Add multiple foldres to favorites in New Outlook.

This is an incredibly ineffecient method to provide access to a large number of folders. Also with no way to automatically add new folders to the favorites within an entire organization there is great potential for employees to not be aware of information they will require access to.

Please provide a better way to accomplish these tasks.

Hi @Dealer,

Just to clarify, in the new Outlook for Windows, Public Folders are not displayed as a fully browsable folder tree as they were in classic Outlook. Instead, to access Public Folders, you first need to add them to Favorites.

At the moment, the new Outlook does not offer a built‑in option to “add a folder and all its subfolders” or to perform a bulk add. The Add Public Folder to Favorites dialog only allows folders to be added one at a time. As a result, you would need to repeat this process for each folder or subfolder you wish to access. Additionally, any newly created subfolders will not automatically appear in Favorites.

It’s also important to note that Public Folder favorites do not sync automatically between classic Outlook and the new Outlook (or Outlook on the web). Each Outlook client requires favorites to be added manually where you intend to use them.

That said, you may want to consider the following workaround options, depending on your needs:

Option 1: Use classic Outlook for Public Folder‑heavy workflows (best workaround for bulk addition)

f you truly need a “bulk add” experience, classic Outlook remains the most practical solution. It offers more robust Public Folder management features, and in many environments, the Add to Favorites dialog includes an option to add all subfolders at once.

This is currently the closest available approach to adding an entire Public Folder hierarchy in a single step.

Please note, however, that even if you bulk‑add folders in classic Outlook, those favorites will still not appear automatically in the new Outlook. If you plan to work exclusively in the new Outlook, the folders will still need to be added there manually.

For additional context, please refer to: Use favorite public folders in Outlook on the web and the new Outlook for Windows in Exchange Online.

Option 2: If you must remain in the new Outlook, add only the folders you actively use

Since folders must be added individually in the new Outlook, the most realistic approach is to favorite only the folders you work with regularly. This helps reduce manual effort while still keeping key folders accessible.

The official steps are:

Right‑click your account name > Add public folder to Favorites > expand All Public Folders > select a folder > Add Public Folder.

More details are available here: Access public folders in Outlook for Windows.

Option 3: Reconsider long‑term use of large Public Folder structures

Many organizations with extensive Public Folder hierarchies eventually move these workflows to more modern collaboration tools, such as shared mailboxes, Microsoft 365 Groups, or SharePoint/Teams. This helps avoid the kind of manual pinning overhead that newer Outlook clients require and typically offers a more scalable experience.

I agree this is an area where the experience may feel less intuitive for some users. The best way to get it in front of the product team is to submit feedback directly through the Outlook (new) · Community portal. This is the most effective way to ensure your voice reaches the product team and can be considered about how company-only contacts are handled in search results, with potential improvements being considered for future improvements.    

Since other users have expressed similar concerns, I hope this explanation not only clarifies the current behavior but also highlights a constructive path forward. Surfacing this feedback publicly can help others add their voices as well.

Thank you again for taking the time to share your experience. I truly appreciate your patience, and please don’t hesitate to reach out if there’s anything else I can help with.

Wishing you all the best.

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This workflow is incredibly ineffecient and an un-acceptable soultion from Microsoft. Microsoft needs to provide a better industry solution.

New Outlook does not provide a way to bulk-add an entire public folder tree (all folders and subfolders) to Favorites in a single action, and it does not auto-add newly created subfolders.

In the new Outlook for Windows and Outlook on the web, public folders must be added to Favorites individually:

1. Right-click Folders (or the account name, depending on view) and select Add public folder to Favorites.
2. In the public folder hierarchy, expand All Public Folders.
3. Select the specific public folder and choose Add Public Folder.
4. Repeat for each folder or subfolder that should appear in Favorites.

When new subfolders are created later, they also need to be added manually to Favorites using the same steps; there is no automatic synchronization of all subfolders into Favorites.

References:

• Access public folders in Outlook for Windows
• Use favorite public folders in Outlook on the web and the new Outlook for Windows in Exchange Online
• Use Favorites in Outlook