Combine multiple email accounts into one inbox in Outlook

I run three accounts in Outlook 2016: work Exchange, a Gmail IMAP and an old POP address. Checking three inboxes all day is a pain.

Is there a real unified inbox like phones have or at least a decent workaround?

Classic desktop Outlook has no native unified inbox, but there are two workarounds and one of them is close to the real thing.

The best one is a search folder that spans accounts. It shows a live combined view without moving a single message, so replies still go out from the right account.

1

Go to the Folder tab and click New Search Folder.

2

Scroll to Custom, choose Create a custom Search Folder and click Choose.

3

Name it All Inboxes, click Browse, tick the Inbox of the first account and OK.

4

Repeat the wizard once per account. Each account gets its own search folder because a search folder cannot cross data files. Drag all of them into your Favorites pane at the top so the three sit together.

The second option works for the POP account only: point it at an existing data file so its mail lands in the same PST as another account. File, Account Settings, select the POP account, Change Folder, pick the other inbox. IMAP and Exchange accounts cannot be redirected this way, their folders must stay in their own file.

Set up the three search folders in Favorites. Not perfect but it kills the constant folder switching. Good enough, marking solved.