New Outlook Spam Reporting Add-ins: How It Works for Classic Outlook Users

Classic Outlook users now see a new spam reporting add-in installed automatically after a recent Microsoft 365 update. This add-in replaces the older junk email options and connects your feedback directly to Microsoft’s spam analysis systems. The new tool changes how you report unwanted messages and affects the behavior of the Junk folder. This article explains what the add-in does, how to use it, and what to do if it causes problems.

Why the New Spam Reporting Add-in Appeared in Classic Outlook

Microsoft replaced the built-in Junk Email reporting system in Classic Outlook with a new add-in-based approach. The old system sent reports directly to Microsoft but did not provide consistent feedback for Microsoft 365 Defender and Exchange Online Protection. The new add-in standardizes reporting across Outlook for Windows, Outlook on the web, and Outlook for Mac.

The add-in is part of the Microsoft 365 Apps update delivered through Current Channel. It installs silently and adds two buttons to the Home ribbon: Report Phishing and Report Junk. These buttons send the selected message plus metadata to Microsoft for analysis. Microsoft uses this data to improve spam filters and to update tenant-level policies in Microsoft 365 Defender.

The add-in does not replace the Block Sender or Safe Senders lists. Those settings remain in the Junk Email Options dialog. The add-in only handles submission of false positives and false negatives to Microsoft.

Steps to Use the New Spam Reporting Add-in in Classic Outlook

1. Select a message in your Inbox or any folder
   Click the email you want to report. You can select multiple messages by holding Ctrl and clicking each one.
2. Click Report Junk or Report Phishing on the Home ribbon
   Both buttons are located in the Delete group on the Home tab. Report Junk sends the message as spam. Report Phishing sends it as a malicious attempt to steal credentials.
3. Confirm the submission in the pop-up dialog
   A dialog appears asking you to confirm the action. Click Report to send the message to Microsoft. The message moves to the Junk folder after submission.
4. Check the Junk folder for submitted messages
   Reported messages remain in the Junk folder for 30 days. You can restore a message to the Inbox if you reported it by mistake. Open the Junk folder, right-click the message, and select Move > Inbox.
5. Review submission status in Microsoft 365 Defender
   Admins can see submitted messages in the Microsoft 365 Defender portal under Email & collaboration > Submissions. Users cannot view this data without admin permissions.

If the Spam Reporting Add-in Is Missing or Not Working

The Report Junk and Report Phishing buttons do not appear on the ribbon

The add-in may not have installed if your update channel is Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel. Switch to Current Channel to receive the add-in. Go to File > Office Account > Update Options > Update Now. After the update, restart Outlook. If the buttons still do not appear, go to File > Options > Add-ins. Look for Microsoft Junk Email Reporting Add-in in the list. If it shows as Inactive, select COM Add-ins from the Manage dropdown and click Go. Check the box next to the add-in and click OK.

Clicking Report Junk or Report Phishing does nothing

The add-in requires an active internet connection and a valid Microsoft 365 license. Check your internet connection first. If the issue persists, repair the Office installation. Go to Control Panel > Programs and Features, right-click Microsoft 365, and select Change. Choose Quick Repair. If that does not work, run the Microsoft Support and Recovery Assistant tool from the Microsoft website and select Outlook > Junk Email.

Messages reported as junk still appear in the Inbox

The add-in moves the message to the Junk folder after submission. If the message remains in the Inbox, the add-in may have failed to apply the move rule. This can happen if the Junk folder is full or corrupted. Empty the Junk folder by right-clicking it and selecting Empty Folder. Then test the report function again. If the problem continues, create a new Outlook profile. Go to Control Panel > Mail > Show Profiles, select your profile, and click Remove. Then create a new profile and add your account.

Classic Outlook Spam Reporting Add-in vs Built-in Junk Email Options

Item	New Spam Reporting Add-in	Built-in Junk Email Options
Installation method	Automatic via Microsoft 365 Apps update	Built into Classic Outlook installation
User interface	Dedicated Report Junk and Report Phishing buttons on the ribbon	Junk dropdown menu with Report as Junk, Report as Phishing, and Report as Not Junk
Submission destination	Microsoft 365 Defender for admin review and filter improvement	Microsoft spam analysis team only
Message retention	30 days in Junk folder, then permanently deleted	Moved to Junk folder, deleted after 30 days by default
Block Sender and Safe Senders	Not affected by the add-in	Managed through Junk Email Options dialog
Admin visibility	Visible in Microsoft 365 Defender Submissions portal	Not visible to admins

The new add-in adds admin visibility and centralized reporting that the old system lacked. Classic Outlook users who rely on the Junk dropdown for block and safe lists still need to use Junk Email Options. The add-in only handles submissions to Microsoft.

You can now report spam and phishing messages directly to Microsoft using the new ribbon buttons. If the add-in is missing, verify your update channel and enable the COM add-in manually. For advanced management, ask your admin to review submissions in the Microsoft 365 Defender portal. To speed up future reports, add the Report Junk button to the Quick Access Toolbar by right-clicking the button and selecting Add to Quick Access Toolbar.