Get Sound or Visual Notification When New Messages Arrive

You can change how Outlook notifies you when new messages arrive. Outlook can notify you by:

  • Displaying a text message
  • Playing a sound
  • Changing the appearance of your mouse pointer, or
  • Displaying an envelope icon in your system tray.

You can choose any or all of these means of notification.

StepMouse actionsKeyboard actions
1

On the menu bar:

  • Select Tools.
  • Select Options.

On the menu bar:

  • Open the Tools menu by pressing ALT+T.
  • Select Options by pressing O.
2

In the Options dialog box:

  • Select the Preferences tab.

In the Options dialog box:

  • Move to the Preferences tab by pressing CTRL+TAB.
3

On the Preferences tab, in the E-mail area:

  • Select E-mail Options.

On the Preferences tab, in the E-mail area:

  • Select E-mail Options by pressing M.
4

In the E-mail Options dialog box, in the Message handling area:

  • Select (or clear) the Display a notification message when new mail arrives check box to turn the option on (or off)

To choose more e-mail notification options:

  • Select Advanced E-mail Options.

In the E-mail Options dialog box, in the Message handling area:

  • Turn on (or turn off) the Display a notification message when new mail arrives option by pressing ALT+N.

To choose more e-mail notification options:

  • Select Advanced E-mail Options by pressing ALT+A
5

In the Advanced E-mail Options dialog box, in the When new items arrive area:

Select (or clear) the check box for the options you want:

  • Play a sound.
  • Briefly change the mouse cursor.
  • Show an envelope icon in the system tray.

  • Select OK.

In the Advanced E-mail Options dialog box, in the When new items arrive area:

  • Select (or clear) the Play a sound check box by pressing ALT+P.
  • Select (or clear) the Briefly change the mouse cursor check box by pressing ALT+B.
  • Select (or clear) the Show an envelope icon in the system tray by pressing ALT+E.
  • Press ENTER.
6

To close the dialog boxes:

  • Select OK twice.

To close the dialog boxes:

  • Press ESC twice.