox in new Outlook or Outlook on the web to use pinning, or switch to Mailbird . [2, 3, 4]
  • Use a flag: This is the best built-in option when you need a follow-up reminder but not a pinned spot at the top. [5]
  • Use Favorites in classic Outlook: Favorites will not pin a single message, but they can make important folders easier to reach. [6]
  • Archive later: Archive the message only after it no longer needs attention, because archiving removes it from the Inbox instead of keeping it visible. [4]

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you pin an email in Outlook?

Yes. You can pin emails in Outlook.com, Outlook on the web, new Outlook for Windows, and Outlook for Mac. Classic Outlook for Windows does not support message pinning.

Sources: [1, 2, 4, 7]

How do I pin an email in Outlook?

Sort the Inbox by Date, hover over the message or select it, and click Pin . To remove it later, click Unpin .

Sources: [1]

Why is the Pin option missing in Outlook?

A common reason is that you are in classic Outlook for Windows, which does not support message pinning. In supported versions, selecting the message can make the Pin command easier to spot.

Sources: [1, 2, 3]

Does this work in Outlook 365 or the desktop app?

It depends on which Outlook app you are using. new Outlook for Windows supports pinning, but classic Outlook for Windows does not.

Sources: [2, 3]

How do I unpin an email in Outlook?

Click Unpin on the pinned message. Outlook returns the email to its normal place in date order.

Sources: [1]

Is pinning the same as flagging?

No. Pinning keeps the email at the top of the Inbox, while flagging marks it for follow-up.

Sources: [1, 5]

Does pinning work on Mac?

Yes. Outlook for Mac supports pin messages, although the Pin command can appear in a different place than it does in Outlook on the web or new Outlook for Windows.

Sources: [7, 8]

What’s the difference between pinning and archiving?

Pinning keeps the email in the Inbox so it stays visible. Archiving moves the email to the Archive folder.

Sources: [1, 4]

Quick checklist

Screenshot this before you close the page.

  • ☐ I opened a supported version of Outlook.
  • ☐ If I am on Windows, I checked whether I am in classic Outlook.
  • ☐ My Inbox is sorted by Date.
  • ☐ I hovered over the email or selected it and clicked Pin.
  • ☐ The message moved to the top of the Inbox.
  • ☐ I used a flag too if I need a reminder.
  • ☐ I know how to click Unpin later.

Mailbird brings this into one desktop inbox for Windows and Mac, so you can set it up in minutes.

Sources

  1. Microsoft Support: Flag or pin a message in Outlook.com
  2. Microsoft Support: Feature comparison between new Outlook and classic Outlook
  3. Microsoft Support: What version of Outlook do I have?
  4. Microsoft Support: Organize your inbox with Archive, Sweep, and other tools in Outlook on the web
  5. Microsoft Support: Flag email messages for follow up
  6. Microsoft Support: Use Favorites in Outlook
  7. Microsoft Support: Outlook for Mac features
  8. Microsoft Support: Customize your toolbar in Outlook for Mac