# How can I make Outlook automatically delete an incoming message? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 11, 2002, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-make-outlook-automatically-delete-an-incoming-message/103016 "2002-04-11T11:22:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Phlip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Phlip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlip)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2002, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-make-outlook-automatically-delete-an-incoming-message/103016/1 "2002-04-11T11:22:38Z")
I am not talking about putting it in the deleted folder. I want it to permanently delete the messages as they come in. In fact, I specifically want it to delete any messages with the following text in them, or block them from my mailbox all together: DTEV\_T1ERRC alarm: DTT1\_RLOS This is a stupid non important error that is sent out to all techs in my dept all day long. I come to work and literally have several thousand of these a day to delete. How do I set this up? ---
**Author:** ![Phlip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Phlip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlip)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2002, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-make-outlook-automatically-delete-an-incoming-message/103016/2 "2002-04-11T11:27:04Z")
DOH! I figured it out right after I posted this. Mod feel free to delete this thread. ---
**Author:** ![DMC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dmc/32/18049_2.png) [@DMC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMC)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2002, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-make-outlook-automatically-delete-an-incoming-message/103016/3 "2002-04-11T11:32:16Z")
You didn’t say which version of Outlook you are using, but the process should be similar to [this](http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q310582). Short of writing an app in VBA, I’m not sure if there is a way to physically delete the mail with this method. If you would like to retain other deleted messages in your deleted folder, your best bet would be to create a folder specifically for these messages, and then delete that folder on occasion. ---
**Author:** ![kingtrw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/958977/32.png) [@kingtrw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kingtrw)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2002, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-make-outlook-automatically-delete-an-incoming-message/103016/4 "2002-04-11T12:04:38Z")
how exactly DID you do it? I wouldn’t mind knowing :)) ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2002, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-make-outlook-automatically-delete-an-incoming-message/103016/5 "2002-04-11T12:20:13Z")
You just use the Rules Wizard - it takes you through it step-by-step, and you can do some pretty powerful functions. ---
**Author:** ![Phlip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Phlip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlip)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2002, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-make-outlook-automatically-delete-an-incoming-message/103016/6 "2002-04-11T13:23:24Z")
Yep. Rules wizard did it for me. I didnt see the permanent deleteion option in there the first time I looked at it ---
**Author:** ![sdimbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sdimbert/32/20204_2.png) [@sdimbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sdimbert)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2002, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-make-outlook-automatically-delete-an-incoming-message/103016/7 "2002-04-11T14:21:17Z")
I just want to point out that, if you’re using Outlook 98, the Rules Wizard is not included in the standard install. It’s a downloadable add-on. Once you hit Outlook 2000, it’s standard (and very useful! :)). ---
**Author:** ![everton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecb155/32.png) [@everton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/everton)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2002, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-make-outlook-automatically-delete-an-incoming-message/103016/8 "2002-04-11T15:41:26Z")
I used to appreciate the option to delay sending an e-mail until a particular date and time but it doesn’t seem to be there any longer. Is that right or should I keep looking? ---
**Author:** ![sdimbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sdimbert/32/20204_2.png) [@sdimbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sdimbert)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2002, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-make-outlook-automatically-delete-an-incoming-message/103016/9 "2002-04-18T14:27:49Z")
From Outlook Help: > [@](#): > > Delay delivery of a message > > In the message, click Options . > > Select the **Do not deliver before** check box, and then enter the delivery date and time you want. ---
**Author:** ![everton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecb155/32.png) [@everton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/everton)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2002, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-make-outlook-automatically-delete-an-incoming-message/103016/10 "2002-04-18T23:03:04Z")
Thanks for the suggestion **sdimbert**. Of course that’s what I _used to do_. But now I’m using Outlook Express 6 and there is no ‘Options’ item to click within the message, and nowhere to enter the date and time you want. There _is_ a Send Later option under the File menu, but that just saves messages in your Outbox so they get sent when you give the ‘Send and Receive’ command. That’s useless - if I wanted the mail to get sent by giving a command I’d just click Send. There’s an Options item under Tools, and on the Send tab of that dialogue there’s a Send Immediately check box. Unchecking that makes Send Later the default send condition - still no use. So there’s no way of indicating a date and time to send automatically, you have to give a command. Thanks Microsoft.