A Step-By-Step Guide on How to Mass Delete Emails on Outlook

A messy inbox can feel overwhelming, distracting, unorganized, and way harder to clean than it should be. If you’re using Outlook and struggling to maintain a clean email, you’re definitely not alone. Between daily updates, unread promotions, and endless notifications, it doesn’t take long for everything to pile up.

Thankfully, Outlook has a few built-in tools that make it easier to delete emails in bulk and stay organized. Whether you’re on desktop, web, or mobile, this guide will walk you through several methods to clean up your inbox. And if you’re looking for the fastest, most convenient method, we’ll also show you how to do it in seconds using AgainstData, the best email cleaning tool out there.

8 Ways to Clean Up Your Outlook Inbox

Before we dive into each one, here’s an overview of all the different ways you can clean up your Outlook inbox, without having to go email by email:

1. Use the search bar to find and delete similar emails in batches.

2. Clear entire folders to remove everything inside with one click.

3. Sort by date, sender, or size to target bulk deletions more precisely.

4. Use the Sweep tool to clean out emails from one sender automatically.

5. Set up filters (also called rules) to delete unwanted emails as they arrive.

6. Use the Clean Up tool to get rid of duplicate messages in long threads.

7. Try AgainstData to mass delete, unsubscribe, and remove personal data.

8. Use the Outlook mobile app to delete emails quickly while on the go.

Each method is useful in different scenarios: some are great for one-time cleanups, others help you stay organized in the long run.

Use the Search Bar to Filter and Delete Emails

One of the ways to clean up your Outlook inbox is by using the search bar to find similar emails, like newsletters, promotions, or messages from one sender, and delete them all in one go.

Follow these steps to delete emails in bulk using search in Outlook Web:

• Step 1. Go to Outlook and log in to your account

• Step 2. In the search bar at the top, type something like from:noreply@ or subject:newsletter to find related emails

• Step 3. Press Enter and wait for Outlook to load the results

• Step 4. Click the checkbox at the top to select all emails

• Step 5. Click on “Delete All” to delete everything in one go

This is a great method if you’re trying to clear out repeated emails from the same sender or topic without going through every message one by one.

Here’s how you can also use the search function to mass delete emails on the Outlook desktop app:

Delete Emails by Folder

If you're trying to clean up an entire category of messages, mass deleting emails by folder is a fast way to do it. Outlook lets you remove everything inside your Outlook folders in a few clicks.

Here’s how to delete emails by folder:

• Step 1. Login into Outlook on the web

• Step 2. Go to the folder you want to empty (like Junk Email)

• Step 3. Select “Empty folder” from the menu

• Step 4. A new window will pop up asking you to confirm that you want to delete all emails inside. Click on “Delete All”

❗️ This will instantly empty the selected folder, so make sure you are not removing anything you still need.

How to Mass Delete Emails by Date, Sender, or Size

If you need to remove specific emails in bulk, Outlook provides sorting and selection tools to help speed up the process. Follow these steps on the desktop app for efficient mass deletion.

Step 1: Open the folder containing the emails you want to delete.

Step 2: Click on the "View" tab.

Step 3: Use the "Arrange By" dropdown to sort emails by date, sender, or size.

Step 4 For consecutive emails: Click the first email, hold down the "Shift" key, and click the last email in the range.

Step 5: For non-consecutive emails: Hold down the "Ctrl" key (or "Command" on Mac) and click each email you wish to delete.

Step 6: Press the "Delete" key or right-click and select "Delete."

By following these steps on how to mass delete emails on Outlook, you can efficiently clear unwanted messages and keep your inbox organized.

💡Pro Tip: Grouping emails by specific criteria can speed up the deletion process.

Use the Sweep Tool to Delete Emails from One Sender

If your inbox is full of messages from the same sender, Outlook offers a Sweep tool that can help you quickly get rid of them. It’s also great for automatically handling future emails from that sender so they stop cluttering your inbox.

