Outlook Promotions Folder FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Table of Contents

 

Questions & Answers

What Is The Promotions Folder?

Answer:

  • The Promotions Folder is powered by Abnormal AI and uses artificial intelligence to automatically identify and filter safe but low-priority emails (marketing messages, newsletters, surveys, promotional content) away from your main inbox. These emails are legitimate and secure — they're just not urgent.

    The Promotions Folder is different from your Junk folder. Junk emails are flagged by Microsoft as potentially unsafe (spam, phishing, malicious content), while Promotions emails are safe — just not essential to your daily work.

What Are The Benefits To The Promotions Folder?

Answer:

  • It learns your preferences. Unlike basic email filters, the Promotions Folder adapts to your individual needs. What one person considers promotional, another might need for their work. The system recognizes this and personalizes itself to each user.

 

  • It keeps you focused. By clearing low-priority messages from your inbox, you can concentrate on emails that require your immediate attention like from colleagues, students, partners and stakeholders.

 

  • It saves significant time. The data shows meaningful time savings across the university, with VIP users alone saving 53 hours in the last month.

 

  • Everything stays accessible. These emails aren't deleted or quarantined — they're simply organized into a separate folder you can check when it’s convenient for you.

 

How Do I Make The Promotions Folder Work For Me?

Answer:

You can train the system.

  1. Move emails within seven days: If an email lands in Promotions but you want it in your inbox (or vice versa), move it within seven days. The system learns from this action.
  2. Be consistent: The more consistently you classify emails, the more accurate the system becomes.
  3. Check regularly at first: During the initial learning period, check your Promotions Folder regularly to catch anything that may have been misclassified.

Can I Opt Out Of The Promotions Folder?

Answer:

Absolutely, if you do not want the promotions folder on your Outlook account please click the link here.

 

Where Can I Find The Promotions Folder?

Answer:

You can find it on any of the ways that you normally access outlook.

  • Desktop Outlook: The Promotions Folder appears in your folder list, typically below your Inbox
  • Outlook Web App: Navigate to your folder list on the left sidebar
  • On mobile: Use the Outlook app rather than the phone’s email client. 

Can Any Emails Be Exempt From The Promotions Folder?

Answer:

Yes, Besides opting out from the promotions folder completely, you can also request to have certain email domains exempted. For example, emails from Stillwater Public Schools have been exempted so they will not be routed to the Promotions Folder.

Having issues? Complete this form or call 405-744-HELP (4357).

Want to request a domain exemption? Email helpdesk@okstate.edu.
Prefer to opt out completely? Click here to submit a request.

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