Exchange - Enable Report Messages Feature in Outlook

Issue/Question

• How to report spam within Outlook
• How to report an email as spam?
• How to report an email as not spam?
• How to report an email as phishing?

Environment

• Oregon State University
• Exchange Online users
  • Windows
    • Outlook for desktop
  • Mac
    • Outlook for desktop

Explanation

The Report Message add-in works with Outlook to allow you to report suspicious messages to Microsoft as well as manage how your Office 365 email account treats these messages.  Messages that your Office 365 email account marks as junk are automatically moved to your Junk Email folder.  However, spammers and phishing attempts are continually evolving.  If you receive a junk email in your inbox, you can use the Report Message add-in to send the message to Microsoft to help us improve our spam filters. 

If you find an email in your Junk Email folder that's not spam, you can use the Report Message add-in to mark it as a legitimate email, move the message to your Inbox, and report the false positive to help Microsoft improve the spam filters.

Resolution

Method 1 - Enable the Report Message add-in for your client (for both Mac and Windows clients):

1. Open your Microsoft Outlook client and click the “Get Add-Ins” toolbar button.
   • The Icon may look like this:  or this: 
   • NOTE: If you do not see a "Get Add-Ins" button on the Outlook toolbar, please follow method 2 to manually install the Add-In.
2. In the search dialog box, type in "Report Message" and select it from the dropdown.
   
3. Click the Add button.
   
4. You will now need to close and re-open Outlook to use the new “Report Message” add-in.
5. Proceed to the "Use the Report Message add-in" below.

Method 2 - Manual Install:

1. Browse to https://appsource.microsoft.com/en-US/product/office/wa104381180
2. Click on the "Get it Now" button.
   
3. Login with your @oregonstate.edu address.
   
4. Verify your @oregonstate.edu address.
   
5. Click on Continue when prompted (it may take a moment).
   
6. Proceed to the "Use the Report Message add-in" below.

Use the Report Message add-in:

1. Select the message that needs to be reported.
2. Click on the Report Message add-in.
   
3. Select Junk, Phishing, or Not Junk depending on the type of message that you are reporting.

Additional Resources

• Getting an Office add-on in Outlook
• Official Microsoft Documentation

Assistance

For assistance, contact the Service Desk.