Tiplet: Set Outlook to open the *next* message after deletion

People frequently ask how to change the default setting in Outlook so that the program moves to (highlights or opens) the next message, rather than the previous one, when they delete a message from their Inbox. The solution is easy but a little obscure.

In both Outlook 2010 and 2013, click the File tab, scroll down to Options, and then when the Outlook Options dialog opens, click to select the Mail category (at top left).

Next, scroll all the way down to “After moving or deleting an open item,” click the drop-down, and choose “open the next item.”

OK out to save your changes.  (CAUTION:  Don’t click the red “X” in the top right corner of the Outlook Options dialog; doing so will close the dialog without retaining your modified settings.)

The next time you delete an e-mail message – whether from the Outlook main screen or from within a message – the program should move to the next message rather than the previous one.