If Outlook is open, the rules should be processed in the order listed, but when Outlook is closed, the server rules are applied. When you create rules in OWA, only server rules are supported. Rules that have actions that require Outlook are client side rules and only run if Outlook is running.
Rules that have actions that require Outlook are client side rules and only run if Outlook is running. This includes moving messages to local pst files, adding a category or a flag. If a server rule moves a message when Outlook is closed, the client side rules that might apply to the message won’t fire.
This begs the query “Should Outlook Rules fire off when it’s closed?”
They’re great for things like filtering email into different folders because the rules fire off when you open Outlook or when any messages hit your inbox. But what if you want rules that fire off when Outlook is closed, such as forwarding messages to a colleague while you’re on vacation?
The short answer is; If Outlook is closed, you cannot get any alerts since Outlook is closed. So if you do get these notifications, Outlook isn’t actually closed at all.
Why are my rules not working in Outlook 2016?
If a rule is not working in Outlook 2016, 2013, 2010, or other version, it’s possible that the rule is client-based and Outlook is not running when emails are received. If you want the rules to work even when the Outlook isn’t running, log in to your account via web-based access, i., and e. OWA, and recreate the rules there.
For this, follow these steps: 1 Open Outlook and click File. 2 Click Manage Rules & Alerts to open the Rules and Alerts dialog box. 3 Select the rules you want to delete and click Delete.
What are server-side rules in outlook?
Server-side rules run on the server rather than in the Outlook client, so they let you apply rules before messages ever hit your system. Here’s how they work and what you can do with them.