How do I change the default Junk Mail folder in Outlook?

I'm using an IMAP mail service (fastmail.fm) which moves Junk email messages to an IMAP folder called "Junk Mail". Outlook archives Junk to "Junk E-Mail".
How do I change Outlook so that it uses the "Junk Mail" folder for Junk instead of the default?

3 Answers

It is much easier to Configure fastmail.fm to save probable spam in the Junk E-Mail folder Outlook creates than build a custom Outlook configuration.

• Login to fastmail
• Go to Options > Spam/Virus Protection
• Click on Custom beside Spam Protection
• Change the destination folder for Probable Spam from Junk Mail to Junk E-Mail and save.

First, delete fastmail's "Junk Mail" folder if it currently exists. Then use the instructions below:

Install Collaboration Data Objects. (Note that it won't install directly - the file you downloaded just unpacks the real installer. Annoying.)

In Outlook, open the Visual Basic editor: either Alt+F11, or Tools - Macro - Visual Basic Editor

In the VB window, go to Tools - References, and enable CDO 1.2.1 in the list.

On the tree in left side, open Project1 - Microsoft Office Outlook - ThisOutlookSession, and paste this script (original source) to the window that opens:

Sub CDORenameFolder() Dim outlookApp As Outlook.Application Dim cdoSession As MAPI.Session Dim folder As Outlook.MAPIFolder Dim cdoFolder As MAPI.folder Dim newName As String Set outlookApp = New Outlook.Application Set cdoSession = New MAPI.Session cdoSession.Logon ShowDialog:=False, NewSession:=False Set folder = outlookApp.Session.PickFolder() Set cdoFolder = cdoSession.GetFolder(folder.EntryID, folder.StoreID) newName = InputBox("Rename '" + cdoFolder.Name + "' to:", "Rename folder", cdoFolder.Name) If newName <> "" Then cdoFolder.Name = newName cdoFolder.Update End If cdoSession.Logoff Set cdoSession = Nothing Set outlookApp = Nothing
End Sub

Press F5 (or Run - Run Sub), and run the ThisOutlookSession.CDORenameFolder macro. A folder selection window should pop up. Under your IMAP account, choose the "Junk E-mail" folder (the one created by Outlook) and click OK.

(If you get "User-defined type not defined", then you forgot to install and/or activate CDO.)

Yes, that is exactly why I hate Outlook now.

There's no way you can do it, but you could create a rule to move junk mail from the folder where they're placed to the default Junk Mail folder.