If you recently switched from the classic version of Outlook to the new Outlook for Windows, you likely noticed that the folder color settings are no longer in the same place. In classic Outlook, you could right-click a folder and immediately pick a color from the context menu. In new Outlook, that option is missing from the right-click menu, which can be frustrating. This article explains exactly where the folder color settings moved, how to apply them in new Outlook, and what limitations exist compared to the classic version.
Key Takeaways: Finding Folder Colors in New Outlook
- Right-click the folder name > Folder > Color: The color picker is now inside the Folder menu in the ribbon, not the right-click menu.
- Folder colors sync across devices: Changes made in new Outlook appear on Outlook for Mac and Outlook on the web.
- No automatic color inheritance: Subfolders do not inherit the parent folder color; you must set each folder individually.
How Folder Colors Work in New Outlook
In classic Outlook, folder colors were a visual-only feature applied directly from the folder context menu. New Outlook uses a different ribbon-based interface that consolidates folder properties into a dedicated Folder tab. The color picker is now part of the Folder group on the ribbon, not the right-click menu. This change aligns new Outlook with the interface used in Outlook on the web and Outlook for Mac.
Before you start, ensure you are running the latest version of new Outlook. Open Outlook and go to File > Office Account > Update Options > Update Now. Folder colors are available in all current builds of new Outlook for Windows.
Steps to Change Folder Colors in New Outlook
- Select the folder you want to color
In the folder pane on the left side of the Outlook window, click the folder name once to highlight it. Do not double-click — single selection is enough. - Open the Folder tab on the ribbon
Look at the top of the Outlook window. Click the Folder tab. The ribbon changes to show folder-specific commands. - Click the Color button
In the Folder tab, locate the Color button in the Actions group. It is the third button from the left, next to AutoArchive and Folder Properties. Click it. - Choose a color from the palette
A color picker drops down with 15 preset color swatches plus a No Color option. Click any swatch to apply it to the selected folder. The folder name in the folder pane changes color immediately. - Remove a folder color
To remove the color, select the folder again, click the Color button, and choose No Color at the top of the palette.
Alternative Method: Right-Click Then Folder
If you prefer using the right-click menu, you can still reach the color picker through an extra step. Right-click the folder, then click Folder at the bottom of the context menu. This opens the Folder tab in the ribbon. Then click the Color button and select a swatch. This method is slower but matches the muscle memory of classic Outlook users.
Limitations and Differences from Classic Outlook
Folder Colors Do Not Apply to Subfolders Automatically
In classic Outlook, when you colored a parent folder, subfolders sometimes appeared with a lighter tint of the same color. New Outlook does not support this behavior. Each folder, including subfolders, must be colored individually. If you have a deep folder hierarchy, you need to select each subfolder and apply the color manually.
No Custom Color Picker
Classic Outlook allowed you to choose from 15 colors plus No Color. New Outlook offers the same 15 colors and No Color. There is no RGB or hex color picker. You cannot create custom colors. The available swatches are: No Color, Red, Dark Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Dark Green, Teal, Blue, Dark Blue, Purple, Pink, Gray, Dark Gray, and Black.
Color Changes Sync to Other Devices
Folder colors set in new Outlook sync to Outlook on the web and Outlook for Mac. They do not sync to classic Outlook on Windows. If you switch back to classic Outlook, the folder colors will not appear. The colors are stored as part of the folder properties in Exchange Online or Microsoft 365 mailbox settings.
Folder Colors in Shared Mailboxes
You can color folders in a shared mailbox that you have full access to. The color applies only to your view of the shared mailbox. Other users with access to the same shared mailbox do not see your color choices. Each user must set their own folder colors.
| Item | Classic Outlook | New Outlook |
|---|---|---|
| Color picker location | Right-click menu | Folder tab on the ribbon |
| Number of colors | 15 plus No Color | 15 plus No Color |
| Custom color support | No | No |
| Subfolder color inheritance | Partial (lighter tint) | None |
| Sync to Outlook on the web | No | Yes |
| Sync to Outlook for Mac | No | Yes |
| Sync to classic Outlook | N/A | No |
| Works in shared mailboxes | Yes | Yes |
Now you can apply folder colors in new Outlook using the Folder tab on the ribbon instead of the right-click menu. The process takes a few seconds per folder, and the colors will appear consistently across your other modern Outlook clients. If you manage many folders, consider creating a color system such as red for high-priority projects and green for completed items. You can also use folder colors in combination with conditional formatting rules for messages to create a fully color-coded inbox.