Follow these steps to use the Sweep tool on Outlook Web:

• Step 1. Once logged into Outlook, find and select an email from the sender you want to remove

• Step 2. Click on the three dots in the top right corner of the email

• Step 3. Go to “Sweep”

• Step 4. Choose what messages you want to move or keep from that sender

• Step 5. Select “Deleted Item” in the “Move to” dropdown

• Step 6. Click “OK” to confirm and apply the rule

Sweep is helpful for managing recurring emails, like promotions or updates, and it works automatically going forward so you don’t have to do it again.

Automatically Delete Emails Using Outlook Filters

If you’re tired of deleting the same types of emails over and over again, you also can set up Outlook filters (or Rules) that do it for you. These filters can automatically send incoming emails to the Deleted Items folder, based on your own set of rules (like emails from a certain sender, a specific subject line or even keywords).

Here’s how to create a filter on Outlook:

• Step 1. Go to the Outlook website and login

• Step 2. Click on the Settings Icon at the top right hand side to open the Settings window

• Step 3. Select “Mail” on the left hand side of the menu

• Step 4. Click on “Rules”

• Step 5. Select “Add new rule”

• Step 6. Name your rule

• Step 7. Add one or more conditions. The conditions could depend on the subject, keywords, and more

• Step 8. Add one or more actions and choose to delete the incoming email

• Step 9. Add one or more exceptions if needed

• Step 10. Click on “Save”

Once your rule is set up, Outlook will automatically handle those emails for you, so you never have to see or delete them manually again.

How to Delete Emails on Outlook Using the 'Clean Up' Feature

Outlook's 'Clean Up' tool is designed to remove redundant messages in email threads, streamlining your inbox. Follow these steps to delete unnecessary emails quickly:

• Step 1: Open Outlook and select the email folder you want to clean up.

• Step 2: To Clean Up a specific conversation: Right-click on the conversation and select "Clean Up Conversation."

💡Pro Tip: For an entire folder: Right-click on the desired folder and choose "Clean Up Folder."

• Step 3: A prompt asking you to confirm the action will appear. Click "Clean Up" to proceed, and Outlook will automatically remove redundant emails.

💡Pro Tip: This feature removes redundant messages but retains the most recent emails in a thread.

How to Mass Delete Emails in Outlook with AgainstData

The other methods featured in this guide are effective but can take up a lot of time. If you want to learn how to mass delete emails on Outlook without any fuss or stress, this method takes the crown.

The AgainstData app is a super effective tool you need to manage your email inbox like a pro, save valuable time, and boost productivity.

In a matter of seconds, the app allows you to unsubscribe from mailing lists, delete unwanted emails from certain senders and even remove your personal data from companies that retain it!

As outlined below, here’s a step-by-step demonstration on how to get rid of unwanted emails for good with AgainstData:

• Step 1. Login to the AgainstData dashboard
• Step 2. Click on the Personal, Promotions or Notifications tab on the left hand side
• Step 3. In the Promotions tab, AgainstData identifies the senders behind your emails
• Step 4. Click “Unsubscribe” next to the sender you want to stop hearing from
• Step 5. A new window will open allowing you to delete all unwanted emails from that sender
• Step 6. Toggle the switch to mass delete all unwanted emails
• Step 7. Click on “Yes, unsubscribe me!” to unsubscribe from the newsletter

It’s the fastest, easiest, and most efficient way to clean up your Outlook inbox in just a few clicks.

How to Mass Delete Emails in Outlook Mobile App

Feeling left out because you use a mobile device? Well, don't be. Outlook users can also learn how to mass delete emails on Outlook while using mobile devices:

• Step 1: Open the desired folder.

• Step 2: Press and hold an email to enable selection mode.

• Step 3: Tap additional emails to select them.

• Step 4. Tap the "Delete" icon to remove the selected emails.

💡Pro Tip: The mobile app may limit the number of emails you can select simultaneously.

Conclusion

Keeping your Outlook inbox clean doesn’t have to be complicated. Whether you prefer manual tools like folders and filters or want to automate the process with Sweep or Rules, Outlook gives you plenty of options to take control of your inbox.

But if you're short on time or just want a smarter solution, AgainstData is the easiest and most efficient way to mass delete emails, unsubscribe from senders, and protect your personal data all in one place.