![Diane Poremsky [Outlook MVP]](http://www.outlook-tips.net/images/2014/MVP_BlueOnly.png)
Microsoft Outlook uses a lot of icons throughout the program and it's hard to remember what each icon means. Help lists some icons but finding them is a daunting task for many users. On these next pages, you'll find all of the icons and a short description when needed.
Mail | Calendar & Tasks | Contacts & Journal
Rules & Alerts | Toolbars | More Icons
Icons | Description |
 | Journaled item. All journaled items have the small clock on the icon, in this example, the task item is journaled. |
 | Conflict. A conflict occurred during synchronization with Exchange server or a PDA. Open the message and follow the instructions to resolve. |
 | Recurring Appointment. The recurring arrows are also used for Tasks. A slash through the arrows indicates a broken occurrence. |
   | Encrypted, Signed, Signed with warnings. |
 | Signed and Encrypted |
 | Reminder |
These icons are used on folders in Outlook 2007.
Icons | Description |
 | "Default" permissions group (Exchange server) has at least Folder Visible permission on the folder. All folders that are shared will have the hand on the folder. |
 | The two-way arrow indicates the folder is from a source outside your mailbox and linked to Outlook, such as SharePoint libraries and Internet calendars. |
 | SharePoint Discussion library linked to Outlook. |
Outlook 2007 SP2 places a "closed but still loaded" icon 
in the navigation tray when you click File, Exit or the X button to close Outlook. This icon stays in the tray as long as the outlook.exe file is still loaded after clicking close.
Mail | Calendar & Tasks | Contacts & Journal
Rules & Alerts | Toolbars | More Icons
Published May 14, 2011. Last updated on February 22, 2018.
I came across a new one for me today in my inbox.
New mail item, an envelope (gold) with a bell on it.
Outlook 2010, in all my years of using Outlook I've never seen it before.
Do you use SharePoint? Those are SharePoint alerts (look for alert sources on the Alerts tab of Rules and Alerts dialog). In older versions, it was an enveloper and a star.
I don't use it, however the sender does. It seems to be an automated service announcement. Thank you :D
Why do you not have an icon search. I am unable to download emails to outlook and icons in the header may give me a clues as to why not!!!!
Those icons are at https://www.outlook-tips.net/how-to/inbox-and-message-icons/2/.
What type of email account do you use? If you only download headers, did you mark messages for download?
How can I use my own icons on the email tool bar. When I attach an icon to a macro it does not give me a browser to find the icon just a selection of icons. How do I add more to that list?
Outlook very limited support for icons and doesn't include the option to browse for icons. In older versions you can select from the predefined icons and use the icon editors to edit them or create your own. You can also paste images into the editor. Outlook 2010 has a limited selection of icons and you can't edit or paste your own icons. Sorry.