Tired of scrolling through endless emails? Microsoft’s new Outlook Jump To feature promises a faster way to navigate your inbox by letting you leap to a specific time period. It’s sleek, it’s modern—but is it enough?
In my experience, not quite. But let’s clear up a big misconception:
Jump To is not a search tool. It doesn’t filter results. It doesn’t combine your Focused and Other tabs.
It simply scrolls to that date in your current message list. Read on or watch the video for a complete explanation of the Jump To Feature in New Outlook.
Feature Face-Off: New Outlook Jump To vs Classic Collapse/Expand
While “Jump To” is efficient for locating messages from a particular date range, I still prefer the classic Collapse/Expand All message list—a hold-over from Outlook Classic that many users (myself included) still rely on. Especially when I’m sharing my screen or recording tutorials, the ability to collapse or expand all grouped messages gives me more control and clarity.
The Outlook Jump To feature may be faster in some cases, but it lacks the visual structure that Collapse/Expand provides. That structure is especially helpful when managing a busy inbox.
Here’s a breakdown of what Jump To does—and what’s still missing.
- Scrolls directly to your selected date
- Doesn’t collapse or organize your inbox view
- Doesn’t help with Focused/Other crossover
- Doesn’t work like the Search bar with filters or ranges
This will surface all relevant messages—regardless of Focused or Other or Folders—and even if some haven’t loaded yet.
How to Use the Outlook Jump To Feature
If you’re curious to try it out, here’s how to use the Jump To feature in the new Outlook:
- Open Outlook (New Version) – Make sure you’re using the updated Outlook interface.
- Go to Your Inbox – Navigate to the folder where you want to search.
- Look for the “Jump To” Option – You’ll find it at the top of your message list or in the date header area.
- Click “Jump To” – A calendar or time selector will appear.
- Choose a Time Period – Select the month or date range you want to jump to.
- View Results Instantly – Outlook will scroll directly to that section of your inbox.
Tip: If your inbox is sorted newest-first, jump to the last day of the month to scroll up through the full month.
My Take: Is the Jump To Feature Helpful?
That’s why I held off on writing about this feature until I had time to really use it. And after weeks of testing, my verdict is: barely. I barely use it.
Yes, “Jump To” is fast. However, it’s not a full solution. It’s a partial fix to the Collapse/Expand All. If Microsoft combined Jump To with Collapse/Expand All, the result could be a powerhouse of inbox control.
Nevertheless, Go and Work Your Magic!
